Stephens College Undergraduate Admissions
  • Explore Academics
  • Apply
  • Living on Campus
  • Paying for College
  • Visit Campus
  • Meet Our Staff
academics

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

 

 

Back to top

Explore Academics | Apply | Visit Campus | Paying for College | Living at Stephens | Contact Us

©2008 Stephens College — 1200 E. Broadway — Columbia, MO 65215 — 800-876-7207 — apply@stephens.edu
A-Z Index | Search | Directory | Feed Subscribe | Mobile | Web Policy
Updated: March 27, 2008