We are a family of creative, welcoming, and supportive peers and mentors. Our small class sizes, active production work, and faculty mentorship provide our students with deep and meaningful professional relationships.
Our Theater degree is a BA, which means our majors have coursework in all aspects, from performance to tech to design to the business of theater. Students can choose from 3 areas of emphasis in performance, technical theater, or collaborative theater.
We are a family of creative, welcoming, and supportive peers and mentors. Our small class sizes, active production work, and faculty mentorship provide our students with deep and meaningful professional relationships.
We are a family of creative, welcoming, and supportive peers and mentors. Our small class sizes, active production work, and faculty mentorship provide our students with deep and meaningful professional relationships.
Contact the Office of Admissions
Contact the Office of Admissions
One University Parkway High Point, NC 27268
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and Staff
View All Theater Faculty and Staff
Chair and Associate Professor of Theatre and Performance
Visiting Assistant Professor of Scenic and Lighting Design
Visiting Assistant Professor of Costume Design
Assistant Professor of Technical Theatre; Technical Director
The Department of Theater & Dance at High Point University proudly offers two comprehensive bachelor of arts degrees that combine rigorous course work and practical production experience – Theater and Dance.
Recognition:
- Top 30 College Acting and Performing Arts Programs for 2019-2020 by OnStage
- Top 25 B.A. Theatre Programs for 2018-2019 by OnStage
- No. 1 “underrated” theatre college in the Mid-Atlantic Region
- 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, and the American College Dance Association Conference.
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 theater ensemble on each of our productions.
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Course Requirements 2022/2023
Bachelor of Arts in Theater
Bachelor of Arts in Theater
Degree Requirements | Credits |
---|---|
Major Requirements | 48 |
University Core Requirements | 36-44 |
Electives | 36-44 |
Total | 128 |
Minor in Theater
Minor in Theater
Minor Requirements | Credits |
---|---|
Theater | 21 |
Musical Theater | 20 |
The Department of Theater and Dance offers minors in Theater and Musical Theater. Scroll down to see the requirements for the Minor in Musical Theater.
Requirements for B.A. in Theater
Requirements for B.A. in Theater
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
THE 1100 | Theater Participation (1 credit for 4 semesters) | 4 |
THE 1200 | Fundamentals of Acting | 4 |
THE 1410 | Playscript Analysis | 4 |
THE 2010 | Fundamentals of Design and Theater Architecture | 4 |
THE 3000 | Studies in Theater | 4 |
THE 3800 | Directing | 4 |
THE 4510 | Theater Arts Administration | 2 |
THE 4520 | Developing an Artistic Career & 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 |
Select two: THE 3210, THE 4200, THE 4500 | Select two: Studies in Performance (3210), Performance Studio (4200), Shakespeare in Performance (4500) | 8 |
Technical/Design Emphasis (16 credits) | ||
THE 3300 | Scenography | 4 |
THE 4800 or a Theater Elective | Internship or a Theater Elective | 4 |
Select two from the following, for a total of 8 credits: | ||
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 2710 | Theater Applications of CAD and Technology | 4 |
THE 2888/3888/4888 | Special Topics | 4 |
Collaborative Theater Emphasis (choose 4 to total 16 credits) | ||
THE 2310 | Playwriting | 4 |
THE 3210 | Studies in Performance | 4 |
THE 3230 | Devised Theater | 4 |
THE 3300 | Scenography | 4 |
THE 4200 | Performance Studio | 4 |
THE 4500 | Shakespeare in Performance | 4 |
THE 4800 or a Theater Elective | Internship OR a Theater Elective | 4 |
Course Descriptions |
Requirements for Minor in Theater
Requirements for Minor in Theater
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
THE 1000 or THE 1410 | Foundations of Theater or Playscript Analysis | 4 |
THE 1100 | Theater Participation | 1 credit for one semester |
THE 1200 | Fundamentals of Acting | 4 |
Two 2000-level or higher courses within the student's area of emphasis | ||
Select one course from the following list: | ||
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 | 4 |
Suggested Course Rotation
Please note that this is a suggested course rotation and may change based on when courses are taught. Your faculty advisor will work with you when planning your schedule.
