The Department of Theatre & Dance at High Point University proudly offers two comprehensive bachelor of arts degrees that combine rigorous course work and practical production experience – Theatre and Dance.
The Theatre degree provides students with the basic theatre skills needed to prepare them for: a variety of entry-level positions in the professional theatre; graduate study and specialized professional training; and related careers in which creativity, communication skills, and collaborative abilities are essential.
The Dance degree provides students with the skills needed to prepare them for positions in the professional dance performance world, graduate study, or related careers, in which creativity, communication skills, and collaborative abilities are essential.
Nationally Recognized & Locally Respected
HPU’s theatre program was named in the top 25 B.A. Theatre Programs for 2018-2019 by OnStage, No. 1 “underrated” theatre college in the Mid-Atlantic Region and was named one of the Top 10 BA Theatre Programs for 2016-2017 by OnStage.
Students have gone on to present their work at the Kennedy Center/ American College Theatre Festival, the North Carolina Theatre Conference, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, the American College Dance Association Conference, the High Point University “Year of the Arts,” and High-PURCS.
We feature an active production program, producing at least 6 productions per year including our big fall musical and two dance concerts! At High Point University, you will learn by doing. We practice the “Company Philosophy” where all of us – faculty and students alike – work as a theatre ensemble on each of our productions! From the first day you arrive on campus, you become a member of our theatre company!
More Than Just a B.A.
A Valuable Education
THe Department of Theatre and Dance at HPU offers comprehensive training within the university’s liberal arts tradition. You will be challenged by a broad theatre core including required courses in acting, design, directing, and theatre administration.
Areas of Focus
Develop your skills in an area of specialty YOU choose. We offer areas of emphasis in Performance, Design/Tech, and our unique Collaborative Theatre.
A Mentoring Faculty
Our faculty are experienced and dedicated theatre professionals who are committed to your future success. You will receive individual attention from faculty advisors and mentors at every step of your college career.
Unique course offerings
Developing an Artistic Career and Practice: A course designed to help graduates transition from university life to the real world. Audition and interview techniques, resume preparation, portfolio development, New York and Los Angeles survival techniques, how to make and stick to a budget, and developing an artistic philosophy are some of the topics covered in the course.
Theory and Practice: These four courses combine historical study of tech/design areas with practical, hands-on experiences in production.
What can I do with this major?
We like to brag (with some strong evidence) that the theatre major is actually more prepared to work in a variety of fields than many other undergraduate majors. The reason for this lies in the skills that are embedded in every experiential opportunity (productions) in which a theatre major participates; they learn, practice, and demonstrate the skills necessary to succeed in any career. For example, making deadlines (“the show must go on”), time management, creative problem solving, collaboration (working well with others), being a “self-starter,” working well with the public, communication skills, and many more marketable skills are gained from participating in close to 20 productions in their four years.
Experiential learning opportunities
- Four “mainstage” productions a year
- One major dance concert each year
- 5-10 student directed/created productions a year
- Workshops, lectures, and collaboration with guest artists
- Over 20 new plays developed and produced
- Exclusive permanent relationship with the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company where students work for CSC during the summer
- 38 experiential course offerings
Student clubs & organizations
- Alpha Psi Omega, the theatre honor fraternity
- The Dance Company, a student run organization open to all students. The Dance Company performs in the community and teaches classes such as stretching and yoga to fellow students.
Our Grads Work
We strongly believe that the skills gained through an education in theatre are varied and in demand in today’s world. Skills like improvisation, project management, presenting and public speaking, budget management, and communication are all developed through studying theatre at High Point University. Because of these kinds of skills, our graduates have gone on to have great success, both in and out of the theatre.
Our students are currently in fields including:
- Actor, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST LIVE, Walt Disney World
- Performer on Disney Cruise Lines
- Produced NYC playwright
- Off-Broadway Theatre Management, NYC
- Pursuing MFA in Production Management at Yale School of Drama
- House Manager and Actress at Round House Theatre
- Production Management, The Roundabout Theatre, New York
- Professional Actor, appearances on Law and Order, The Blacklist, and Blue Bloods, New York
- Actress/Stage Manager/Company member at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Baltimore
- Executive Assistant, Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre, East Greenwich, R.I.
- Professional Dancer, Dallas Ballet, Dallas
- Sound and Lighting Technician, Endstation Theatre, Lynchburg, Va.
- Production Technician, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla.
- Costume Coordinator, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Fla.
- Production Technician, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Va.
