Theatre

Our small program model allows for individual mentorship in the classroom, in performance, and in the capstone experience. We teach and inspire our theatre students through scholarship, studio practice, and live performances directed by faculty and guest artists. The flexibility of this 45-credit hour major supports opportunities to double major or minor in another discipline within the liberal arts degree framework of Converse.

• Perform powerful roles in a unique environment;
• Enjoy small class sizes and a dedication to personal mentorship;
• Study the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique with certified teacher, Professor Melissa Owens;
• Take cutting-edge courses in devised theatre and dramaturgy;
• Create a collaborative senior capstone project like writing a play, researching a dead diva or directing a musical.

Productions

Theatre Converse’s rich production season includes mainstage and studio series productions, giving you opportunities to shine onstage, backstage, and in all aspects of theatre arts.

Previous productions include:

• The Importance of Being Earnest
• Ophelia
• Come and Go
• The Thanksgiving Play
• The Siren Song of Stephen Jay Gould
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• She Kills Monsters

Internships

• Stage Management Team, Spartanburg Little Theatre’s The Mystery of Irma Vep
• Actor, Spartanburg Youth Theatre’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox
• Assistant Director, Spartanburg Little Theatre’s Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
• Drama Teacher, Woodland Heights Elementary After School Program

Study-Travel

Theatre & Dance students have the opportunity to study and experience live international theatre through the recurring Travel-Study course. In past courses, students have traveled to England, Greece, Disney World, and more to experience theatre and performing arts beyond Converse.

Theatre students at Converse take a variety of courses in script analysis, performance techniques, and design & production. Courses are offered at beginning through advanced levels, and ensure each student graduates with a deep understanding of theatre, ready for the next step in their career. Theatre courses may be taken as electives by any student interested in theatre, though some courses are restricted to majors and/or minors and require a placement exam.

Sample Courses

• Stage Management
• Directing
• Fundamentals of Stage Design
• Devising Theatre
• Acting courses (multiple levels)
• Theatre History
• Senior Capstone Project

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre

Theatre majors will engage in studio and theory classes, create, produce, and perform in fully staged productions, and gain the skills necessary for a diverse range of career opportunities.

As a theatre major at Converse, you will perform powerful roles in a unique environment, enjoy small class sizes and a dedication to personal mentorship and create a collaborative senior capstone project as part of our mainstage performance series in your senior year.

View the BA in Theatre Major requirements.

Minor in Theatre

Theatre minors take a minimum of 18 hours in theatre. The 18 hours may be selected from any theatre courses offered by the department, including upper-level offerings, as long as all prerequisites have been met.

Theatre minors are encouraged, but not required, to audition and perform in our faculty, guest, and student performances.

View the Theatre Minor requirements.

What are common careers in Theatre?

Studying theatre at Converse will prepare students for careers in performance, directing, education, arts administration, and other fields that value collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, and creative problem-solving skills.

• Actor
• Director
• Choreographer
• Stage Manager
• Dramaturg
• Costume, Scenic, or Lighting Designer
• Intimacy Director
• Educator (preschool, K-12 school, university professor, etc.)
• Artistic Director
• Technical Director

What are Theatre alumni doing?

Our Theatre graduates are currently working in a variety of fields or attending graduate school to pursue Masters of Fine Arts degrees.

Grad Schools

• Trinity College, Dublin
• Texas Tech University
• Royal Scottish Academy
• American Musical and Dramatic Academy
• Sarah Lawrence University
• Wayne State University
• University of Kansas
• Virginia Commonwealth University

Jobs

• Shakespeare in the City Festival, Glasgow, Actor
• Chapman University, Assistant Professor
• Nutty Scientist Group, Special Effects Make-up
• Carowinds Theme Park, Performer
• Dollywood, Performer
• Centre Stage, Production Director
• Welk Theatre, Actor
• Greenville Theatre, Production Stage Manager