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Acting

A young woman with glasses and a bouquet of flowers sits on a chair in the foreground, while a young man in a red shirt leans over a table with drinks in the background.

The Acting Program develops disciplined, imaginative, expressive, and collaborative theatre artists. Students receive sequential training designed to strengthen the actor’s voice, body, imagination, emotional availability, analytical skills, and ability to communicate truthfully within a variety of theatrical styles. 

Foundational study includes theatre games, improvisation, concentration, observation, ensemble building, movement, voice and speech, character development, objectives, obstacles, tactics, given circumstances, and script analysis. 

As students advance, they study monologues, scene work, classical and contemporary texts, devised theatre, ensemble performance, audition techniques, and different approaches to acting. Students learn how to research characters and historical contexts while making informed creative choices. 

Voice and speech training develops projection, articulation, diction, breath control, vocal variety, and healthy vocal production. Movement instruction helps students develop physical awareness, stage presence, coordination, character physicality, and confidence. 

Students also learn theatre history and explore works by playwrights representing diverse cultures, periods, identities, and theatrical traditions. 

Performance opportunities may include mainstage plays, student-directed scenes, one-act festivals, showcases, staged readings, Shakespeare/classical performances, devised theatre projects, film projects, and interdisciplinary productions. 

Advanced students prepare audition portfolios consisting of contrasting monologues and other materials required for college, conservatory, scholarship, and professional auditions. Students also develop professional habits including rehearsal etiquette, memorization discipline, collaboration, receiving direction, and maintaining artistic integrity. 

Potential career pathways: stage actor, film/television actor, voice actor, director, playwright, teaching artist, drama educator, casting professional, producer, arts administrator, and theatre practitioner.