Major
Minor

Theatre Arts

Download Theatre Arts Declaration Form

The Earlham College Department of Theatre Arts sees theatre as an essential part of the human experience; stories brought to life through imagination and shared in community can transport and transform us. The Department of Theatre Arts teaches you to create theatre that elicits empathy, challenges the intellect, and encourages intentional decision-making. The faculty strive to develop interdisciplinary anti-racist theatre artists with a personal sense of responsibility to the communities in which they will live and work.

We also provide individualized training with a focus on the collaborative, analytical and expressive skills essential to a wide range of working environments - including theater, film &television, advertising, events, attractions, and beyond. Play selection and workshop programming is customized to your needs and interests. Guest artists interact with you in production, workshop, coaching and mentoring situations.

Program Details

Between our flexible 125-seat black box theatre and 350-seat proscenium theatre, we guarantee a total of five to nine annual departmental, senior project and student theatre company productions. These provide opportunities to perform, design, stage-manage, devise, direct, produce and take on other leadership roles throughout the year. As you gain practical experience in the wide range of theatre arts disciplines, you will also gain confidence in how to create new work and interpret existing scripts in service of the communities in which you live and work.

Follow our recent and upcoming events and learn more about our policies and practices on our theatre productions webpage and on Facebook and Instagram.

 

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, you must complete the following courses, in addition to general education requirements:

Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
23-28

In addition, you must complete:

  • One of the following Genre Studies courses:
Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
3-4
  • One of the following courses:
Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
4

Finally, you must also complete one of the following tracks:

Performance Track

Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
10
One of the following courses:
Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
3

Design & Technology Track

Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
6

To earn a minor in theatre arts, you must complete the following courses:

Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
6
  • One of the following:
Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
3-4
  • One three-credit, upper-level Theatre Arts course and at least three credits from the following:
Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
6

– OR –

  • Two three-credit, upper-level theatre arts courses and one credit from the following:
Course Code
Title
Credit Hours
Sub-Total Credit Hours
7

92% of work seekers who majored in the visual and performing arts between 2018-2022 were employed, pursuing graduate school or volunteering within six months of graduation.

100% of theatre arts majors from the classes of 2017-2019 were working or in grad school within six months of graduation.

Careers

Theatre grads have moved into paid internships and graduate programs in the theatre arts and related fields.

Outcomes

Top job industries for theatre arts graduates include performing and fine arts and education.

Can I do off-campus study

Yes! We strongly encourage our majors to consider off-campus study. Great options for theatre arts majors include London, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., among others.

Learn more about available programs via our Center for Global and Career Education.