Theatre Arts
(College of Fine Arts)
View a site created especially for this department.
 Program Description
The Department of Theatre and Dance is committed to the artistic and academic success of its students. The department offers a major in theatre leading to the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, as well as a minor in theatre. The study of theatre is a vital part of a liberal arts education, enhancing communication skills, sharpening creative and critical thinking skills, imparting cultural awareness, and broadening one's knowledge of literature and history.
The BFA and the BA degree programs are comprehensive degree programs designed to prepare students majoring in theatre for advanced studies in theatre, related fields and for students seeking professional work in theatre.
The department offers a host of performance opportunities, in a wide variety of styles and genres. The department typically produces five major shows a year. Student directed one-acts and shows produced by Alpha Psi Omega, the honorary theatre fraternity, add to the tremendous performance and design opportunities offered at JU.
Curriculum Overview
In order to ensure that all students share a common theatrical experience, the department requires all majors to complete the Theatre Core. The Theatre Core consists of 40 credit hours needed to complete the BA degree. If a student in the BA degree chooses, upon completion of the Theatre Core, he or she may select a concentration in acting or design and theatre technology using the department’s Guided Electives. Through Guided Electives faculty advisors will tailor a program to best meet the needs of the individual student. Students in the BFA program must complete an additional 29 to 35 hours of study in the theatre program, including an internship and a senior project.
Academic Preparation
While there are no special requirements for the theatre program at JU, students are encouraged to arrange an on-campus audition or portfolio review. A personal campus visit for an audition is strongly encouraged, but is not required. All freshmen who enter the theatre program will be evaluated by the theatre faculty upon completion of their freshman year. The faculty will then recommend to the student the degree track, BA or BFA, that best suits the student's needs.
Facilities & Resources
Swisher Theatre is a 475-seat proscenium house and is the primary venue for the Department of Theatre and Dance. Studio 19 is a small black box space and is used for acting classes, student-directed productions, and more experimental productions.
Internships and Career Opportunities
Theatre majors are given the opportunity to attend the Florida Theatre Conference (FTC) and the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) where they can audition for acting and production internships with educational, community and professional theatres. Recently our students have interned with theatres such as The Utah Shakespeare Festival, Georgia Shakespeare, Berkshire (NY) Theatre, City Light Theatre in Georgia, and - in Florida - the Daytona Seaside Theatre, the Sarasota Theatre, Theatre Jacksonville, and many others. Internships are encouraged and expected of our majors.
SETC and FTC also offer our students exposure to many outstanding graduate schools and employment with full-time professional companies.
Sponsored Student Activities
The theatre program is one of the most active on campus. Annually, students have opportunities to perform in and provide technical support for major productions, children's theatre, and student-directed scenes beginning in the freshman year. Such opportunities are unique in most university theatre arts programs, but are normative at JU because of its size and attentiveness to students. Theatre arts majors also may qualify for membership in JU chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theatre honorary society.
Outcomes
A number of Jacksonville University graduates enjoy successful careers in the entertainment industry. Among them are: Jay Thomas, an award-winning actor who starred on network television in Murphy Brown and in the hit movie Mr. Holland's Opus; Leanza Cornett, Miss America 1993 and Lifetime Network television personality; Shawnae Jebbia, recent Miss USA and an ESPN television personality; Milt Skelton, a Second City TV alumnus and owner/operator of a Chicago community theatre; Bruce Helford, executive producer of hit TV shows including Roseanne and The Drew Carey Show; Troy Spurlin, a Los Angeles-based stage and television actor; and Devlin Mann, an independent film producer who appears on Suddenly Susan.
Faculty – Department of Theatre Arts
Deborah Jordan (Assistant Professor)
B.F.A., University of Houston; M.F.A., Ohio State University
Ben Wilson (Associate Professor; Chair, Department of Theatre & Dance)
B.A., Midwestern State University; M.F.A., University of Kansas
Contacts
For additional or specific information, you can write, call or e-mail us:
Professor Ben Wilson
Chair Department of Theatre & Dance
904-256-7374 (voice); 904-256-7375 (fax)
E-mail: bwilson@ju.edu
Office of Admissions
904-256-7000 or 800-225-2027 (toll-free)
E-mail: admissions@ju.edu
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