Theatre & Fine Arts
Do You Dream of Working in Theatre?
A Powerful Educational Experience
As one of the oldest professional theatre training programs in the region, Niagara University is well-known for preparing students for careers that take them anywhere from Broadway to Hollywood. One-on-one mentorship with theatre faculty gives increased confidence – both onstage and offstage – throughout every step of the experiential learning process.
To better prepare students for success and the realities of careers in professional theatre, our programs require an intense schedule and disciplined focus on both academic coursework and practical production experience. Niagara University Theatre requires a greater time commitment than other programs, but the benefits are significant.
Degree Programs
All programs offered by the department of theatre studies culminate in a bachelor of fine arts degree (B.F.A.). There are three B.F.A. programs offered by the department:
A Cutting-Edge Curriculum
Our unique curriculum fuses a conservatory approach to theatre training with a liberal arts education. Students in all three of our programs receive intense practical training in multiple disciplines within their major. For example, in addition to various acting, voice and movement classes, students in the Performance major can also expect courses in commedia dell'arte, directing, speech and dialects, physical theatre, stage combat and more. Theatre faculty strive to raise the bar in theatre excellence, and bring inspiring and new opportunities to students to meet the evolving demands of the industry.
Performance
Niagara University Theatre, the producing arm of the department, produces eight annual productions per season, allowing students an environment to apply the practical skills and knowledge they are learning in the classroom into a professional setting.
Mentorship
Under the guidance of working professionals, theatre design and production students receive hands-on individualized training in all aspects of theatre design like costumes, lighting, scenery, sound and stage management.
Opportunity
Students may choose to spend six weeks in London, England earning 12 credit hours as part of an optional study abroad program studying courses in British theatre, and Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, acting and performance.