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Theatre Arts

The world is your stage! A Theatre Arts degree from Grand View will help you combine your passion and creativity with the teamwork, ability to work under pressure and problem solving skills to make you a successful professional. These skills are highly desirable, not only in the world of theatre, but in a variety of professions. GV's Theatre program encourages you to get involved in all aspects of theatrical creation.

You'll graduate with experience both in performance and production and your broad experience will prepare you well for future success in theatre, graduate training, internships and more.

Degree Level:

Undergraduate Programs

Program Type:

Major, Minor

Format:

Full Time, In-Person

Program Catalog Visit Apply Contact

Why Grand View?

Shine on- or off-stage in four exciting, diverse, productions each year
Get hands-on experience early and often with no waiting to audition or work backstage on a production
Participate in the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival each year
Learn about all aspects of creating theatre and create a broad base of understanding/experience for your future work
Get involved in our vibrant chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the honorary Theatre Society

Is a Theatre Arts Major the Right Fit for You?

If you’ve ever acted in a play, you know how much work it takes to put a production together. A theatre major is your ticket to every corner of the theatre world.

Whether you specialize in acting or design, you’ll learn in class, backstage, and onstage. You’ll read, discuss, and write about all kinds of theatrical works. You’ll also get your hands dirty applying what you learn in class as you build sets, design costumes, direct, or act in department productions.

Are You Ready To...

Write and direct your own play?
Build and strike (take down) sets?
Analyze scripts to really get to know the character you’re playing?
Spend long evenings in rehearsal?

It Helps To Be...

Creative, organized, and able to manage your time well. You may be working on a paper about Shakespearean comedy while rehearsing your own performance art piece.

Program Details

The major in Theatre Arts is intended to be an interdisciplinary approach to theatrical training. Because theatre is a collaborative art form, students majoring in Theatre Arts receive a solid base of theatrical knowledge from the Theatre Arts courses. Students also can tailor their degree by selecting courses from the list of electives to suit their goals. The primary objective of this degree is to prepare students for their lives after college, whether that is working professionally or continuing on to graduate school. All majors are expected to take part in the productions staged in the Viking Theatre, and students have the opportunity to take on major roles in those productions throughout the year.

Course Requirements (40 credits)

THTR 101 or THTR 121	Acting for Everyone or New Plays: New Perspectives	3 credits
THTR 110	Theatre Activity (3 semesters, 1 credit each semester)	3 credits
THTR 202	Theatre Production and Stagecraft	3 credits
THTR 222	Script Analysis	3 credits
THTR 300 or THTR 302	Hist & Lit of Theatre I: Early to 1650 or Hist & Lit of Theatre II: 1650 to Recent	3 credits
THTR 306	Design for Theatre	3 credits
THTR 380	Directing I	3 credits
THTR 400	Junior Seminar - Theatre Arts	1 credit
THTR 440	Theatre Studio	3 credits

Take 15 credits from:

THTR 224	The Performer’s Voice	3 credits
THTR 240	Acting II	3 credits
THTR 318	Acting Styles	3 credits
THTR 320	Theatre Arts for Children	3 credits
THTR 350	Playwriting and Screenwriting	3 credits
THTR 399	Internship	1-3 credits
THTR 430	Special Topics	1-4 credits
THTR 300 or THTR 302 (second course, one not applied above)	Hist & Lit of Theatre I: Early to 1650 or Hist & Lit of Theatre II: 1650 to Recent	3 credits

Theatre Arts Minor

The Theatre Minor provides students with the opportunity to explore many aspects of the theatre from acting to stage management, history to play writing.

Course Requirements

Theatre Minor (18 Credits)
THTR 101	Acting for Everyone	3 credits
THTR 110	Theatre Activity	1 credit
THTR 202	Theatre Production and Stagecraft	3 credits
Eleven hours of additional courses in Theatre Arts above the 200 level.		11 credits

Download Degree Checklist

Learn More about Theatre Arts at Grand View

NET PRICE CALCULATOR

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Tuition & Scholarships

At Grand View University, your tuition supports instruction delivered by knowledgeable and experienced faculty who uphold our tradition of exceptional teaching. Additionally, we are dedicated to offering a high-quality education at the most affordable cost.

Transfer Credits

No matter what major you’re thinking about, you may be able to transfer in as many as 75 credits from a community college or junior college. If you have an A.A. or A.A.S. from an Iowa community college, you will be automatically admitted at junior status.

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Theatre Arts Scholarship

The theatre department offers to selected new full-time day students who major or minor in Theatre and have an interest in participating in theatre productions. Scholarship awards range from $300 – $1,500 based on whether a student is a Theatre major, a Theatre minor or plans only to participate in theatre productions. The theatre scholarship is renewable based on the student continuing as a Theatre major, minor or participant. The student must also maintain a 2.50 cumulative grade point average. Learn More

AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Faculty

Kristin Larson • Associate Professor and Chair of Theatre Arts co-founded Goldfinch Theatre, and recently produced and directed No Coast, an original play by Raygun’s Mike Draper that was a hit with the greater Des Moines community. In 2016, Kristin co-wrote Lost and Found, with her husband and writing partner Craig Petersen. Lost and Found was performed at Grand View for free to children from all over Des Moines; the production received numerous awards and was held for consideration for performance in the Regional V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Alumni

Randy Young • After serving three years as Grand View Theatre’s interim technical director and designer, Randy was accepted to the MFA program in Scenic Design at University of South Carolina.

Carmen McDermott • Received the KCACTF Costume Design commendation for her 2017 design of Alexander Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move.

Paige Beck (2016) • Theatre Arts Major graduate, is the resident stage manager for the Pyramid Theatre Company in Des Moines

Michael Tallman (2014) • Theatre Arts Major Graduate runs Scriptease, a play reading series for Iowa Stage in Des Moines.

Elizabeth Penrose (2012) • Theatre Arts Major Graduate is a professional Stage Manager in Chicago.