Bachelor of Arts in Theatre

This degree aims to educate creative, resourceful and responsible future artists, teachers, scholars, audience members and advocates for the art of theatre. Theatre majors choose from concentrations in General Theatre, Acting, Musical Theatre, Directing, Dramatic Writing, History and Criticism, or Theatre Education.

All students in the BA Theatre degree learn basic principles through a shared set of courses called the Theatre Core, then specialize in one of the following Concentrations listed below.

Theatre Core Requirements

• Three hours of acting
• Fifteen hours of Theatre lecture classes:
  • 223 Introduction to Script Analysis
  • 335 Theatre History I
  • 336 Theatre History II
  • 439 Theories of Theatre
  • 438 Topics in Theatre History/Criticism
• Six hours chosen from:
  • 192 Stagecraft I
  • 194 Introduction to Costuming
  • 196 Introduction to Stage Lighting
• Two hours of Dance
• Three hours of 200 Theatre Practicum

Students then choose an area of specialization:

Concentrations

Performance Training - Acting and Musical Theatre

Admittance to the acting/musical theatre concentration is by audition/jury in the second year of training.   Courses cover basic skills in acting, musical theatre, acting for camera, voice and movement, physical theatre techniques, modern and classical styles, characterization, auditioning, and a professional semester for preparation to enter a graduate school or professional work.  Students are encouraged during their tenure to perform in all types of venues. 

Auditions for Acting and Musical Theatre Concentration

Students wishing to take the Performance Training—Acting and Musical Theatre Concentration must audition to be admitted to this concentration. These placement auditions for entrance into acting classes at the 200-level or above are held in the Fall and Spring during the first week of classes. All transfer students wishing to be in this concentration will also be required to audition even with equivalent coursework completed at previous institutions.

Directing / Stage Management

Directing students train in three semesters of intense course work and then have the opportunity to direct in the Words Afire Festival, direct one or more full-length productions in the Theatre-X Season, take course work in the Media Arts Department, and direct in any of the numerous stage venues around the Albuquerque area with mentorship.  All the hands-on experience prepares the student to be competitive for an MFA Directing program.

Dramatic Writing

Students interested in writing careers are trained in dramatic writing for the stage, screen, and digital media. “Page-to-production” is accomplished through the Words Afire Festival and productions of original scripts in the Theatre-X-Season and the Outreach School Tour Program. Numerous undergraduate students have won playwriting awards from the American College Theatre Festival.

Theatre Education

In and out of the classroom, students practice the art of teaching and directing through experiences in creative drama, children’s theatre, and theatre for social change. Students teach in public and private schools, community centers, in the Saturday Morning Theatre Classes, and the Summer Theatre Academy.

Theatre History / Theory and Criticism

Students with an interest in preparation for further graduate study in Performance Theory, History and Criticism receive a solid foundation in course work that includes a year of theatre history, theories of theatre, alternating topic offerings in such topics as Chicano Theatre, Native American Theatre, Theatre in Modern American Culture, Gender Issues in Theatre, etc.

General Theatre

The student who chooses this concentration can combine study in any of the above areas.

All students in the degree have an additional 15 hours (five courses) of elective credits to explore course work outside their concentration or delve further into their specialization. For details of the BA Theatre degree, please see the major and minor degree of study plans listed in degree plans.