Empowered Performance

As a student in Theatre Arts, you'll build a solid understanding of and appreciation for the power of theatre and performance. Graduates of our program have built successful careers in the professional theatre, other creative fields and/or have gone on to advanced study in graduate and professional training programs.

Students learn to…

Express Creativity – Students investigate, dive in, and embrace their natural creative impulses through the channels of theatre and performance. 

Embrace Collaboration – Students, faculty, staff, and quest artists work collectively as performers, writers, technicians, directors, producers, and promoters to explore and create.  

Explore and Experiment with Craft – Students learn to define and own their theatre making craft through training, preparation, performance, reflection, and revision.

Experience and Engage Community & Culture – Students gain an understanding and respect for the relationship between community, culture, and the arts through abundant curricular and co-curricular opportunities.

Our Academic Programs

Undergraduate

Undergraduate students majoring in Theatre Arts receive academic training and hands-on experience in the foundational areas of theatre arts. Core Theatre subjects include:

  • Script Analysis
  • Acting
  • Scenery & Lighting
  • Costume & Makeup
  • Producing Theatre
  • Movement, Voice & Speech
  • Directing
  • Theatre History
  • Dramaturgy

Advanced course work enables specialization in single or multiple areas of interest such as acting/ performance, playwriting, technical theatre, directing, theatre studies, etc.

Graduate

Graduate students have three options:

  1. Theatre Arts
  2. Theatre Arts w/ Concentration in Interpretation & Performance Studies
  3. Theatre Arts w/ Concentration in Applied Drama & Theatre for the Young

These programs combine academic course work with practical production experience and are designed to balance theoretical and applied approaches to theatre as both an art form and a cultural institution. They enhance each student’s further pursuit of the art and craft of theatre for further advanced degrees and careers in professional and educational theatre settings.

Student Activities and Involvement

Students pursuing this degree have abundant opportunities to engage in our extensive annual mainstage, second-stage, and laboratory theatre season; our community-based programming including touring productions; and various student organizations.

Production Opportunities

  • Mainstage Season (5 productions annually)
  • Second Stage Productions (2 productions annually)
  • Lab Productions (2+ productions annually)
  • Student-Written One-Act Play Festival (written, directed, performed by students)
  • Applied Drama & Theatre for the Young Tour
  • 6 Figures – Playback Theatre Troupe
  • ENCORE—Musical Theatre Troupe

Student Organizations

Alpha Psi Omega

The EMU Pi Alpha chapter is a theatre honor society that recognizes students who demonstrate a high standard of accomplishment in theatre.

Players at EMU

PLAYERS at EMU is a theatre arts organization that seeks to preserve, publicize and develop student performers and performances. Ultimately it is designed to develop human connections through student performances and to enrich the lives of students through the performing arts.

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Contact Us

Meriah Sage

Director of Theatre

106 Judy Sturgis Hill Building

734.487.0535

[email protected]