Undergraduate Theatre

The focus of the Stephens Theatre department is on educating talented,
creative individuals for the realities of the entertainment world
and on developing the total person. The exploration of theatre is
enhanced by Stephens’ inclusive liberal arts setting.
QUICK FACTS
- Become part of one of the nation’s oldest (established
in 1899) and best undergraduate theatre programs. Stephens is
ranked No.
8 in the nation by The Princeton Review for
“Best College Theatre.”
- Learn in a master-apprentice environment where
professional actors work with you in the classroom as well as act
opposite you on stage
- Perform in a realistic environment with
male apprentice theatre students
- Learn to succeed in the entertainment business (both on stage and behind-the-scenes) with combined study in theatre, dance, music, film, television and radio
B.F.A. IN THEATRE
ARTS
Have your sights set on a performing arts career? With the
three-year, twosummer B.F.A. in Theatre Arts, you will receive
intensive training in your specific interest area. Choose
an emphasis in acting, musical theatre, directing, stage and
theatre management, or scenic, costume and lighting design.
You will have countless opportunities to polish your skills
at the Macklanburg Playhouse, Warehouse Theatre, Summer Theatre
Institute and, in Spirit Lake, Iowa, our Okoboji Summer Theatre.
As a theatrical design student, you acquire
practical and challenging skills, taking courses in theory and
practice of scenography, lighting design and costuming. Master
all the detail aspects of design, drafting, painting and planning.
B.F.A. IN THEATRE MANAGEMENT
This three-year, two-summer program is
designed to give students the necessary theatre and business background
to pursue a career in any of several areas of theatre management,
including box office, publicity and public relations.
B.F.A. IN THEATRICAL
COSTUME DESIGN
This three-year, two-summer program combines study in theatre,
art and fashion, preparing students for careers in
costume design. Students gain hands-on experience designing
costumes for stage productions in the Warehouse Theatre and
Macklanburg Playhouse on campus and at the College’s
Okoboji Summer Theatre in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
B.A. IN THEATRE ARTS
The four-year B.A. in Theatre Arts is designed
for students who wish to include more intensive work in the liberal
arts in their degree program, in preparation for graduate study
or a teaching career.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
With valuable on-stage time in the Macklanburg Playhouse
Company, you can take on leading roles and support
positions in six annual professional theatrical productions,
including two musicals. The anchor of Stephens College Theatre
Arts, the Playhouse is a state-of-the-art facility featuring
a fully trapped stage, hydraulic orchestra lift, modern sound
system and an ETC Expression light board used in professional
theatre companies nationwide.
The student-run Warehouse Theatre Company produces four additional shows. The company provides students with practical experience in all aspects of the business. Enjoy additional stage time in Stephens-sponsored summer experiences: the seven-week Summer Theatre Institute on campus and the Okoboji Summer Theatre in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Celebrating 50 years of intensive training for advanced students, Okoboji involves 13 productions in a 10-week summer stock schedule.
VISITING ARTISTS
Stephens invites professional actors, directors and designers
as guest artists. Students have benefited from working with visiting
artists including:
- Dawn Wells, Stephens alumna, “Gilligan’s
Island” actress
- Patricia Barry, Stephens alumna, Emmy-nominee,
television, film and Broadway actress, “Perry Mason,”
“Days of Our Lives,” “American Gigolo,”
Broadway’s “Pink Elephant”
- Bethany Rooney, television director,
“One Tree Hill” and “Everwood”
- Jennifer Tilly, Stephens alumna, Oscar-nominee,
Broadway and film star, “Bullets Over Broadway,”
“Liar Liar” and “The Fabulous Baker Boys”
- Judith Chapman, Stephens alumna, actress,
“As the World Turns” and “General Hospital”
- Lee Blessing, award-winning playwright,
“A Walk in the Woods” and “Two Rooms”
- Leslie Easterbrook, Stephens alumna,
“Police Academy” actress
- Mark Taylor, Stephens alumnus, guest
actor on “West Wing” and “Desperate Housewives”
- Judy Taylor, Stephens alumna, director
of casting for the Walt Disney Company
- Lynn Redgrave, actress of stage and screen,
“Moon Over Buffalo” on Broadway
- Marcia Wallace, actress, "The Bob
Newhart Show" and Emmy award-winning role as Mrs. Krabappel,
"The Simpsons"
- Jenny Friend, Stephens alumna, production stage manager, The Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis
THEATRE AWARDS
Theatre awards are offered to students
interested in earning a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts or Theatre Management
or a B.A. in Theatre Arts. For consideration, submit a videotape
of two audition selections and two songs (if you sing). Awards
in theatrical design also are available. Students should submit
a resume and complete an interview. For more information, please
contact the Stephens College School of the Performing Arts, Campus
Box 2077, Columbia, MO 65215; (573) 876-7194.
back to top
MAJORS
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Theatre professor Brett Prentiss spoke about his upcoming role in The Man Who Came to Dinner.
Stephens, MU plays roll out music, mirth
The Playhouse Theatre Company presents the cult musical classic 6 Women with Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know.
FACULTY
The School of Performing Arts boasts a faculty with many
years of teaching
and professional acting, directing and stage experience. Whether
it’s a question about voice projection, stage presence
or a special scenic or lighting effect, a professional is
always on hand to provide direction and lend expertise.
Beth Leonard, Dean of the School of Performing
Arts/Theatre Chair, M.F.A.,
University of Missouri–Kansas City
Geno Carr, M.F.A., Sarah Lawrence College
Robert Doyen, M.A., Illinois State University
Mary Alice (Patti) Doyle, M.A., Northwestern
University
Lamby Hedge, M.F.A., University of Pittsburgh
Mimi Hedges, M.F.A., Case Western Reserve
University
Brett Prentiss, M.F.A., Yale School of Drama
QUOTE
“At Stephens I lived, breathed, ate
and drank the theatre. I owe an enormous measure of what I’ve
been able to achieve to the nourishing environment and practical
foundation that gave me the craft and confidence to do what I’d
been trained so well to do.”
—Annie Potts
Star of the television series “Any Day Now” and “Designing
Women,” and the films “Ghostbusters” and “Pretty
in Pink”


