Majors & Minors

Theatre

Grounded in theatre history and criticism, dramatic literature, performance studies and theatre’s arts and crafts, Southwestern Theatre students receive education and training in the intellectual, artistic, and cultural dimensions of live theatrical performance.

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Desi Roybal

Desi Roybal

Professor of Theatre and Chair

Desi Roybal

Desi Roybal

Professor of Theatre and Chair

The Theatre Department provides academic, production and laboratory experiences designed to help students develop their artistic potential and to become well-rounded theatre artists. We work to educate students who are well prepared for graduate schools and advanced theatre training programs and for work in the professional theatre. We are also dedicated to empowering individuals who will use the analytical, critical, practical and artistic skills inherent in the theatre discipline to entertain, educate, enlighten and contribute to their communities and the world in insightful and celebratory ways.


Learn about Theatre Scholarships


The Theatre Department offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). The degree is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in all areas of theatre studies including history, dramatic literature, performance, design, management, and technical theatre. Students who choose the Bachelor of Arts option often combine their work in theatre with work in other disciplines, are interested in graduate education focusing on research and scholarship, or are certifying to teach.

For students who are Work Study eligible as part of their financial aid package, there are numerous jobs in the area of the theatre, such as faculty assistants, box office staff, and backstage crew. Students interested in these positions should inquire through department head of the desired area.



AFTER SOUTHWESTERN

Featured Alumni Stories

Theatre

Southwestern Theatre Alumni Entertain International Audience with Weekly “Gals & Goblins” Podcast

Using valuable skills learned at Southwestern, Campbell Duffy ’22, Olivia McCain ’22, and Lilly Percifield ’22 have transformed a hobby into a profitable podcast that garners a worldwide audience of up to 25,000 listeners a month.

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(Photo credit: Shawn.ccf - stock.adobe.com)

Business, Theatre

Southwestern Alumni Create Magic at the House of Mouse

Four theatre graduates are turning their dreams into reality working at Walt Disney World®.

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Abigail Bensman

From Southwestern to Showtime: Abigail Bensman ’25 Shines on Stage

Business major Abigail Bensman fulfills her Broadway dream while enrolled at Southwestern after being cast as “Brenda” in the North American tour of the Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray.

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EXPLORE SOUTHWESTERN

Theatre News

Southwestern University Receives Anonymous $5 Million Gift for Renovation of Fine Arts Building

Home to the Sarofim School of Fine Arts, the Fine Arts Building will undergo a comprehensive revitalization to support the future of interdisciplinary arts education.

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Video: Putting the “Art” in “Liberal Arts” at Southwestern University

Learn more about Southwestern’s Sarofim School of Fine Arts, where students perform, exhibit, design, collaborate, and engage with the world through creativity.

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Video: Southwestern’s Theatre Department Sets the Stage for Successful Careers

Two theatre alumni recently returned to Southwestern to collaborate on a student production. Hear their reflections on how their time at SU prepared them for successful careers in theatre.

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