Theatre Arts

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Follow your passion for theatre while expanding how you see and think about the world. The theatre arts major helps you build essential theatre skills, sharpen your critical thinking, and grow as both an artist and a creative problem-solver. Through hands-on experiences and a well-rounded curriculum, you’ll develop the awareness and versatility needed to bring your artistic vision to life—on stage and beyond.

Experiential Learning

Workshops with acclaimed professional companies like the Tectonic Theatre Project and celebrated contemporary playwrights like Kate Hamill.
Producing your own work with dynamic student organizations like BBQ Kitten Improv Troupe, Ministry of Experimental Theatre (MET) and Bradley’s student chapter of the U.S. Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT).
Excursion courses to London theatre and Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.
Internships in theatre production and administration at theatres like Chicago Shakespeare, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

Program Details

Required Courses

THE 115: Fundamentals of Acting (3 hrs.)
THE 121: Contemporary Theatre Practice (3 hrs.)
THE 123: Script Analysis for the Theatre (3 hrs.)
THE 125: Stagecraft (3 hrs.)
THE 226: Fundamentals of Design Or THE 230: Costume Construction (3 hrs.)
THE 316: Fundamentals of Directing Or THE 318: Stage Management (3 hrs.)
Two of the following Theatre History Courses:
THE 336: History of Theatre and Drama I (3 hrs.)
THE 337: History of Theatre and Drama II (3 hrs.)
THE 338: History of Theatre and Drama III (3 hrs.)
THE 410: Senior Seminar/Capstone Project (3 hrs.)
THE 439: Global Encounters (3 hrs.)

Theatre Practicum: A total of 3 hours (6 sections) from the following.

THE 107: Theatre Practicum (.5 hr.)
THE 108: Theatre Practicum (.5 hr.)
THE 207: Theatre Practicum (.5 hr.)
THE 208: Theatre Practicum (.5 hr.)
THE 307: Theatre Practicum (.5 hr.)
THE 308: Theatre Practicum (.5 hr.)
THE 407: Theatre Practicum (.5 hr.)

Total Hours: 33

Degree Concentrations

Take your career any way you want! Explore the different degree concentrations that we offer for you to personalize your professional future.

The Theatre Arts Production concentration gives you hands-on experience in design, production, and technology from your very first semester. You’ll take courses in stagecraft, scenic painting, lighting, costumes, sound design, and more to build a strong foundation in theatre production.

Plus, you’ll have incredible opportunities to present your work at the USITT annual conference and even join Bradley’s Las Vegas Excursion, where you’ll work alongside Cirque du Soleil artists and technicians for a one-of-a-kind backstage experience. Whether you dream of becoming a stage manager, technical director, or scenic artist, this program helps you turn your passion into a career.

The Theatre Arts Performance concentration gives you the intensive training and hands-on experience to bring your acting career to life. You’ll build a strong foundation with advanced courses in acting technique, voice, movement, and audition prep, while electives like stage combat, dialects, and acting for the camera expand your range.

From mainstage productions to student-led shows, you’ll gain performance experience from day one. Plus, with personalized mentorship and annual reviews, you’ll receive the guidance you need to grow as an artist. An audition is required for admission, but once you’re in, you’ll have the skills and confidence to take center stage.

Career Opportunities

A theatre arts major is a gateway to careers in commercial and non-profit theatre, as well as film, television, and new media. Recent Bradley theatre grads are active in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, St. Louis, Phoenix and throughout the U.S. as performers, technicians, stage managers, designers, educators, authors, filmmakers, talent agents and master craftspeople.

Minors

Get involved in theatre, even if you’ve chosen another academic path! This minor will keep you engaged in all department productions as an actor, technician, crew member, or any number of other roles.

In addition, you will work closely with a theatre advisor. The minor is often paired with majors in communication, television arts, engineering, education, psychology, and other humanities programs.

This minor includes courses in acting, piano, music theory, and ear training/sight singing. You’ll be involved in theatre arts productions through our practicum program, and you’ll work closely with a theatre arts advisor, to keep you on track.

This minor pairs well with majors in music, theatre arts, communication, TV arts, creative writing, and other majors within the fine arts or the liberal arts and sciences.