THEATRE ARTS A
t Rollins, you’ll learn more than how to play a part on stage—you’ll learn to become an active participant in the world. Recently ranked among the nation’s top BA theatre programs, our curriculum offers rigorous and individualized theatrical training in a dynamic liberal arts environment, where your performances are strengthened with insights from psychology, English, sociology, art, music, and history. The on-campus Annie Russell Theatre—Florida’s oldest continually operating theatre—is your main stage and primary classroom where you’ll hone your craft in front of a paying audience. You can choose to concentrate in performance, design and technical theatre, directing, musical theatre, or dramaturgy. Along the way, you’ll develop the technical know-how and life skills that will prepare you to create, shape, and share stories of substance and meaning in fields as varied as entertainment and business.
Why Study Theatre Arts at Rollins The Rooms Where It Happens Whether it’s on stage, backstage, in the costume studio or the scene shop, our state-of-the-art spaces are where stories come to life.
Production Opportunities From performing in, directing, and designing for everything from golden-age musicals to studentwritten pieces, you’ll have many opportunities to hone your craft in front of an audience.
Deeply Connected Learning You’ll be invited to jump in and take risks in the classroom, on our stages, with our community partners, and on our international field studies.
“My adventure in the theatre department was a true work-study experience. On one hand I was exposed to all elements of theatre: history, stagecraft, directing, acting, all helping to lay a foundation of learning. On the other, I had this unique opportunity to make theatre for a paying audience. The chance to create shows and work with vibrant students and professors was an awakening about how theatre is made and what it really takes to do it well.”
Christopher Fitzgerald ’95
Broadway actor, three-time Tony nominee Waitress, Young Frankenstein, and Wicked
Rollins Theatre Arts Careers Rollins theatre arts grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most innovative organizations.
Megan Borkes ’10
Actor, original cast of Tales of Beedle the Bard, Universal Studios
Kathleen Capdesuñer ’17
Directing Fellow, Roundabout Theatre Company
Janis Hirsch ’72
Sitcom Writer/Producer, Frasier, Will & Grace, The Nanny
Akin Ritchie ’11
Resident Lighting Designer, Virginia Arts Festival
Michael Schantz ’05
Actor and Director; Co-Founder, Wheelhouse Theatre Company
Isabella Ward ’15
Dancer and Actress, National Broadway Tour of Cinderella the Musical
Real World Experience From community engagement courses to internships, theatre arts students hone their skills in the real world.
Popular Courses As artists in a liberal arts environment, you’ll explore the rich variety of courses within our department, where you’ll find small classes, one-on-one advising, and a commitment to flexibility and responsiveness. • THE 112 Fundamentals of Theatrical Design • THE 225 Improvisational Theatre I: Fundamentals • THE 255 Acting for Musical Theatre I • THE 333 Directing I: Fundamentals • THE 336 Theatre for Social Change • THE 337 Voice III-Dialects
Beyond the Classroom Rollins Improv Players Committed to service and entertainment through performance, this troupe engages the Rollins community in challenging subject matter ripe for discussion and discovery.
International Field Studies Ongoing experiences abroad at the Prague Quadrennial in the Czech Republic and Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival encourage exposure to diverse perspectives and approaches.
Theatre and Autism This innovative course created in partnership with OCA, a nonprofit organization for people with special needs, allows you to put your skills to the test in the real world while serving our community.
ADM 1808-0184
Expert Faculty Experts in their field and respected members of the professional theatre community, our group of educators stand ready to make an investment in your development as an artist and a scholar.
Missy Barnes, MFA | Musical Theatre Areas of focus: Musical theatre performance and history, psycho-physical education
David Charles, PhD | Acting, Improvisation Areas of focus: Scholarly and performance work in improv and non-scripted theatre
Lisa Cody-Rapport, MFA | Costume & Scenic Design Areas of focus: Collaborative intersections of art and theatre, particularly in set, costume, makeup, and the fundamentals of design
Hilary Cooperman, PhD | Performance Theory & Practice Areas of focus: Performance as theory and practice, peacebuilding through theatre
Marianne DiQuattro, PhD | Theatre Literature & History Areas of focus: Intersection of dramatic literature and phenomenology; theatre and disability
Kevin GriďŹƒn, MFA | Lighting Design, Production Management Areas of focus: Lighting design for theatre and purpose-built performance spaces
Jennifer Jones Cavenaugh, PhD | Theatre History & Criticism Areas of focus: Gender and performance, theatre history, and script analysis
Robert Miller, MFA | Sound Design, Technical Direction Areas of focus: Technical direction, sound design, rigging, and pneumatics
Thomas Ouellette, MFA | Acting, Directing Areas of focus: Acting and directing philosophies and approaches
Eric Zivot, MFA
| Acting
Areas of focus: Voice and speech, movement for the stage, and acting for film
rollins.college/theatre