Theatre Arts

Earlham sees theatre as an essential part of the human experience; stories brought to life through imagination and shared in community can transport and transform us. The Department of Theatre Arts teaches you to create theatre that elicits empathy, challenges the intellect and encourages intentional decision-making. The faculty strive to develop interdisciplinary anti-racist theatre artists with a personal sense of responsibility to the communities in which they will live and work.

We also provide individualized training with a focus on the collaborative, analytical and expressive skills essential in all working environments. Play selection and workshop programming is customized to your needs and interests. Guest artists interact with you in production, workshop, coaching and mentoring situations.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Earlham College Theatre Department will be returning to Scotland for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe festival in August to perform The Further Misadventures of Martin Hathaway: Shipwrecked off Heramathea’s Cove.

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YouTube Theatre Arts cover photo
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92%
of work seekers who majored in the visual and performing arts between 2018-2022 were employed, pursuing graduate school or volunteering within six months of graduation.
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Careers
Top job industries for theatre arts graduates include performing and fine arts and education. Theatre grads have moved into paid internships and graduate programs in the theatre arts and related fields.
Outcomes

Recent graduates have pursued advanced degrees in cultural foundations of education, Shakespeare and performance and costume design.

Personalized training for today’s theatre artist

If you take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the theatre arts program, you will emerge as a theatre artist who impacts society through the kinds of theatre you create, the way you work, the stories you bring to light and the audiences you choose to serve.

Scholarships and awards

Scholarships and awards available to theatre students include the Rariden Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a student entering Earlham who is interested in pursuing an area within the visual and performing arts; the Janica Zuck Richards Memorial Playwriting Award; and Earlham’s theatre arts scholarships.

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Career preparation

As a theatre arts major, you’ll have the opportunity to get practical career preparation through experiences like the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, networking with regional professionals through field trips and guest artist participation in Earlham productions, student leadership opportunities, summer fringe festivals and more.

Our faculty

Theatre Arts faculty are multi-disciplinary professional theatre artists who empower students to create art that is impactful to the society in which they live. They foster an environment of exploration, creativity and leadership.

Frequently asked questions

Between our flexible 125-seat black box theatre and 350-seat proscenium theatre, we guarantee a total of six to ten annual departmental, senior project and student theatre company productions. These provide opportunities to perform, design, stage-manage, devise, direct, produce and take on other leadership roles throughout the year. As you gain practical experience in the wide range of theatre arts disciplines, you will also gain confidence in how to create new work and interpret existing scripts in service of the communities in which you live and work.

Follow our recent and upcoming events and learn more about our policies and practices on our theatre productions webpage and on Facebook and Instagram.

Yes! Applied minors can help you make direct connections between your academic interests and possible career paths. These programs are comprised of 4-6 courses as well as related extracurricular activities.

Yes! We strongly encourage our majors to consider off-campus study. Great options for theatre arts majors include London, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., among others.

Learn more about available programs via our Center for Global and Career Education.

Theatre arts majors are passionate about telling stories through theatre. Whether your interests lie in performance, design and technology, or management, the theatre arts program will provide you with the experiences and skills you need to become an effective and compassionate storyteller. We encourage prospective students who are curious about our program to request a meeting with the faculty and current theatre students for more information.

Next steps

EARLHAM ALERT:
We continue to monitor the effects of an industrial fire 1.1 miles from campus.
EARLHAM ALERT:
We continue to monitor the effects of an industrial fire 1.1 miles from campus.