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The Acting Program At...

Communication is an important part of the human experience, from the transmission of culture, to the passing of urgent information. Insights into human experience are gained as students complete course work. Students are also provided with tools for better communication through the teaching of marketable skills useful for graduates in any field of study.

Courses in Theatre & Speech teach future professional communicators in the fields of traditional theatre arts and speech communication. Students from associated majors whose future career will require proficiency in public speaking, oral communication, performance, and the practice of persuasive communication will benefit from departmental involvement. A minor in Speech or Theatre will compliment any major, especially Art, Communications, Education, English, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, or Religion. In addition to providing technical proficiency for future professionals, departmental faculty also strive to help students become ethical artists and communicators.

Not only do students experience the liberal arts and artistic views provided by our program, the use of technology is stressed in our major through intensive, one-on-one classroom experiences with professionals who take the time to stay current in their fields. Public speaking students are offered situations that will benefit them beyond the classroom experience. Acting students perform in a variety of different genres of theatre, and technical theatre students use equipment compatible with professional industry standards.

The emphasis on technology in the department means that students receive a combination of basic technique combined with new technology. All students in the department take a basic core of classes in addition to the standard College core. The department core classes form a foundation including history and theory, performance, design, and public speaking.

Departmental majors are required to participate in all departmental theatre audition sessions and to accept acting or production staff assignments for each College Theatre production.