The Department of Theatre and Dance at High Point University offers a comprehensive Bachelor of Arts degree, combining rigorous course work and practical production experiences to provide students with the basic theatre skills needed to prepare them for entry-level positions in the professional theatre; graduate study and specialized professional training; or related careers in which creativity, communication skills and collaborative abilities are essential.
The HPU Department of Theatre received the “2011 NCTC College/ University Award,” which recognizes education excellence and is given to the top university theatre program in North Carolina by the North Carolina Theatre Conference.
A Focused Curriculum
A Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre at High Point University allows a student to enjoy a broad educational experience within the theatrical discipline. Each theatre major completes a challenging 32 credit hour “core” of challenging and exciting courses, providing them with a valuable foundation in all areas of the theatre arts. Each student then chooses a 16 credit hour “area of emphasis,” allowing them to explore in greater depth the area of theatre where their individual passions lie. Working closely with their faculty advisor, each theatre major at High Point University has a great amount of flexibility in “customizing” their program of study, breaking away from the “one size fits all” traditional curriculum model.
The “areas of emphasis” in the Bachelor of Arts degree at High Point University include:
Performance Emphasis —This option is designed for those students who are primarily interested in acting. During their academic career at High Point, students take a variety of performance classes aimed at providing them with the strong foundation in a practical performance skills necessary to either begin their career in theatre or pursue further graduate study.
Design/Technical Emphasis —This option is designed for students whose primary area of interest is in the design and technical aspects of theatre. Students receive basic and advanced coursework aimed at providing the skills necessary to succeed in the theatre.
Collaborative Theatre Emphasis — Combining coursework in playwriting, directing and arts administration, this option is designed for students who are interested in artistic direction, producing or management positions in theatre. This option is especially appealing to those students who wish to be involved in theatre at the community or regional/non-profit theatre areas.
The Department of Theatre and Dance regularly hosts visiting professionals from the entertainment industry to teach workshops and to share their talents and experiences with our theatre students. During one academic year alone, the Department of Theatre hosted ten guest artists who conducted over 60 classes and workshops with our students including:
- John Cariani – Almost, Maine playwright and Tony Nominated Actor (Fiddler On The Roof)
- David Wells – Hollywood film and TV actor
- Michael Lilly – Award-winning Los Angeles director/producer
- Bruce Graham – Award-winning playwright and screenwriter
- Don Wildman – Host of History Channel’s Cities of The Underworld
- Brad Battersby – Feature film director/writer
- Pat Green – Three time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer
- Brenda Lilly – TV producer/writer and creator of ABC Family Channel’s State of Grace
Each year the Department of Theatre produces four “Mainstage” productions in the Hayworth Fine Arts Center’s Pauline Theatre and our “black box” theatre, The Empty Space. In addition, student directed one-act plays and original production projects regularly occur on campus.
Featured Graduate Profile:
 |
Courtney Feiman, ’14 – Florida Repertory 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.” |
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
