Program Advisor: Ellen Shanahan, (413) 236-4703

The Theatre Arts concentration in the Fine Arts degree program involves students in the study of acting, directing, design, lighting, and stagecraft in the beautiful and modern Boland Theatre in the Koussevitzky Arts Center. Theatre at BCC is "doing." In addition to a comprehensive academic program, students are involved in every aspect of theatrical production from lighting and costuming to acting and design, and they receive college credit for their work. Three main-stage, full-scale productions are mounted each year, augmented by student-directed plays, giving freshmen and sopho­mores unparalleled opportunities.

Experience is the key: what students learn in the classroom is immediately applied on stage.

Program graduates usually transfer to baccalaureate institutions where the experience, training, and academic discipline received at BCC are an excellent foundation for future work and study in the theatre.

Related majors at the baccalaureate level: communications, dance, mass communications, musical theatre, theatre-acting/ technical, TV/film program production. This is a MassTransfer eligible program. 

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of historical events in theater;
• demonstrate the art of stage technology: costuming; set con­struction; and lighting;
• demonstrate specific performance skills in acting including character analysis, blocking, interpretation, voice and diction;
• master the art of theatrical auditioning;
• develop a repertory of theatrical roles through participation in plays and theater events; and
• develop an appreciation of world culture through the beauty and discipline of the art of theatre.

Graduation Requirements
To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete the 66 program and general education credits, plus the additional require­ments, shown below.

Suggested block for program completion
The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student's individual needs.

First Semester                                                                      16 credits

THR 101      Introduction to Theatre .....................................................3

THR 104      Acting I ............................................................................3

THR 106      Fundamentals of Theatre Design .........................................3

THR 198      Practicum..........................................................................1

ENG            English Composition/Writing...............................................3

History (HI).........................................................................................3

Second Semester                                                                 16 Credits

THR 105      Acting II............................................................................3

THR 199      Practicum..........................................................................1

THR 233      Movement for Actors..........................................................3

THR            Stagecraft (see footnote 5).................................................3

ENG            English Composition/Writing................................................3

        History (HI)........................................................................3

Third Semester                                                                    17 Credits

THR 206      Acting Styles.....................................................................3

THR 298      Practicum..........................................................................1

THR             History (see footnote 6).....................................................3

ENG             Literature.........................................................................3

         Mathematics.....................................................................3

         Natural or Physical Science (see footnote 3)........................ 4

Fourth Semester                                                                  17 Credits

THR 299      Practicum..........................................................................1

THR            Acting or Directing (see footnote 7)......................................3

THR            Dramatic Literature (see footnote 1).....................................3

COM           Communication...................................................................3

        Environmental Studies (see footnote 3)............................... 1

        Natural or Physical Science (see footnote 3)..........................3

        Social or Behavioral Science.................................................3

Footnotes: 
1.  Chosen from THR 209, THR 210 or THR 214.
2.  THR 198, THR 199, THR 298 and THR 299.
3.  The Natural of Physical Science requirement must be fulfilled by one 4-credit laboratory science and one 3-credit non-laboratory science or by two 4-credit laboratory sciences. Completion of an environmentally focused laboratory science course, such as BIO 109, BIO 110, ENV 101 and ENV 102, fulfills both the Natural/Physical science requirement and the Environmental Studies requirement.
4.  THR 119 recommended.
5.  Chosen from THR 102 or THR 103.
6.  Chosen from THR 111 or THR 112.
7.  Chosen from THR 110 or THR 205.