Pursue your passion for performing arts
From our dynamic and comprehensive curriculum, dedicated faculty, and range of performance opportunities, your journey toward a bachelor's degree in theatre will be an unforgettable adventure. Unleash your creativity, hone your skills, and make your mark in the world of theatre at Indiana University Northwest.
The Department of Performing Arts (THTR) recognizes a symbiotic relationship between theatre production experience and classroom study. Therefore, requirements for the theatre major are distributed between practicum, production laboratory, and academic courses in the performing arts.
Description of the video:
Integration with the Chicago theatercommunity is really important. That we're
bringing guests every semester in to
work with the students. We routinely have
workshops with actors and directors
from Chicago.
We've taken trips to Chicago, and seeing theater which has
been just wonderful and a great
experience for our whole, you know, cast
to be together. As well as to see live
theater in Chicago, which we need to as
actors.
Many of my classes, and in classes
in the department, results in some sort
of major project. So if you're taking an
upper-level acting class, or stage combat,
voice, movement, those classes are
going to result in some sort of public
performance, and I think that's really
important to the growth of an actor. To
actually learn, not just by hearing
lectures and reading books, but also by
doing.
Theatre degree highlights
- Theatre majors at IU Northwest perform a wide range of contemporary and classic works, such as canonical plays, experimental projects, and works by visiting artists and directors.
- Our Department of Performing Arts boasts two newly constructed professional theatre spaces: a mainstage auditorium that can accommodate up to 500 people and an experimental black box theatre, both of which are used for live performances, rehearsals, and classes.
- Choose your area of concentration: Whether you're passionate about acting, directing, design, stage management, or technical production, at IU Northwest you work closely with a principal teacher to carve your own path and focus on what ignites your passion.
What can you do with a theatre degree?
Pursuing a theatre degree from Indiana University Northwest equips students with the skills and experiences needed to work as an actor, costume or set designer, prop designer, stage manager, artist manager, director, and more.
Theatre courses & degree requirements
- THTR-T 120 Acting I (3 cr.)
- THTR-T 228 Design for the Theatre (3 cr.)
- THTR-T 340 Directing I (3 cr.) prerequisite THTR-T 120 and THTR-T 228 or consent of instructor
- THTR-T 490 Independent Study in Theatre and Drama (3 cr.) - must be a minimum 3 credit hour capstone project
6 credit hours in each of the following 3 areas (18 cr.):
- THTR-T 168 Practicum (1-3 cr. per semester, sophomore standing or consent of instructor)*
*Practicum credit is given for approximately 40 hours of assigned work on any Theatre Northwest production. Assignments are finalized in the first week of the semester. Students are encouraged to apply for significant creative and crew positions prior to the semester of production.
Select two from the following:
- THTR-T 225 Stagecraft I (3 cr.)
- THTR-T 230 Costuming I (3 cr.)
- THTR-T 335 Stage Lighting (3 cr.)
- THTR-T 470 Theatre and Society I (3 cr.)
- THTR-T 471 Theatre and Society II (3 cr.)
We advise students to determine an area of concentration in consultation with a principal teacher in their chosen area (acting, directing, design, stage management, technical production, dramaturgy, etc.)
More Information
For more information, visit the Performing Arts page on the IU Northwest Bulletin.