Fall | Spring |
---|---|
Freshman Year13 credits |
|
Performance |
|
THE 1200 Fundamentals of Acting | THE 1410 Playscript Analysis |
THE 1100 Theater Participation | THE 1710/1720/1730/1740 Theater Crafts |
Technical |
|
THE 1710/1720/1730/1740 Theater Crafts | THE 1410 Playscript Analysis |
THE 1100 Theater Participation | THE 1200 Fundamentals of Acting |
Collaborative |
|
THE 1200 Fundamentals of Acting | THE 1710/1720/1730/1740 Theater Crafts |
THE 1100 Theater Participation | THE 1410 Playscript Analysis |
Fall | Spring |
Sophomore Year13 credits |
|
Performance |
|
THE 2010 Fundamentals of Design | THE 2250 Intermediate Acting |
THE 2210/2220 Voice & Dialect/Movement for the Actor | THE 1100 Theater Participation |
Technical |
|
THE 2010 Fundamentals of Design | THE 2710 Theater Applications of CAD or Special Topics |
THE 1710/1720/1730/1740 Theater Crafts | THE 1100 Theater Participation |
Collaborative |
|
THE 2010 Fundamentals of Design | THE 3230 Devised Theater or Elective |
THE 2310 Playwriting | THE 1100 Theater Participation |
Fall | Spring |
Junior Year13 credits |
|
Performance |
|
THE 3000 Studies in Theater | THE 3800 Directing |
THE 3210 Studies in Performance | THE 1100 Theater Participation |
Technical |
|
THE 3000 Studies in Theater | THE 3800 Directing |
THE 3300 Scenography | THE 1100 Theater Participation |
Collaborative |
|
THE 3000 Studies in Theater | THE 3800 Directing |
THE 3300/3210 Scenography/Studies in Performance or Elective | THE 1100 Theater Participation |
Fall | Spring |
Senior Year9 credits |
|
Performance |
|
THE 4200 Performance Studio | THE 4510/4520 Theater Arts Administration/Developing and Artistic Career and Practice |
THE 1100 Theater Participation | |
Technical |
|
Theater Elective or Special Topics | THE 4510/4520 Theater Arts Administration/Developing and Artistic Career and Practice |
THE 1100 Theater Participation | |
Collaborative |
|
Elective | THE 4510/4520 Theater Arts Administration/Developing and Artistic Career and Practice |
THE 1100 Theater Participation |
Requirements for a Minor in Musical Theater (20 credits)
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
DNC 2200 or DNC 2300 | Jazz Dance or Tap | 4 |
Two 1 credit dance studio experiences. Choose from: | ||
DNC 2001 | Contemporary Dance Studio | 1 |
DNC 2101 | Ballet Dance Studio | 1 |
DNC 2201 | Jazz Dance Studio | 1 |
MUS 1200 | Voice Lessons | One credit per semester for 2 semesters (2 credits total) |
MUS 2200 | Voice Lessons | One credit per semester for 2 semesters (2 credits total) |
MUS 1360 | Musical Theater Scenes | One credit per semester for 2 semesters (2 credits total) |
MUS 3540 or MUS 3600 | Musical Theater Literature or Musical Theater History | 2 |
THE 1200 | Fundamentals of Acting | 4 |
THE 2210 or THE 2220 | Voice & Dialect or Movement for Actors | 2 |
Total Credits | 20 |
Career Opportunities
We strongly believe that the skills gained through an education in theater 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 theater 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.
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.
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.
- Lauren Engler- Resident Technical & Design Company Member at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
- Robert Kratz- RJ Reynolds High School Technical Theatre Instructor
- Jared Goldenberg- Blue Man Group Orlando- Lighting and Video Supervisor
- Dani Criss- Dancer & Choreographer in Brooklyn, NY
- Alex Rugato- Lead Electrician at International Tour Marvel Universe Live
- Brandon Lee Browning- Television Actor
- Amanda Rossi- MA Dance Theories & Dance Teacher
- Courtney Feiman- Actress and Teaching Artist
- Marie Nicole- Singer at 7th Ave/ Director/Choreographer at Stagedoor Manor
- Dan Moldovan- Playwright, Actor, and Director in NYC
- Sierra Ewert- Performer at Walt Disney World
- Sarah Jackson- Stage Manager for the National Tour of Lion King
- Justin Beard- Walt Disney World Entertainer
- Jared Lindsay- Entertainment Host at Disneyland
- Victoria Dixon- Production Stage Manager at Mountain Rep Theater in Cripple Creek, CO
- Nathan Ruffin- Owner/Fabricator at Hammerhead Design Build in Winston-Salem, NC
- Kelsey Swann- Singer & Dancer at Celebrity Cruise Lines
- Fiona White- Performer on Disney Cruise Line
Student Outcomes
- Lauren Engler- Resident Technical & Design Company Member at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
- Robert Kratz- RJ Reynolds High School Technical Theatre Instructor
- Jared Goldenberg- Blue Man Group Orlando- Lighting and Video Supervisor
- Dani Criss- Dancer & Choreographer in Brooklyn, NY
- Alex Rugato- Lead Electrician at International Tour Marvel Universe Live
- Brandon Lee Browning- Television Actor
- Amanda Rossi- MA Dance Theories & Dance Teacher
- Courtney Feiman- Actress and Teaching Artist
- Marie Nicole- Singer at 7th Ave/ Director/Choreographer at Stagedoor Manor
- Dan Moldovan- Playwright, Actor, and Director in NYC
- Sierra Ewert- Performer at Walt Disney World
- Sarah Jackson- Stage Manager for the National Tour of Lion King
- Justin Beard- Walt Disney World Entertainer
- Jared Lindsay- Entertainment Host at Disneyland
- Victoria Dixon- Production Stage Manager at Mountain Rep Theater in Cripple Creek, CO
- Nathan Ruffin- Owner/Fabricator at Hammerhead Design Build in Winston-Salem, NC
- Kelsey Swann- Singer & Dancer at Celebrity Cruise Lines
- Fiona White- Performer on Disney Cruise Line
Study Abroad
At High Point University, our emphasis on global perspectives is designed to provide students with opportunities to enhance their international awareness and to develop their cross-cultural communication skills. Study abroad is strongly encouraged as a part of this emphasis on global studies. With a variety of extraordinary options at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, students at High Point University are encouraged to study abroad as early as the summer after their freshman year. Employers are looking for more than just a degree; they want well-rounded individuals who have familiarity with diverse cultures, special skills, and knowledge of the world around them.

Learn More about Theater and Dance at HPU