Why Major in Theatre?
Belmont’s renowned theatre program is an ideal choice if you're pursuing a career in theatre. With the program's comprehensive approach, students learn from highly trained professionals. They also have the opportunity to actively engage with the Nashville theatre community while developing their artistry. The BFA in Theatre offers concentrations in Theatre and Drama, Directing, Theatre Education and Performance, providing students with advanced techniques and career preparation.
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More about the program
Belmont University’s Theatre program is a student-centered professional training program that prepares students for work in the performing arts industry. It is committed to a liberal arts foundation as an effective means of preparing students who want to pursue theatre as a life’s work.
This commitment is reflected in the system of training that stresses the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the theatrical performance and production process.
What You'll Learn?
Directing:
- Graduate with different practical experiences, including ten-minute scene, one-act, short play and staged reading
- Stage management
- Assistant directing
- Dramaturgy
- Collaborative conceptualization with design
Education:
- Creativity in the Classroom
- Elementary and Secondary Theatre Education Methods
- Teaching Diverse Learners
- Stage Movement
- Performance and Production Labs
- Theatre and Drama History
Performance:
- Intensive professional training and knowledge of the industry
- Performance opportunities starting your freshman year
- Acting for camera and stage
- Business of show business
- Audition/portfolio guidance
Production Design:
- Lighting design
- Set design
- Costume design
- Projection design
- Sound design
- Stage management
- Props manufacturing
- Set construction
- Costume construction
- Master electrician
Program Details
Curriculum
Not sure what else to put here as descriptor copy] A major in Theatre leads to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) and requires a total of 128 credit hours of coursework:
- BELL core requirements: 38 hours (minimum)
- Theatre Core: 24 hours
- Theatre Education Requirements: 54 hours
- Supportive Courses: 23-25 hours
- Emphasis Courses: 28-30 hours dependent upon emphasis
- General electives: 9-10 hours (minimum) dependent upon emphasis
Course Listing
- TDR 1120. Fundamentals of Production Design
Designed to introduce students to the basic elements of technical production and design. Emphasis upon the areas of scenery, lighting, costume, and make-up. - TDR 2080. Acting I
Introduces student actors to contemporary approaches to stage performance though the principles and techniques of Sanford Meisner. Emphasis on physical preparation, conceptual framework, and actor’s vocabulary, characterization, role development and the actor’s development of his/her personal approach to the craft of acting. The course will culminate in the presentation of a monologue. - TDR 2080. Acting I
Introduces student actors to contemporary approaches to stage performance though the principles and techniques of Sanford Meisner. Emphasis on physical preparation, conceptual framework, and actor’s vocabulary, characterization, role development and the actor’s development of his/her personal approach to the craft of acting. The course will culminate in the presentation of a monologue. - TDR 2400. Directing I: Realism
Introduction to the study and practice of directing plays. This course will focus upon the rehearsal process and the staging of scenes.
Prerequisites:TDR 2800 The Theatre Experience - TDR 2400. Scriptwriting I
Introduction to the process of script development through writing exercises. The course will concentrate on the standard script form for theatrical and film production and will also include an introduction to important dramatic form and theory.
Prerequisites:TDR 2800 The Theatre Experience or TDR 2000 The Film Experience - TDR 3510. Theatre and Drama History I
The study of theatre history and dramatic theory from Ancient Greece through Restoration drama.
Prerequisites:TDR 2800 The Theatre Experience - TDR 3520. Theatre and Drama History II
A study of theatre history and dramatic theory from the eighteenth century through the present.
Prerequisites:TDR 3510 Theatre and Drama History I - TDR 3550. Dramatic Literature and Cricticism
The study of significant dramatic theory and literature from Ancient Greece through the present. - TDR 3560. Play Analysis
A study of the methods of analyzing dramatic scripts.
Explore the variety of opportunities our students have to engage with the theatre community below:
Program Emphases
Are you an aspiring director? Belmont's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an Emphasis in Directing gives you intensive professional training and knowledge of the industry that allows you to creatively thrive both on and off stage.
The Directing emphasis is designed for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in the field of theatrical direction and the subsequent professional employment as a theatrical director.
With a wide variety of directing opportunities, both at Belmont and in the Nashville area, and a practicum-based curriculum, you will be challenged to grow in your craft through hands-on experiences.
