Program

Students perform onstage in a production of Hair.

Engaging the Mind, Body, and Spirit

The Theatre Arts major at LMU offers an academically-rigorous undergraduate education in the humanities. The undergraduate Theatre Arts degree serves as an excellent foundation for those students pursuing a career in theatre, film, and television, for those who wish to enrich their lives through non-career oriented study and performance, and for those pursuing MFA and PhD degrees in performance, design, history, and performance theory.

The study of theatre engages the whole person (body, mind and spirit) and encourages students to see their studies in a broad social, ethical and cultural context. Our program approaches the study of theatre with the view that theatre is a laboratory for the study of the whole of life.

Our program offers a variety of disciplines for students to develop their artistry and craft. Student can hone their techniques with coursework and hands-on experiences, as they advance to working on larger projects within the department. Theatre Arts offers several work-study positions for eligible students in scenery, costumes, and other areas of the department.

Our Disciplines

Two students acting onstage in a performance of Barbecue.

Acting, Voice, Speech, & Movement

These courses offer an introduction to the actor's instrument and practical skills applicable both onstage and off. Students can apply these skills in the program's wide array of performance opportunities.

A student using a sewing machine in the costume shop.

Design

The coursework in set design, costume design, and lighting design enable students develop their artistic skills, analytical abilities, and creative techniques.

A student works on an assignment for a scenic design class.

Technical Theatre

The coursework in technical theatre includes costume construction, stage management, makeup, scenic painting, technical direction, props, etc.

A student acting in the New Works Festival.

Playwriting

Students interested in playwriting have opportunities to write new plays, dramatized narratives and/or spoken word pieces.

Students participating in a class exercise in Strub Theatre.

Directing

Students with a passion and curiosity for directing theatre can acquire practical experience beyond the classroom with close faculty guidance.

Students performing onstage in a production of Measure for Measure.

History and Criticism

Learning a diverse and global history of your craft is extremely important to situate your artistic voice along with developing a critical vocabulary.