- working professionally as actors, theatre technicians, performers, designers in motion picture, television, and radio
- professional dance companies
- attending law school
- educators
- school principals
- ministers
- advertising
- fashion and costume design
- furniture design
- studying at some of the top graduate programs in the nation
Featured Graduate Profiles:
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Courtney Feiman, ’14 – House Manager – Round House Theatre
“My professors were always there to help me out, whether I was having trouble connecting with my character, or the music I was learning was extremely difficult. Their doors were always open. We were a family who looked out for one another. They taught me how to present myself in a professional manner and gave me the technique and performance skills I needed to succeed.”
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Nathan Ruffin, ’11 – Founder and CEO of HammerHead Design Build
“All of the long hours in the theatre shop, nights, and weekends filled with working on the productions put me in an excellent position to understand what I needed to succeed. It’s not always about how hard you work, it’s about how smart you work! The theatre professors pushed that theory very well.”
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Fiona White, ’15 – Performing for Disney Cruise Lines
“I have never felt more supported than I did during my time at HPU. ALL of the theatre faculty want you to succeed. As an actor, they pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and stretch my imagination; and as a student, they were always there to listen and advise. Even after graduation, they have continued to support and mentor me, and for that I am very thankful.”
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Rebecca Donald, ’12 – Events Manager – Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre – Woonsocket RI
“Beyond learning technique and skill, I benefitted greatly from learning time management and leadership at HPU. Being constantly busy and juggling different responsibilities in the department truly helped me focus and realize I am able to handle and complete any task that comes at me while staying level headed. Whenever I feel overwhelmed and over worked, I remember I have handled more in the past.”
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Turner Morehead, ’13 – Student at Atlantic Acting School, NYC
“The biggest strength of HPU’s theatre department is how they create this great ensemble with the faculty and students working together to produce very high quality productions. Learning how to work in that atmosphere has helped me in everything I have done since leaving school.” |
The Department of Theatre and Dance offers the B.A. degree in Theatre. To graduate from High Point University with this degree, students must complete the following:
B.A. in Theatre
| Major Requirements |
48 credits |
| University Core Requirements |
50 credits |
| Electives |
30 credits |
TOTAL
|
128 credits
|
Requirements for the B.A. in Theatre (48 credits)
In order to complete the major in theatre, a student must complete the theatre core requirement and one of the three areas of emphasis.
Theatre Core (32 credits)
- THE 1100. Theatre Participation (1 credit for 4 semesters)
- THE 1200. Fundamentals of Acting (4)
- THE 2010. Fundamentals of Design and Theatre Architecture (4)
- THE 3000. Studies in Theatre (4)
- THE 3300. Scenography (4)
- THE 3800. Directing (4)
- THE 4510. Theatre Arts Administration (2)
- THE 4520. Developing an Artistic Career and Practice (2)
Select one of the following courses:
- THE 1710. Lighting and Sound Crafts: Theory and Practice (4)
- THE 1720. Stagecraft: Theory and Practice (4)
- THE 1730. Costume Crafts: Theory and Practice (4)
- THE 1740. Make-up Crafts: Theory and Practice (4)
Performance Emphasis (16 credits)
- THE 2210. Voice and Dialect (2)
- THE 2220. Movement for Actors (2)
- THE 2250. Intermediate Acting (4)
- THE 3210. Studies in Performance (4)
or
- THE 4200. Performance Studio (4)
or
Technical/Design Emphasis (16 credits)
- THE 2710. Theatre Applications of CAD (4)
or
Select two courses from the following:
- THE 1710. Lighting and Sound Crafts: Theory and Practice (4)
- THE 1720. Stagecraft: Theory and Practice (4)
- THE 1730. Costume Crafts: Theory and Practice (4)
- THE 1740. Make-up Crafts: Theory and Practice (4)
- THE 2888/3888/4888. Special Topics (4)
Collaborative Theatre Emphasis (16 credits)
- THE 2310. Playwriting (4)
- THE 3230. Devised Theatre (4)
- THE 3310. Playwriting Workshop (2)
or
The Theatre Department offers a Maymester titled “Shakespeare in Performance” that combines a semester’s classroom study of Shakespeare and his works with a two-week study abroad to London and Stratford-on-Avon. The adventure begins with travel to London, England to bring theater to life. The course will include travel to Stratford-upon- Avon, and at least five play performances in some of the most famous theaters in the world including the Royal Shakespeare Company Theater and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. Along the way, see the sites in London and visit Shakespeare’s birthplace.
Students who wish to study abroad in semester long programs can often do so without any negative impact on their degree progress. We work with our students to make sure they graduate on time. In the past, we have worked with theatre majors who were abroad with the choir and who were able to collaborate on an original play for academic credit.
