BA in Theatre Arts Production and Practice

About this program

Columbia College Chicago's BA in Theatre Arts Production and Practice is designed for students drawn to the creative and collaborative work of making theatre from behind, beside, and around the stage. The program serves three primary artistic directions: **Directing**, **Playwriting**, and **Stage Management** — alongside additional pathways in costume design, lighting design, scenic design, and sound design for students interested in the full production spectrum. For **directors**: students learn to conceptualise, organize, and facilitate the preparation of scripted material for performance, culminating in a capstone one-act production. **Theatre Directing Minor** coursework is available for additional focused study. Faculty include instructors with professional directing credits at leading Chicago and national theatres. For **playwrights**: **Paul Amandes** (faculty playwright; 30 years teaching at Columbia; favorite subjects include Playwriting, Writing for Musical Theatre, and Acting) has guided generations of Columbia playwrights. The **Playwriting Minor** is also available for non-majors. For **stage managers**: students learn to create a safe, comfortable environment for cast and crew across large-scale musicals, dance productions, one-acts, and devised theatre. Faculty stage managers work professionally with Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, Lyric Opera, and Joffrey Ballet, and bring those professional standards directly into the classroom and rehearsal room. All students in the program have the flexibility to craft their own path across the multiple disciplines of theatre — "become a well-rounded and versatile artist capable of engaging in a variety of disciplines." Faculty work with each student individually to determine the best path for their goals.

Audition & application overview

• Requires a dance audition

Not Required

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