Theatre
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre provides students an opportunity to study acting, directing, design and technology, as well as theatre history, performance studies, and literature.
Undergraduate study in theatre prepares students for graduate work in theatre or in related fields of study. It also prepares students for theatre-related careers on and off stage. Students may elect to focus on a specific area of interest by selecting a group of courses beyond the core requirements, or to explore all areas of the theatre curriculum.
The program focus is on learning through active participation in all aspects of performance and production. Students have many opportunities to act, direct, design, and work backstage on productions. From the first year to the last, active participation is an essential part of the student’s learning experience.
Majors are required to participate in main stage productions, and encouraged to become involved in student-directed shows. Many classes culminate in production and performance experience, including directing of original scripts. Our objective is to offer each student a balance of the academic, practical, and artistic aspects of theatre, and much personal guidance throughout their academic careers.
Graduates go on to careers as teachers, actors, designers, dancers, directors, technicians, and stage managers. Maine Masque, our student theatre organization, is very active year-round.
UMaine theatre faculty have acted, directed and designed in professional theaters, have run regional and national workshops, published articles and books, and served as editors of national journals. They have affiliations with the American College Theatre Festival, New England Theatre Conference, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, and Association for Theatre in Higher Education.
Our active production program features plays, musicals and dance concerts attended by thousands of people annually. The season typically features three main stage shows, a student produced Maine Masque show, many student-initiated theatrical works, two major dance concerts, and four emerging works dance performances. We also produce a statewide school touring production, and the Summer Music Theatre Festival.
Philip Edelman
Director of the School of Performing Arts
Class of 1944 Hall, Room 208
207.581.1257 | philip.edelman@maine.edu
Studio Art
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Lord Hall
207.581.3245
Facilities
We have multimillion-dollar performance facilities including: Hauck Auditorium, a 500-seat proscenium theatre, The Pavilion, an intimate 100-seat thrust stage, The Black Box Theatre, a flexible seating experimental performance space. In addition we have dance studios, rehearsal spaces, and well equipped scenic and costume studios. Students have access to film and video editing equipment, professional audio equipment, and a complete lighting inventory including moving lights.