The Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College prepares artists to succeed in the highly competitive world of theatre, television and film.

Train with working professionals who have appeared on Broadway, in national tours, regionally and in film and television.

This intensive program offers opportunities for aspiring actors, designers, technicians and stage managers to build a strong technical skill set in their respective discipline and to garner extensive practical knowledge on how to navigate the current industry. 

This expedited program enables students to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in three years and two summers.  

Experience multiple opportunities on our mainstage and in our black box theatre. 

Work alongside industry professionals and build your resume while training at our immersive summer stock theatre in Okoboji, Iowa.  

Auditions and/or portfolios submissions are required for BFA Acting, BFA Musical Theatre, BFA Theatrical Costume Design and BFA Technical Theatre + Stage Management.  An audition/portfolio is not required for the BFA in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies.

The Conservatory welcomes artists of all gender identities.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees

This expedited program enables students to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in three years and two summers.

Musical Theatre

While training with working professionals, actors will strengthen their technique, sharpen their craft through multiple opportunities on stage and learn how to navigate the current industry. The combination of this immersive training enables our actors to be highly competitive.

Acting

While training with working professionals in this rigorous and immersive program, actors will gain extensive training for the stage and screen. Additional focus will be placed on how to navigate and compete in the current industry.

Costume Design

Multiple design opportunities on the main campus and on the Okoboji campus provide immersive training opportunities which enable designers to build competitive, industry ready, portfolios.

Technical Theatre + Stage Management

This holistic major offers exciting opportunities in all aspects of technical theatre, including but not limited to: lighting design, scenic design, sound design. set building, set painting and stage management. Dynamic, immersive training provides artists with a robust, industry ready, portfolio.

Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies

Ideal for the multi-hyphenate creative, this major offers cross-disciplinary training in Acting, Directing, Technical Theatre, Stage Management, and Costume Design. Artists will be immersed in a diverse, well-rounded curriculum, which offers foundational skills to pursue a multitude of professional options.

Create. Inspire. Impact. Let's get started.

More About The Conservatory...

Conservatory Mission Statement

CREATE. INSPIRE. IMPACT.

Faculty + Guest Artists

The performing arts faculty includes Broadway actors, ballet masters, regional theatre managers and artistic directors, New York City audition accompanists, professional lighting and design artists, and a regular rotation of working artists from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other major markets.

Macklanburg Playhouse + Warehouse Theatre Company

Explore the campus theatres where you’ll perform, design, and run the show. Performances are open to the public.

Okoboji Summer Theatre

Our professional summer stock theatre company in beautiful Spirit Lake, Iowa, Okoboji Summer Theatre provides immersive internships to undergraduate theatre students who work and perform alongside outstanding professionals from national companies and Broadway stages.

Alumni Accomplishments

Alumni include television and film actor Stephanie Beatriz; television, film and Broadway actor Annie Potts; stage manager Karyn Meek; voice actress Ginny McSwain, TV actress Judith Chapman, the late Dawn Wells of Gilligan's Island fame, and many more.

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Conservatory for the Performing Arts

Kristy Simpson,
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