What You'll Learn
- Graduate with different practical experiences including: Ten-minute scene, One-Act, Short Play and Staged Reading
- Stage management
- Assistant directing
- Dramaturgy
- Collaborative conceptualization with design
Curriculum
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an emphasis in Directing majors complete 128 hours of coursework over the course of their undergraduate career. This includes 50 hours of directing requirements that gives our students the necessary training for industry success.
- BELL Core Requirements: 38 Hours (minimum)
- Theatre Core: 24 Hours
- Directing Requirements: 50 Hours
- Theatre Electives: 6 Hours
- General Electives: 10 Hours (minimum)
Courses You'll Take
- TDR 2100, Stage Voice and Diction I
- TDR 2200, Stage Movement I
- DAN 2410, Theatre Dance Styles
- TDR 3520, Directing II
- TDR 3260, Advanced Methods in Directing
- TDR 3400, Scriptwriting II
- TDR 3080, Acting II
- TDR 4080, Acting III
- TDR 4180, Acting IV
- TDR 4430, Stage Management
- TDR 2120, Audition/Portfolio I
- TDR 3120, Audition/Portfolio II
- TDR 4015, Senior Capstone in Theatre
With Belmont's Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Theatre Education, you'll be prepared to compete and succeed in the continually evolving world of theatre education, giving you the flexibility and skillset needed to thrive in public and private education.
You'll take a strong cohort of education classes and a multi-disciplined cohort of theatre courses with knowledge and training in every aspect of theatre creation.
This curriculum leads to licensure by the Tennessee Department of Education, a requirement for all teachers in the state.
License reciprocity is available in many states through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. Click here to learn more about the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. You can view the current list of participating member states at this link. Belmont University reviews and updates this information annually to ensure accuracy and to provide the most current guidance to prospective and enrolled students.
You'll also have the opportunity to audition for Main Stage productions at Belmont, direct one-acts and short plays, design and work with Belmont’s traveling Children’s Theatre Company, The Belmont Repertory Company or RepCo!
What You'll Learn
- Creativity in the Classroom
- Elementary and Secondary Theatre Education Methods
- Teaching Diverse Learners
- Stage Movement
- Performance and Production Labs
- Theatre and Drama History
Curriculum
Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Theatre Education majors complete 128 hours of coursework over the course of their undergraduate career. This includes immersive production labs that allow our majors to experience all facets of theatre. Students cumulate their experience with student teaching on both the elementary and secondary levels in theatre.
- BELL Core Requirements: 38 Hours
- Theatre Core: 24 Hours
- Theatre Education Requirements: 54 Hours
- Theatre Elective Courses: 3 Hours
- General Electives: 9 Hours (minimum)
Course You'll Take
- EDU 2100, Foundations of Education
- EDU 2110, Educational Psychology
- EDU 3800, Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners in the Classroom
- EDU 2223, Human Development and Education
- TDR 3050, Creative Drama in the Classroom
- TDR 3180, Elementary Theatre Education Methods
- TDR 3190, Secondary Theatre Education Methods
- TDR 4610, Student Teaching Seminar
- TDR, 4620 Student Teaching
The Performance Emphasis is designed for students who are interested in a career as a professional actor in theater and other performance mediums. The Performance emphasis is intensive training for serious actors.
Through a wide variety of performance opportunities, our students are challenged to grow in their craft through hands-on experience.
Our students are immersed in innovative courses and labs that challenge them to become better storyteller. Performance opportunities are numerous with 6-10 theatrical productions a year and an average of 50-80 roles a semester.
Additionally, performance opportunities are available through students films as well as with our local partners, the Nashville Repertory Theatre, Nashville Children's Theatre and Nashville Shakespeare Festival.
What You'll Learn
- Intensive professional training and knowledge of the industry
- Performance opportunities starting your freshman year
- Acting for camera and stage
- Business of show business
- Audition/portfolio guidance
Course You'll Take
- TDR 3080, Acting II
- TDR 4080, Acting III
- TDR 4180, Acting IV
- TDR 2200, Stage Movement I
- TDR 3200, Stage Movement II
- TDR 2100, Stage Voice and Diction I
- TDR 3100, Stage Voice & Diction II
- TDR 2120, Audition/Portfolio I
- TDR 3120, Audition/Portfolio II
- DAN 2410, Theatre Dance Styles
- TDR 4015, Senior Capstone in Theatre
- DAN
Become a storyteller both on and off stage through immersive arts experiences and support from faculty who are actively engaged in the performing arts community.
