Theatre

Address: 200 Taylor Building
Phone: 336.334.5576
Web site: performingarts.uncg.edu/theatre

Majors & Concentrations

• Acting (BFA) U881
• Design & Technical Theatre (BFA) U882
• Drama (BA) U880
• Technical Production (BFA) U885
• Theatre Education (BFA) U883

Special Application Procedures

Auditions and interviews for admission into the BFA degrees in Acting, Design and Technology, and Technical Production are held at the end of the fall semester. Provisional admission is granted to students pursuing the Theatre Education concentration for the first three semesters.

What's unique about the Department of Theatre at UNCG?

Our BA in Drama provides a broad-based approach for students who wish to emphasize theatre as an undergraduate major. Senior year capstone projects provide in-depth opportunities for study and practice.

UNCG Theatre, The North Carolina Theatre for Young People, and the UNCG Summer Repertory Theatre provide public production opportunities for students in all degree programs so that while you are learning your theatre art, you can practice before live audiences.

The Department of Theatre participates annually in the American College Theatre Festival and our own Performance Showcase in New York City for graduated BFA actors.

The department sponsors the spring semester tour of a N.C. Theatre for Young People production to area schools.

Message from the Department Head

The Department of Theatre prepares students for a range of professional opportunities in the arts, entertainment industry, education, and related fields. In class work, workshops, and a diverse range of fully-mounted theatre productions staged by UNCG Theatre, students are exposed to all aspects and disciplines of the field. In all instances, they are taught by a gifted faculty of working professionals committed to excellence in both the study and practice of theatre.

Special help for students

Each student admitted to the major is assigned a faculty member as an advisor who works in that student’s area of concentration. All students are assigned a review committee that meets individually with the student once a year. Their progress and goals are discussed, and students are invited to bring their concerns.

Careers and student success stories

• Beth Leavel, a 1980 MFA Acting graduate, won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of the title character in Broadway's red hot musical comedy, "The Drowsy Chaperone."
• Eric Johnson, a 1994 BFA Acting graduate, founded the Blue Shift Theatre Company which has toured internationally as well as in NYC and throughout the Southeast. Their production of "Sport" starred several UNCG students, and the company has developed several other original works.
• Andrea Reeves, a 1991 BFA Acting graduate, is currently manager of Prime-time Casting for CBS New York. Andrea returned to campus recently to conduct a workshop in acting for the camera for current theatre students.
• Marcy Bethel Frank, a 1984 BFA Design graduate, lives in San Francisco and freelances with several theatre companies such as Berkeley Rep., Ballet Met, American Conservatory Theatre, Seattle Rep., San Francisco Opera, and the Boston Opera as a milliner. She has also worked on films such as "The Joy Luck Club."
• Jonathan Summey, a 1995 BA in Drama graduate, moved to NYC after a year as a directing intern at the Actors Theater of Louisville. He has directed more than 50 plays since graduation and founded The Magnolia Ensemble, and is currently producer and resident director for the Zena Group Resident Company of the Interact Annex in NYC.
• Devan Ward Walsh, a 1992 BA in Drama with Teacher Licensure, is a tenured Drama teacher at Morehead High School in Eden, North Carolina. Her work won the C.C. Lipscomb Directing Award and Alternate Distinguished Play Award at the 2000 North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC) State Play Festival.

Career experience through internships

The Department of Theatre has an internship program with the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival for their season each fall. The department also has an ongoing relationship with Triad Stage, offering internships in stage management, assistant directing, acting, and theatre management. We work with the NC School of the Arts Film Department on providing actors for their projects.

Accreditation

The Department of Theatre is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Classes are up-to-date through faculty research

Faculty regularly attend state, regional, and national professional conferences where they lead and participate in workshops and panels. National and international festivals feature our faculty as presenters and participants.

Academic Clubs, Organizations and Activities

Alpha Psi Omega (the National Theatre Student Honorary Organization) hosts an annual Awards Party, presents a talent show fund-raiser, and sponsors other activities.

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