Theatre BA and Minor Program Specifics

Actors on stage mid performance in costume

Theatre Concentration Options

The BA in theatre offers concentrations in:

performance
musical theatre
design/technical theatre
general theatre

Performance Concentration

The Performance Concentration will give you practice in a great variety of acting styles, ranging from Greek tragedy and Restoration comedy to melodrama and psychological realism.

Musical Theatre Concentration

Should you prefer Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter, you will be pleased to know that Rhode Island College offers the only program in musical theatre in Southeastern new England. The Musical Theatre Concentration includes courses in music theory, singing and dance to provide training in all the skills you will need for success in this ever-popular field.

One way to sharpen your movement skills for acting is through the study of dance. Students in the performance areas should be aware that Rhode Island College offers a minor in dance and sponsors a highly respected dance company.

Design/Technical Theatre Concentration

The technical staff for theatrical productions may not appear on stage, but their presence is certainly evident. Without their expertise in the areas of lighting, costume, makeup and set design, the magic of theatre would disappear. If you are interested in making the magic happen from behind the scenes, you should consider a concentration in design/technical theatre.

General Theatre Concentration

The General Theatre Concentration is designed for students who want flexibility and diversity in pursuing their interests within the theatre arts. You will take a broad base of courses in preparation for multiple career paths with the ability to then customize your program of study to pursue other area in greater depth.

Acceptance Criteria

To qualify for acceptance as a BA in theatre major, you must be admitted to Rhode Island College (following the general undergraduate admission procedures) and successfully complete a theatre audition. You do not need to be admitted to audition, but we recommend that you have your admissions application at least completed by your audition date.

Sources of Funding

Talent awards are available for those who possess special abilities, and the college offers need-based financial assistance. Employment opportunities are also available at the college for work backstage, in the costume shop or in the box office.

Theatre Productions

Rhode Island College stages four major productions annually, giving you an excellent chance to perform and work in the technical areas. For those who want more independent experience, there is The Growing Stage, a student-run theatre group. In addition, you will have special opportunities to participate in internship programs in professional theatres. Each year many students work alongside actors, directors, and managers of companies such as the Trinity Repertory Company and Looking Glass Theatre.

Theatre Faculty

At Rhode Island College you will study with faculty members whose strong dedication to teaching goes hand in hand with professional theatre activity. Our faculty members have worked with respected theatre companies such as:

Trinity Rep
Gamm Theatre
Guthrie Theatre

and have performed at international theatre festivals. The American College Theatre Festival, the New England Theatre Conference and other organizations are representative of their professional affiliations.

Guest Performers

To increase your exposure to excellence in theatre, prominent guest artists and ensembles are regularly brought to campus. Among them have been Broadway's John Rapson (Sweeney Todd), Alex Cruz (Moulin Rouge), Chicago vocal coach Beckie Menzie, and master acting teacher Kari Margolis.

Keep Moving Forward

If you are looking for a challenging and supportive environment in which to develop your artistic talents, take a closer look at Rhode Island College.

Program Details

Course Information

Here we provide information on course requirements, course descriptions and an Academic Rhode Map for each program, a semester-by-semester plan to help you toward graduation in four years.

Course Requirements

Course Descriptions

Academic Rhode Map for Theatre BA, with Concentration in Design/Technical

Academic Rhode Map for Theatre BA with Concentration in General Theatre

Academic Rhode Map for Theatre BA with Concentration in Musical Theatre

Academic Rhode Map for Theatre BA with Concentration in Performance

Program Learning Goals

Upon completion of this program, students will have:

an understanding of the role theatre plays in the community, the professional arena and for the individual
a fundamental understanding of collaborative issues as they relate to play production
basic knowledge of the varied disciplines in the theatre and their inherent interconnectedness
the ability to effectively complete production-specific problem solving in varied disciplines
the skills needed for future academic and professional growth

Writing in the Discipline

Why or in what ways is writing important to your discipline/field/ profession?

Writing is important to all students intent on a career in theatre. Actors, singers, dancers, playwrights, directors and designers must use their skills to create cover letters, resumes, grant applications, websites and portfolios, to write press releases and to write scenes, songs and plays. Theatre dramaturgs and historians must be able to write program notes, magazine articles, scholarly articles and books. Development directors and theatre administrators must be able to write letters to patrons soliciting donations, to create websites and to generate promotional materials. Theatre critics must be able to author production reviews.

Which courses are designated as satisfying the (Writing in the Discipline) WID requirement by your department? Why these courses?

The theatre program has designated the following courses to be emblematic of Writing in the Discipline:

For the theatre design/tech, general and performance concentrations, the following courses will satisfy the WID requirement:

THTR 440: History of Theatre: Origins to 1800
THTR 441: History of Theatre: 1800 to Present
THTR 460: Senior Seminar

For the musical theatre concentration, the following course will satisfy the WID requirement:

THTR 460: Senior Seminar

These courses have been chosen as WID courses because they require and teach different types of writing essential to theatre majors.

What forms or genres of writing will students learn and practice in your department’s WID courses? Why these genres?

A number of writing genres are introduced and developed in the music area WID courses.

Students in the theatre program will be introduced to and learn and practice numerous genres of writing in our WID courses. For example, in THTR 229: Playwriting, students will write numerous scene-types (e.g. action scenes, conflict scenes, event scenes, etc.). Students in theatre history courses will be asked to write detailed play analysis and play reviews along with oral presentations on the same topic. Finally, students taking THTR 460: Senior Seminar will create and perform a Senior Showcase in both Rhode Island and in New York City. This work will require them to write/create journals, a press release, a website, promotional materials and many other kinds of documents.

What kinds of teaching practices will students encounter in your department’s WID courses?

Students in the theatre program will encounter many different kinds of writing instruction. In THTR 229, for example, students will participate in one-on-one meetings with their instructor to discuss work-in-progress. In other courses they will be asked to submit drafts of papers to their instructor and classmates for feedback. Finally, students will produce and share various low-stakes assignments such as weekly journals and high stakes projects such as research reports.

When they’ve satisfied your department’s WID requirement, what should students know and be able to do with writing?

Students who have completed the WID requirement should be able to do the following:

market themselves to a prospective employer or funding source via a resume, portfolio, personal website and other promotional materials
market their production or their theatre to the public via press releases, websites and other promotional materials
generate their own work (e.g., monologues, scenes, 10-minute plays, full length plays)
critically review productions
analyze plays
create effective oral presentations of monologues, scenes, plays, songs and design concepts

Minor in Theatre

Declaring a minor allows you to explore other areas of interest and make interdisciplinary connections. Minor areas at RIC complement and reinforce all major areas of study. By declaring a minor, you can set yourself apart as a candidate for job, internship and volunteer opportunities.