The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama provides you the flexibility to explore multiple interests through a minor or a double major and can be truly interdisciplinary by combining theatre studies with a completely different major.
Meanwhile, you'll gain hands-on learning opportunities through innovative, immersive courses and opportunities to partner with local theatre companies such as the Nashville Repertory Theatre, Nashville Children's Theatre and Nashville Shakespeare Festival.
What You'll Learn
- Product design
- Acting
- Directing
- Scriptwriting
- Play analysis
Curriculum
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama majors complete 128-132 hours of coursework over the course of their undergraduate career. This includes immersive production labs that allow our majors to experience all facets of theatre.
- BELL Core Requirements: 38 Hours (minimum)
- Theatre Core: 24 Hours
- Production Design Requirements: 49 Hours
- Theatre Electives: 7 Hours
- General Electives: 10 Hours (minimum)
Courses You'll Take
- TDR 1120, Fundamentals of Production Design
- TDR 2080, Acting I
- TDR 2250, Directing I
- TDR 2400, Scriptwriting I
- TDR 3510, Theatre and Drama History I
- TDR 3520, Theatre and Drama History II
- TDR 3550, Dramatic Literature and Criticism
- TDR 3560, Play Analysis
Faculty Testimonial
Traci Ledford
Professor and Program Coordinator for Theatre Directing
“There is an energy at Belmont that other places don’t have: a generosity towards the arts and the art makers. I feel like, at Belmont, I am part of something very special, where the administration, faculty, staff and students are all striving for excellence, but this work is coupled with compassion and grace. This is both rare and beautiful.”
Career Possibilities
Click on the drop-down menus below to learn more about career possibilities for each Theatre emphasis.
The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama prepares students for work in a variety of entertainment fields as a working professional as well as education at the graduate level either in a Master of Arts or a Master of Fine Arts program.
As a double major, the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Drama can connect you to a variety of unique artistic career paths.
Belmont Bachelor or Arts in Theatre & Drama graduates have pursued theatre careers as professional actors, designers, directors and educators.
Graduates have also found success in careers including:
- Arts Management
- Arts Advocacy
- Theatre
- Marketing and Strategy Consulting
- Video Production
- Production Management
- Casting Coordination
- Law
Theatre with Directing emphasis is a foundational degree giving the student the necessary tools and techniques required for pursuing graduate study and the subsequent professional employment as a theatrical director. Students are prepared for professional employment in a broad range of entertainment related careers. Students may also further their education in an arts related graduate program.
Examples of institutions our graduates are employed in:
- Producing Director at Fusebox Festival
- Co-Founder and Director with Woven Theatre
- Associate Artist at The Nashville Shakespeare Festival
- Professional Producer/Director
- Associate with WSA Entertainment
- And additional other arts institutions across the United States
Belmont students who graduate with a B.F.A. in Theatre Education Emphasis are prepared to continue into graduate studies or seek employment as a theatre teacher in elementary and secondary education. Graduates also find employment in non-profit organizations in the arts working with outreach, education or management. Our graduates are employed across the United States.
- Professional actors in mediums such as stage, film, television, commercials, voiceovers, podcasts and everything in between.
- Arts-related graduate degree programs
- Arts management
- Screenwriter
- Production management
Learn from the Best
In Belmont’s Department of Theatre and Dance, students have the opportunity to work with award-winning faculty that are actively involved in the theatre community.
James Al-Shamma
Email: james.alshamma@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack Massey Center 318
Erin-Grace Bailey
Email: erin.bailey@belmont.edu
Debbie Belue
Email: debbie.belue@belmont.edu
Office Location: Belmont Heights 216
Ross Bolen
Caryn Camacho
Jane Duncan
Paul Gatrell
Email: paul.gatrell@belmont.edu
Office Location: Belmont Heights 201
Carrie Gerow
Shawn Knight
Email: shawn.knight@belmont.edu
Office Location: Belmont Little Theatre B-09
Carla Lahey
Email: carla.lahey@belmont.edu
Office Location: Troutt Theatre 106
Kyla Ledes
Traci Ledford
Brent Maddox
Sean Martin
Email: sean.martin@belmont.edu
Grace McGovern
Jessica Mueller
Email: jessica.mueller@belmont.edu
Office Location: Troutt Theater 114
Angela O'Neill
Eric Pasto-Crosby
Maggie Pelton
Amber Whatley
Contact Us
College of Music & Performing Arts
Alex Kissinger
Admissions Coordinator
(615) 460.8116
Email Alex