Program Overview

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BA in Theatre Arts Major

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Why Study BA in Theatre Arts?

The BA in Theatre Arts major, with its four concentrations, offers students an opportunity to study with New York theatre professionals, to work on main stage productions, establish professional contacts, and obtain internships with some of New York’s major theaters and professional organizations.

Why Study Theatre Arts at MMC?

MMC is centrally located in Manhattan and offers classes that allow students to experience the richness of the city. We combine professional theatre education and training with the liberal arts, teaching our students how to create compelling, informed, imaginative, and innovative theatre. Our students are exposed to great theatre — on Broadway, Off-Broadway, along Theatre Row, and downtown in experimental theatres — and they take advantage of the best of New York City’s internship opportunities. Since Marymount Manhattan is an undergraduate college, students do not compete with graduate students for design, directing, stage management, acting, dramaturgy, and playwriting opportunities.

What You Will Learn

Upon completing the Theatre Arts major, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate comprehension of achievements in drama and theatrical production across a range of periods and cultures;
• Demonstrate comprehension of the interdisciplinarity of theatre study and the collaborative nature of theatre production;
• Demonstrate writing, oral communication, research, performance, and technical skills as foundations for building specific expertise in selected areas of concentration;
• Draw on external resources for further study and work experience by utilizing museums, theatres, performing arts organizations, libraries, and other institutions in New York City and abroad.

Concentrations

There are four areas of concentration that develop specific expertise within the general program

• Directing
• Theatre History & Performance Texts
• Theatre & New Media
• Writing for the Stage

Required Courses

Stagecraft****Script Analysis****Theatre Histories I and II****Elements of Directing****Shakespeare, the Stage, and Humanity****Advanced Studies in Drama and Theatre****Theatre Elective (from list of courses TBD)

Plus Courses from One of the Following Concentrations

**Directing****Acting: Process andTechnique****Acting: Beginning Scene Study****Stage Management****Theatre Production: Main Stage****Dramatic Forms and Genres****Directing II****Design for Directors and Choreographers,_or _Digital Sound Workshop, _or

_Costume Design I, _or _Lighting Design I, _or _Scenic Design I**

Theatre History and Performance Texts****Performance Research****Advanced Studies in Drama and Theatre****Dramatury Practicum,_or _Independent Study, _or _Internship****Three 300-400 Level Dramatic Lit Courses (from a list of courses)

Theatre and New Media****Introduction to Lighting for Film & Video****Digital Sound Workshop****New Media Workshop****Video Field Production****Theatre Games and Improvisation****Acting for Majors****Performing with Digital Media****One Special Topics in New Media Course (from a list of courses)

**Writing for the Stage****Introduction to Playwriting****Intermediate Playwriting Techniques I and II****Advance Playwriting Techniques I and II****One Course in Television Screenplay Writing, _or _New Play

Development (from a list of courses)**

Concentrations

Directing

Study the history of directing and learn to analyze texts, make conceptual choices, and guide actors in the rehearsal process. Assistant direct for faculty and guest- directed productions to learn and gain practical knowledge — rare opportunities at the undergraduate level.

Theatre History and Performance Texts

Explore dramatic literature, history, and criticism while taking advantage of the unique opportunities NYC theatre communities provide. Develop your dramaturgical abilities through writing and direct involvement with the process of creating theatre.

Theatre and New Media

Embrace cross-disciplinary opportunities that blend performance with video, interactive and social media, sound, storytelling, and music to explore emerging media technologies and create your own individual modes of expression.

Writing for the Stage

Study with professional playwrights based in New York City and begin to develop a body of work to prepare for professional careers as writers for theatre, performance, and digital content.

Program Highlights

Flexible and Tailored

Combine different concentrations in the B.A. and even add second majors or minors to create your own curriculum and professional path.

Career Focused

Whether you’re directing in our Bordeau Box, serving as dramaturg on a studio production, or hearing actors bring your new work to life, MMC gives you the opportunity to make it happen.

Experience Oriented

Take advantage of the city through internships with leading arts and cultural institutions, including Playwrights Horizons, New York Shakespeare Festival, Saturday Night Live, Nuyorican Poets Café, PBS, and many more.

Careers and Outcomes

Marymount Manhattan College theatre alumni are working on Broadway, off-Broadway, in television, in film, at regional theaters, and everywhere in between. Many of our students also go on to graduate schools across the country and the world.

Productions and Companies

• Broadway
  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  • Kinky Boots
  • Slave Play
  • Tina! The Tina Turner Musical
• Off-Broadway and Regional Theaters
  • The Civilians
  • Lincoln Center
  • The Public Theater
  • Repertorio Español
• National Tours
• Film and Television

Careers and Roles

• Artistic Director, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts
• Arts Manager, Cooper Hewitt Museum
• Associate Producer, Project Runway All Stars
• Casting Director, Fox Casting
• Creative Arts Therapist, Kings County Hospital
• General Management Coordinator, The Public Theatre
• Vice President of Editorial and Creative, Media Management Group

Top College Program

Each year, the team at OnStage Blog announces the best performing arts schools for the coming year based on research by theatre educators, students, alumni, and parents—the people who really what’s important in theatre education. MMC made the cut and was praised for our impressive master classes and lectures.