The largest difference in theatre programs is whether the program culminates in a BA or BFA in theatre.  Both are typically a 4 year program.  So what is the difference and which one would be a better choice for you?  Let’s compare the two choices.

The BA, or Bachelor of Arts degree, in theatre is a program that typically breaks down into thirds.  1/3 of your course credits will be in theatre arts, 1/3 will be in general education courses to make sure you are well rounded, and 1/3 will be courses you choose as electives.  These electives can typically be in any topic of your choice.  It is in this section of your studies that you can personalize your degree to get extra courses in english, history, sociology, or any other topics that you think will help in your career path.

The BFA, or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, is more typical at conservatories and colleges that are dedicated theatre schools.  In these programs, approximately 2/3 of your courses will focus on theatre and in your specific area of concentration (acting, design, etc.).  The other 1/3 will be filled with general education courses.  This degree program is more rigid in what classes you take and what order you take them in, unlike the flexible BA program of other colleges/universities.

There are benefits of attending a conservatory or dedicated theatre program and pursuing a BFA in theatre.  In this experience you will be immersed in your core courses of theatre, theatre production, and performance.  Your fellow classmates will be following the same program and going through the exact courses with you over four years.  Building strong relationships in this type of program is easy and a benefit of having lifelong friends and colleagues in your field of study.  Focusing more credits and course hours on your major classes will give you a greater knowledge in your chosen field.  However, the drawback to a conservatory or dedicated theatre program is that if you find you want to change your career path later in your studies, you may actually have to go to college for an extra year to make up general education class credits or take extra courses for credits that may not count from your specialized theatre courses you may have already completed.  Being completely sure of your career path before entering a conservatory or BFA program is ideal.

Likewise, there are numerous benefits to attending a liberal arts college and pursuing a BA in theatre arts.  Having more choices in general education classes and electives allows you to gain a more broad knowledge and understanding of various topics.  Perhaps you are thinking you want to use theatre as a means of therapy for people who have experienced traumatic life changing events.  You may be majoring in theatre with the intent of pursuing a higher education degree in social work to achieve this goal.  Having the opportunity of taking basic social work classes as electives will make you a stronger candidate for being accepted into the masters program you will be interested in after graduating.

So what is the best choice for you?  Should you decide on a BFA or a BA?  I think the better question to answer first is “What do you want to do with your life and your choice of theatre as a career path?”.  If you can answer that, then the type of degree will become more clear.   From there, ask questions.  Go to college fairs and talk with college/university reps who visit your high school.  Ask about touring college campuses.  Visit the websites of the colleges you are interested in and check out their theatre program online.  Typically most colleges will have information about the theatre space, the program and courses, the professors, and what you can anticipate to experience as a major.  Send an email to the department with your questions.  And see if you can schedule a visit to the department and visit with the faculty and students.  From there, it’s all about the perfect fit.

I can’t tell you which college will be the right one for you.  The only way you are going to find the perfect fit is to get out there and do a little footwork.  Good luck!

I started looking into colleges and trying to figure out the answer to the almighty question of “what do I want to be when I grow up?”.  Sure I had great grades, school always seemed to come easy to me.  But the biggest influence in my choice of college and what program to study was my parents.  They told me to follow my heart and do what made me happy.  So I did and I started down a path that seemed to make sense at the time.  I went to college to study Mathematics and become a teacher.

So how does a Mathematics major become a Technical Director and Scenic/Lighting Designer?  Well, like many college students today, I changed my major after trying a few courses in my chosen field.  No matter how much I tried, quadratic equations kicked my love of math in the proverbial buttocks.

As I switched from Math to Biology to Religious Studies to Liberal Arts, the majors seemed to all be lacking something.  It never seemed to be a perfect fit.  So, I started to think about other things I loved.  I had grown up taking dance classes and being involved in school plays ever since elementary school.  So taking a theatre class my junior year of college wasn’t too surprising.  What was surprising was how easy it was to fall in love with the course, with the program, and feel like I found where I fit in.  By that point I had already declared an English major.  I wasn’t sure if switching my major (for the 5th time) would be a good idea or not.  I mean, how long would that take for me to actually complete a program being two and a half years into college already?  Would my parents support a career path that is filled with the stereotypes of starving artists asking “Would you like fries with that?” as their primary income?  Clearly this couldn’t be what I was going to choose to do with my life….or would it be?

It was a struggle to decide what to do.  And like many college students I couldn’t find a way to talk with my parents about the career choice I was pondering.  So how did I decide?  I went and spoke with my theatre professor.  He walked me through the courses I had already taken through the last few years.  We looked at what credits would count toward the major and what classes I would need.  And somehow, it seemed to be an easier fit than I thought it would be.  I could actually get a double major in staying for one extra year.  That seemed like a great plan!  Even if my parents wouldn’t be excited about becoming a theatre artist, I had a major in my back pocket to fall back on if I couldn’t make it work.  From that moment on, I knew I had to go for it.  I filled out the paperwork, signed on the dotted lines, and went back to my house to make one important phone call.  Time to tell the parents of my career choice.

With slight panic in my heart, I dialed the phone when I got home.  I wasn’t worried about my parents being upset or disowning me, I think I was more worried that I would disappoint them.  In one swift decision that day, their daughter who had once wanted to be a veterinarian, made the choice to be a theatre artist.  This seemed like a huge step down when you think of it.  As the phone rang I wasn’t sure how the conversation would go.  And then there was a voice on the other end of the phone.   It was my dad.   After a short conversation and telling him about the changes that had happened only an hour before, he told me what I could have only hoped to hear.  He told me that he was proud of me and to follow my heart.  And with those words of encouragement I ran into the theatre world without ever looking back.

Now am I a poster child for young artists who should be choosing a career in theatre?  No.  I am a lucky lady who followed her heart and worked hard at her art to get where I am today.  With that said, I do consider myself an artist as well as an advocate for encouraging young people to follow their hearts and doing what they are passionate about.

This is why this ‘theatre chick’ has travelled around the states working at many theatres.  I’ve taken the time to learn from other artists and build connections that I try to constantly maintain today.   I have chosen to take my love for theatre, my creative eye, and my love for education to blend them together in a career of teaching the artists of tomorrow.  So, about 10 years after graduating college, I have found myself on the other side of the professor’s desk, teaching our next generation of theatre artists and encouraging them to follow their hearts and their dreams.

As a theatre artist and college professor, I take all facets of my career seriously.  I will never put a theatre design out there unless if it is creative and sends a message to those who will see the production.  I see the daily successes and ‘ah ha!’ moments that my students have as personal successes for both of us, student and teacher alike.  But at the end of the day, the most blessed gift I can receive is a patron of a show who is moved by the show they have just seen.

So, would I go back and consider a different career?  One that maybe was more stable and didn’t have the stereotype of the starving artist?  Definitely not.  It is a choice that I have made, and one I will stand behind every day of my life.