Why Study Theatre at K?
In no other program do you get to study literature, art, politics, music, history and psychology while demonstrating your learning through performance.
By studying the wealth of global theatre traditions, you will investigate the plurality of the human experience and the interdependence of all peoples and cultures. This deep look into society through the lens of theatre will teach you to critically think about and consume media, give you the tools needed for self-discovery, and the communication skills to turn ideas into action.
You learn these skills through creative and analytical courses that teach the fundamental and advanced techniques of acting, writing, directing, stagecraft, and set design. Ensuring a breadth of knowledge, you will explore dramatic literature—across cultures and regions—from classics to contemporary.
Outside of the classroom, the department encourages you to take advantage of the experiential learning opportunities available to you: taking part in campus and off-campus productions, performance-based student organizations, and drama study abroad/away programs.
Productions offer you hands-on experience in acting, set design, stage management, technical areas, and directing. Each term, the department arranges at least one full-length production, open to majors and non-majors alike—including student-written pieces, guest directors, as well as your favorite classics.
Taking your learning off-campus, the College has over 50 study abroad and away programs for you to choose from. Notably, you can go to Queens’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland or spend a term in New York City. In both programs you will work with local theatre groups and production companies to gain first-hand experience with how the industry works.
The project management, collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills you gain at K will set you apart as you join the legacy of alumni who have chartered successful careers as playwrights, directors, producers, lighting designers, sound designers, dramaturgs, theatre arts administrators, and so much more.
What can you do with a theatre arts degree?
Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our theatre alumni.
Careers
- Actor / Comedian
- Playwright
- Stage Manager / Producer
- Academia
- Communications Specialist
- Attorney
Employers
- The Juilliard School
- The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
- The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
- Stryker
- Apple
- Michigan House of Representatives
Graduate Schools
- New York University
- Columbia University
- University of Michigan
- Western Michigan University
- DePaul University
- University of Edinburgh
Program Spotlights
At K, you run the show
From choosing our plays, providing on-stage and backstage talent, to managing the production, our students do it all. Over the course of your four years at K, you can explore different aspects of theatre production—acting, lighting, set design, makeup, costumes, stage management and directing—and gain tangible skills that prepare you for a career in theatre. Many students even write and direct their own plays for their Senior Integrated Project, later showcasing them in our annual Senior Performance Series. Our students don’t just do it all; they do it all exceedingly well, always receiving high marks at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Work with local theatres in Northern Ireland or New York City
While you can choose from any of the College’s 50+ study away locations and transfer classes, the Belfast, Northern Ireland, and New York City arts programs offer unique experiences for theatre students. In Belfast, you will spend two terms at Queen’s University and get to work in either the Sonic Lab, a high-tech sound studio, or the Lyric Theatre, which puts on large productions and social justice programs. In NYC, you will spend a term working with local artists, theatres, and production companies to gain valuable industry experience, network with professionals, and develop your own creative works.
Join a community of artists within the department, K alumni, and the local theatre scene
Within the department, you will form close connections with your peers and professors as you put on productions together, learn alongside one another, and bond outside of the classroom—like in our regular department tea times. You will also gain access to our strong alumni network, who are eager to connect with you to share tips about the industry, establish mentorships, and collaborate on projects. Kalamazoo is further home to 10+ theatres that collaborate to make the city a more artistically rich place to live, and many of our students have participated in off-campus productions with these local partners.
Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisor
Evelyn Calderon (she/they)
Major: Theatre Arts
Minor/Concentration: Computer Science and Film & Media Studies
Study Abroad: Madrid, Spain
Best Adjective to Describe You: Diligent
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
The opportunity to work alongside a community of both professionals and students to achieve a common goal using creative problem solving. The theory you learn in classes can be directly and immediately applied to the productions you work on, and can involve creative, technical, or managerial tasks.
What drew you to the department?
I loved the opportunity to work on large-scale collaborative productions and gain the skills to better execute them.
What is your favorite thing about K?
I love how personal everything can be on such a small campus – professors can actually engage with you one on one, and there’s a chance to build such strong community when you really know most of the people around you.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
Along with my Theater major, I’m minoring in Computer Science and getting a concentration in Film and Media Studies. When I have open slots, I tend to take whatever sounds interesting – I’ve ended up in History, Spanish, Psychology, Religion, and Anso classes that way. Experimenting with different subjects like this is one of my favorite parts of the liberal arts experience.