502 South Cooper St. Arlington, TX 76019
144 Fine Arts Building North, Box 19103
Administrative Office: (817) 272-2650
theatrearts@uta.edu
Bachelor of Arts - Theatre Arts
B.A. in Theatre Arts
The B.A. in Theatre Arts offers a breadth of experience and depth of inquiry. Majors take courses in theatre theory and practice including acting, directing, technical theatre, and dramatic literature. Designed for students who are focused on creating new works, this degree allows an emphasis in playwriting, dramaturgy, directing, and/or devising.
Earn a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts at UTA
How is the curriculum designed?
Students take a broad range of courses in theatre theory and practice, including acting, directing, technical theatre, dramatic literature, theatre history, and performance. Students can also gain experience in the program as assistant directors, dramaturgs, production crews, and in the classroom. Many direct, design, and perform student-devised works, participate in Theatre Arts Teaching Lab, and become involved with dramaturgy. BAs may participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) with their playwriting, devising, and dramaturgy work. Some of our program’s most exciting work results from residencies with internationally renowned guest artists and through our student-driven BA Ensemble.
What makes the BA different?
The Department of Theatre Arts and Dance offers a BA in Theatre Arts and a BFA in a choice of three concentrations. The BA in Theatre Arts is a liberal arts program, pairing well with a double major and/or a variety of minors. The Theatre Arts BA offers breadth of experience and depth of inquiry. It is designed for students focused on the creation of new works: playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, and scholars. Our graduates have continued their careers in graduate programs, producing, performance and teaching as well as work in casting, marketing, arts administration, dramaturgy, and applied theatre.
Is the B.A. in Theatre right for you?
The Theatre Arts BA introduces students to a range of theatrical and performance practices. Students are prepared to apply for master’s programs, or to develop artistic or administrative careers in theatre. Our degree is a strong choice for students interested in arts administration, casting, producing, teaching theatre, or other paths that combine the business, humanities, and social science skills acquired in the theatre major. If you are interested in making theatre—being on stage and behind the scenes— building community and effecting change in the world—then the BA in Theatre Arts might be right for you.
Do students have opportunities to perform?
While performance in the season productions is not a focus of the program, students enrolled in the BA Theatre Arts program may audition for any of the performances for an opportunity to be cast in a role. Students are encouraged to involve themselves in their areas of interest and have numerous courses that include experiences in acting throughout their degree plan.
Program Auditions
An Accept’d application is not required for entrance into the BA Theatre Arts program, but prospective students are encouraged to submit one if they would like to be considered for a scholarship. The BA scholarship application will ask you for a writing sample—either a short play or full length play excerpt, a dramaturgy packet or program note, a critical essay about a work of dramatic literature, or a performance review.
For questions, please feel free to contact the following area head: BA Theatre Arts Professor Sebastian Trainor
If you have not already applied to the University, please visit the University Admissions page to begin the process!
BA Theatre Arts Faculty
Sebastian Trainor, PhD Theatre History, Theory & Criticism, University of Washington; MFA Directing for the Stage, California Institute of the Arts
Associate Professor of Instruction
Program Head, BA Theatre Studies
Email: sebastian.trainor@uta.edu
Office: Fine Arts Building Central
Julienne A. Greer, PhD Humanities Aesthetic Studies, University of Texas at Dallas
Associate Professor
Associate Chair
Jeanmarie Higgins, PhD Theatre History, Theory & Criticism, University of Washington
Professor
Department Chair
Dennis Maher, PhD Theatre History, Theory & Criticism; University of Wisconsin-Madison
Associate Professor
Seraphina Nova Glass, MFA Playwriting, Smith College; MFA Directing, University of Idaho
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email: snova@uta.edu
Phone #: (817) 272-2650