Theatre

Department of Theatre
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Williams Theatre 128 ~ 260-481-6551

The department offers a BFA in Theatre with concentrations in: Musical Theatre, Acting, Production and Design, and Integrated Studies in Theatre. Each BFA Theatre Major is required to complete one of the concentrations. Placement in a concentration is contingent upon successful completion of either an audition, in the case of Musical Theatre and Acting, or an interview, in the case of Production and Design and Integrated Studies. All applicants meeting university entry requirements and choosing a theatre major are automatically admitted to the BFA in Theatre; however, the concentration placement is decided only after the audition or interview process concludes and acceptance conferred.

The student may participate in an audition or interview prior to the start of freshman year, which then dually functions as both concentration placement and department scholarship application. If not auditioning or interviewing prior to the start of freshman year, the student is required to participate in the freshman audition/interview event held during the first month of the school year.

If the student is not admitted to the preferred concentration following the initial audition or interview, the student may try again the following semester, after receiving preparation assistance from faculty. The audition or interview may be repeated, if a concentration change is desired, through the end of sophomore year. Every effort will be made both to place students into concentrations of their choice and to help students to recognize and pursue the concentration most suited to their abilities and aptitude.

Prospective students should contact the department directly at 260-481-6550 or consult the Department of Theatre website for information on what to prepare, how to prepare, how to submit audition materials and how to schedule an interview.

A Minor in theatre is available to students who are interested in theatre but are pursuing a PFW bachelor’s degrees in another subject.

Special Academic Regulations

Probation

You must earn a grade of C- or better in each required theatre course and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher for all courses you have completed. You are placed on academic probation if you do not meet this requirement to maintain an overall 2.0 GPA. 

Dismissal and Readmission

If you are on probation and do not correct academic deficiencies during your next semester of enrollment, you will be dismissed from the theatre program.

If you are dismissed from the theatre program, you may seek re-admission under the university guidelines specified in Regulations of this Catalog.

Time Limit

You must complete the degree requirements specified in the Catalog in effect at the time you were regularly admitted to the university. However, to ensure that you will be professionally competitive with other members of your graduating class, you may be required to satisfy the degree requirements specified in the most current Catalog if you have not completed all requirements for your degree within seven years from the date of your admission.

Degree Requirements

• You may not use a single course to fulfill more than one Department of Theatre requirement.

Department Handbook

Detailed information regarding requirements, policies, and practices of the department are included in a theatre student handbook available through “Introduction to Theatre,” a fall semester Theatre freshman core course. All theatre majors must comply with the requirements specified in the handbook throughout their time in the major. Any updates or revisions of the handbook will be well publicized and are the responsibility of the student to observe.