Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre

The BFA in Theatre is a professional actor training program designed to prepare students to tackle the professional theatre world upon graduation. We provide a learning environment where we train not just the actor, but the whole person through activities in the classroom, rehearsal space, and onstage in performance.

At Shorter College, students are not only allowed to audition for mainstage shows in their first year—it is required for all BFA students! The faculty feels strongly about immediately fostering the connection between what students are doing in the classroom to what they do onstage.

One of the strongest aspects of the actor training at Shorter College is the faculty’s dedication to the growth of every student as an individual. Students’ training is monitored carefully through their time here, structured with regular opportunities to reflect on strengths and weaknesses, goals that are being set, and growth as an artist and member of the Shorter College Theatre Department.

Our actor training has three main branches:

• An intensive curriculum designed to prepare students to be working actors after four years at Shorter. Coursework includes Acting, Stage Movement, Voice for the Actor, Audition Techniques, Period Styles, Directing, the Development of Drama, Makeup, Theatre Production, Theatre History, Dance, and more.
  
  
• A strong focus on preparing for professional auditions. All BFA performance majors are required to audition at the Georgia Theatre Conference (GTC) in the fall, which screens them to go to the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) in the spring—SETC is the largest multi-theatre auditions in the nation. Extensive “mock” auditions are held throughout the year to fine tune the auditioning process.
  
  
• A commitment to professional networking, which is crucial for a working theatre professional. Numerous guest directors and guest artists are brought in throughout the year to do master classes in addition to bringing in representatives from various companies to do private auditions and coachings at Shorter.

At Shorter College, you are not only allowed to audition for mainstage shows as a first-year student—it is required for BFA students! We feel strongly about immediately fostering the connection between what you are doing in the classroom to what you do onstage.

PLAYS

We have a potentially twenty-plus production season ranging from a main-stage season comprised of 2 musical and 2 non-musical productions, to staged readings, second stage productions, improv shows, and more.

Click here for the 2007-2008 Season.

2006-07 Mainstage Season

Into the Woods
Rome City Auditorium
September 29-30 and October 1, 2006

The Birthday Party
Callaway Theatre
November 7-12, 2006

Pippin
Callaway Theatre
February 22-25 and March 1-4, 2007

Rumors
Callaway Theatre
April 10-15, 2007

Other Recent Mainstage Shows

A Chorus Line
Proof
Cabaret
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
West Side Story
Dark of the Moon
Arcadia
Honk!
A Grand Night for Singing Th
e Lion in Winter
Jekyll & Hyde
Chicago
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Recent Second Stage Productions

Art
Closer
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea
Dutchman
Greater Tuna
Hooters
Independence
Last Train to Nibroc
Phyrogiants
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Saint Joan
Some Girl(s)
The Crucible
The Shape of Things
The Woman in Black
Woman as Verb