Abilene Christian...

Our Students and Faculty

More than 4,800 students, including about 630 graduate students, come to ACU from 50 states and 60 countries.  We have a diverse and global environment, which we believe enriches student learning.  Our students are served by about 200 faculty members who focus on high-quality teaching, scholarship and service.  More than 90 percent of tenure-track faculty hold terminal degrees.  The student/faculty ratio is less than 17:1.  The faculty and administrators are actively involved as leaders and presenters in many national professional associations, and ACU is an active member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.



The university offers generous merit scholarships to incoming students with exceptional academic records and demonstrated leadership skills, and ACU attracts some of the nation's brightest students who want to study in a Christian environment.  Students have found that the small classes (average size is 17) taught by talented, caring faculty members provide them an advantage when they search for jobs after graduation or apply to graduate schools.  Because ACU's teachers know their students so well and often serve as mentors, they are able to provide excellent references to medical schools, law schools, graduate programs and future employers.

Get all the information about Student Life at Abilene!



Exceptional Academics

The university includes the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, Business Administration, Education and Human Services, the Graduate School, the Graduate School of Theology, the School of Information Technology and Computing, the School of Social Work, and the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing.  Academic accreditation is by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  High-tech classrooms, 24-hour computer labs in the residence halls, fast Internet connections, email access as an incoming student and much more guarantee our students are prepared for the fast-paced technological world of today.

Abilene Christian University places great value on the dynamic relationship that should exist between professors and their students. Many institutions rely extensively on graduate assistants. Not ACU. All our courses are taught by qualified faculty members. And when professors work on research projects, you can usually find undergraduates by their side, a rarity elsewhere.



How do we know this philosophy works? Because each year, some of the nation's top businesses come to our campus to interview because they know ACU students have the education and preparation needed to succeed.

Outstanding faculty. Great facilities. Good jobs and graduate school. They're all the result of ACU's uncommon commitment to teaching and learning. ACU prepares its graduates for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas 79699 (325) 674.2000, Admissions Helpline: (800) 460.6228

Visit us on the web at: Abilene Christian University

For more information about applying, visit the Admissions Department

Visit the Theatre Department on the web at: ACU Theatre Department

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The Acting Program At...

Abilene Christian University

THEATRE AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY!

Our Mission...

To provide quality training and opportunity for the disciplined theatre artist in a nurturing environment that models Christian values.

The ACU Theatre has at its base a system of values anchored in the Judeo-Christian God. We believe each individual who comes to us is God-created and carries his image in unique, creative ways. We believe in an integrated life in which spiritual depth, intellectual pursuit, artistic excellence, emotional stability, and physical soundness are bound together in a total approach to work and play.

Vocation, Discipline, Community and Christian Values

As artists we participate with God to incarnate the word - to give it life and meaning. Madeleine L'Engle says,
"I believe that each work of art, whether it is a work of great genius, or something very small, comes to the artist and says, 'Here I am. Enflesh me. Give birth to me.' And the artist either says, ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord,' and willingly becomes the bearer of the work, or refuses."

No matter what path in life we assume to earn our living, we have been called into the vocation of theatre.

Discipline is the path to freedom in any craft. Fear, mental laziness, tension, dishonesty, physical blocks, lack of accountability, and all other obstacles to expression, growth, and artistic service must be eradicated, and the means of that process is discipline. Freedom within craft should be the goal of any student in the arts, because it is this freedom that allows the vision of the artist to be fully released.

Every theatrical endeavor pursued by the ACU Theatre belongs to the community as a whole. From the lighting operator to the lead actor to guest artists, we are all essential to the creative process. We encourage our students and staff to take ownership of every production regardless of their involvement.
As Christians, the sources of our values are God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We believe the scriptures to be the word of God, inspired, and to contain truth that can be reasonably grasped as well as truths that are deep mysteries. And while those at work in the Department of Theatre may differ on some issues of doctrine, there is agreement in the Lordship of Jesus.

Our Task...

