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Building on Belhaven’s outstanding tradition of integrating the arts into Christian higher education, the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre has emphases in performance, production and theatre ministries. All programs are founded upon the biblical worldview. Courses are offered in theatre history, acting, directing, and stagecraft. Practical experience is provided through the wide variety of on-campus productions. To round out the major, students often develop internships and journeyman opportunities with domestic and international theatre companies, missions or ministry venues, all under the supervision of the Belhaven Theatre Department.

Our goal is to provide the opportunities necessary to develop our students’ God-given abilities in order to function in the theatre-related professions, to build a strong foundation for graduate studies in theatre, and to enrich education with theatre experiences at home and abroad. Depending upon the concentration (performance, production, theatre ministries), students must interview or audition for acceptance to the theatre degree program, which is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

The Theatre Department offers students a liberal arts approach to the training of theatre artists.  The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre is built to give students a wide range of training in different facets of contribution to the art of theatre, both off stage and on, to give them the experiences that will prepare students for a career in the field.

While still being exposed to a broad based theatre education, students may also wish to pursue one of three concentrations in the Theatre degree, in Production, Performance, or Ministries.

Production concentration students are required to take a more forward role in design and construction, taking a more significant amount of technical courses, and presenting a portfolio of their work each semester.  Production students will complete a major design or construction project as their culminating project to graduate.

Performance concentration students are required to audition and be available to perform in every departmental production, as well as take a significant amount of our performance oriented courses.  Performance students are required to take part in departmental Audition Day, presenting a growing list of potential audition material each semester.  To graduate, Performance students must complete a full Recital, demonstrating command of the material learned in coursework.

Ministry concentration students will be expected to participate in outreach and ministry oriented projects, as performers, producers or creators.  Related coursework will be expected to further the students’ understanding of the issues and theories related to the integration of the arts into a ministry framework, both from the artistic and ministerial approaches.  Ministry students must complete an internship with a ministry organization utilizing their theatrical learning for the completion of the degree.