The show’s about to start
In a beautiful garden setting, our cast and crew of The Women of Lockerbie are warming up and doing last minute preparations for our unique and COVID-required outdoor presentation of this very poignant story. Meanwhile, the cast and crew of Richard III are meeting in Belk Theatre in socially-distanced recording booths for our audio podcast production of Shakespeare’s tale of the tyrannical monarch. In the rehearsal hall, the cast of the rock and roll musical, Xanadu, is learning about the intricate set design that will be built on our stage and practicing their roller skating skill.
Outside of Henderson Auditorium, eager audience members are awaiting to see the performance of our Fall Dance Concert with beautifully choreographed dance by both faculty and students. Meanwhile, Department of Theatre and Dance students and staff have already begun planning an outdoor production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George in Downtown Anderson’s Wren Park, and the Student Studio Series is planning several collaborative endeavors directed and produced entirely by the students. We work hard in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the South Carolina School of the Arts. Everyone probably stays a little too busy— or maybe a lot too busy—but we love it!
The dance classes and voice lessons can be tough, taking notes after rehearsal requires putting aside ego, but in the end, we see significant progress and so does our audience. During the applause, we point upwards to acknowledge our Lord after each performance, then we point to those who have been working behind the scenes in the tech booth and finally we enjoy taking a bow. It’s a good way to do “show business!”
Bachelor of Arts
Theatre
The BA in Theatre major provides you with a comprehensive, hands-on education in theatre within the context of a liberal arts education. After completing a rigorous core of theatre courses, you have the flexibility to choose specialty courses based on your interests and career aspirations. You’ll receive a well-rounded educational experience, from academic pursuit in theatre history to creative participation in design, direction, and performance.
Dance
Understand, utilize and master fundamental theatrical and dance skills, cultivate team-building and leadership skills and achieve a level of confident, independent expression in the dance medium.
Theatrical Design
This is where your talent, skills, and independent expression turn into enchantment on the stage. You will learn to create exciting theatrical environments filled with costumes, scenery, lights, properties, and sound. Our professional design faculty teach you how to make it happen in our shops, in the rehearsal hall, and in the classroom. You will have hands-on opportunities to practice your chosen craft and experiment with others you never imagined.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Musical Theatre
This exciting and cutting-edge degree is designed to prepare students for a professional career as a “triple threat” in musical theatre or for admission into an advanced degree program. Our professional performance faculty will challenge you with rigorous, specialized training in acting, dance, voice, and musicianship. Onstage opportunities are abundant in our two fully-produced musicals each year, as well as in class and studio performances.
Acting
Under the hands-on mentoring and rigorous demands of the professional acting faculty you will be challenged to become well-rounded and daring theatre artists. In this program you will learn not only the basic principles of acting, but also the most advanced and innovative approaches. Opportunities to hone your craft on the stage are plentiful and we pride ourselves on providing high-quality training to prepare you for a life in the theatre or further study at the graduate level.