It is no easy task to comprehend such a calling, nor is it easy to walk such a path. However, we seek the integration of faith and artistic life, and we believe it must be stated clearly that the basis of our life and work (whether in the selection of plays, the building of syllabi for classes, the completion of homework, casting, rehearsals, or crew work) is found in the spiritual values of historic Christianity.

 

Here are some quick facts about the Department of Theatre at ACU:

We produce quality theatre influenced by our Christian worldview.

A maximum of 12 freshmen/transfer students are admitted each fall, determined by audition/interview.

Limited total enrollment of 50 students provides more performance opportunities for each student and smaller faculty/student ratios.

Training reflects cutting-edge, contemporary curriculum including Ann Bogart’s Viewpointing, the Alexander Technique, the Linklater Vocal Technique, and concepts of actor training from Robert Cohen, Michael Shurtleff, David Craig, the Atlantic Theatre Company, and Stanislavsky.

The Williams Performing Arts Center, a $17 million facility opened in 2003, features the Fulks Theater (a 325-seat theater) and the Culp Theater (a multi-form theater).

The Homecoming Musical is performed annually in the 2,200 seat Abilene Civic Center.

Theatre students’ academic awards have included Dean’s Honor Roll (more than 50 percent regularly), Valedictorian, Trustees’ Award, B. Sherrod, Dean Adams, Servant Leader, Who’s Who, University Scholar and Honor Student.

Theatre students’ average GPA and SATACT score exceeds university average.

B.A. or B.F.A. is awarded in six different tracks.

Alumni are successful in grad school as well as in professional employment.

  

Auditions & Interviews

Dates:
November 9, 2007 - scholarships available
February 15, 2008 - scholarships available
February 22, 2008 - scholarships available
April 11, 2008
April 25, 2008

Set up an audition/interview: Contact us at:

Abilene Christian University
Department of Theatre
ACU Box 27843
Abilene, TX 79699-27843
(325) 674-2065
theatre@acu.edu

Competitive Entry:

All students must audition/interview to be accepted as theatre majors.
Up to twelve freshman will be admitted to the program each fall.
If you are not accepted, you may still enroll in certain theatre classes, but you must audition again later for acceptance.

Requirements: To be eligible for departmental entry, you must:

Provide documentation of high school GPA.
Gain clear admission to ACU.
Pursue a full course load (12 hours per semester).
Complete an audition/interview and be accepted as a theatre major.

Actors should prepare the following for their audition:

One-page resume of theatre experience.
One-page statement of career goals.
Four-minute prepared audition (two contrasting monologues of two minutes each).
Singers should prepare a one-minute song and bring an accompaniment tape. This is in addition to the four minutes allotted for the monologues.
A cold reading will be provided at the audition.

Designers and directors should prepare the following for their interview:

One-page resume of theatre experience.
One-page statement of career goals.
Drawings, photos and/or press articles demonstrating work.

Scholarships: Two to four $1,000-$1,500 scholarship awards will be presented to selected freshmen who are admitted into the program.
You must audition on or before February 24 to be eligible for a scholarship.

  

Audition Tips...

We want your audition for the ACU Theatre Department to be the best it can be! Here are some tips and tricks for an amazing audition. Choosing Material: Choose monologues that reflect your age. Try not to choose monologues we've heard many times before. For example, "To be or not to be" is not the best choice. For auditions, it's best not to use accents. We want to hear your own voice! Most importantly, choose material that you love and are comfortable with.

At the Audition: Be professional in your attire. Be confident! Smile! When you are given your cold reading, try to look up from the paper as much as you can. Seeing your face is more important than getting all the words exactly right. Remember, we are on your side. We want you to succeed!

Contact:

Adam Hester
hestera@acu.edu

Chair; Professor, Directing/Acting.
B.A., Abilene Christian University, 1977;
M.F.A., Trinity University, 1982.
Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers

VISIT US ON THE WEB ABILENE CHRISTIAN THEATRE DEPARTMENT