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Theatre

The Department of Theatre offers two degrees in theatre: the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with a major in theatre and an emphasis chosen from acting, design & technology, musical theatre, or theatre studies; and the Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a major in theatre that permits the student to choose an additional major or minor and fulfill the Foreign Language requirement which is the completion of six hours at the sophomore-level or fourth semester demonstrated competency. An audition or portfolio review is required for entrance into any of the BFA degree programs. Contact the Theatre Department at TCU for audition information. Admission to the BA program is available to any TCU student.

THEATRE TCU MISSION STATEMENT: To develop in our students’ artistic excellence, intellectual growth, and a spirit of empathy through professional theatre training within a liberal arts education.

THEATRE TCU Core Values:

  • Artistic and academic excellence and achievement

  • Individual and collaborative artistic expression

  • Inclusion and diversity of people, ideas, perspectives, and cultures

  • Active study of the past to help us form the future

  • Value and power of the theatre for social growth

  • Self-discipline and an optimal work ethic

  • Mentorship and commitment to personal development

The Department of Theatre functions within the context of a liberal arts university and sincerely believes that the student experience should include areas of investigation beyond the narrowly focused instruction that characterizes most non-university affiliated professional training programs.

The department requires a core of courses in all aspects of the theatre. These courses provide an overall view of the discipline, including acting, analysis, history, dramatic literature, design, and technical production. The core provides a strong background for both the liberal arts and pre-professional student.

Honors College

Theatre majors who plan to pursue Departmental Honors must be members of the John V. Roach Honors College and must complete course and course prior to graduation. Both courses cannot be taken during the same semester.

Departmental Facilities

The Department of Theatre is housed in Ed Landreth Hall and the Walsh Center for the Performing Arts at TCU. Facilities include the Jerita Foley Buschman Theatre, a 175-seat proscenium arch theatre and the 200-seat Spencer and Marlene Hays Theatre, with a thrust stage. The flexible Studio Theatre (75-100 seats) is in constant use by students involved in producing shows to test the skills they are developing in the classroom. All theatre spaces have state-of-the-art equipment for teaching theatre technology. Theatre productions are supported by a large Scenic Studio in the Walsh Center with a counterweighted paint frame and spray booth for painting scenery and stage properties. A fully equipped Costume Studio for theatre is located at 2900 W. Berry Street. A computer lab is available for students' use and for teaching various software programs specific to the theatre. Additional classrooms for theatre graphics, acting and academic courses are located in Ed Landreth Hall.

Departmental Requirements

The department requires majors to participate in departmental productions. Participation in performance and production broadens students’ backgrounds and prepares them for the profession and for advanced study. Any student on academic probation is not permitted to perform in public productions. Additional department policies are explained in a departmental student handbook. All majors are responsible for securing and reading this handbook.

Minimum Grade Requirement

Courses in the theatre major or minor must be taken for a letter grade, and must be completed with a grade of "C" or better to fulfill graduation requirements. Students with a GPA of less than 2.0 in the previous semester will not be cast in roles, given design or directing assignments, or placed in leadership positions.

Musical Theatre Theory Placement and Credit-by-Exam Policy

Students wishing to test out of THEA 31503 Musical Theatre Theory I and receive the credits for the course have two options:

1)      The student should have scored a 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP) Music Theory exam
or

2)      The student must take The Placement Exam for Musical Theatre Theory I in the Department of Theatre and receive a score of 80% or higher, qualifying them to move directly into THEA 31513 Musical Theatre Theory II.

Students wishing to test out of THEA 31513 Musical Theatre Theory II and receive credits for the course must take The Placement Exam for Musical Theatre Theory II in the Department of Theatre and receive a score of 80% or higher, confirming they possess the required outcomes of the class and should be given credit for the course.