Department of

Theatre

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of

Theatre

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Main Content

 “I believe that each work of art, whether it is a work of great genius, or something very small, comes to the artist and says, ‘Here I am. Enflesh me. Give birth to me.’ And the artist either says, ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord,’ and willingly becomes the bearer of the work, or refuses…”

— Madeleine L’Engle

Video overview for ACU's BFA in Theatre program

Why ACU Theatre?

Our Degree Program

We offer a single Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in theatre with the empowering choice of seven tracks tailored to your interests. If you are majoring in another field of study but would like to add theatre credentials to your degree, we also offer a minor in theatre. Contact us to learn more!

Explore a BFA in Theatre

Available Tracks

Theater Story

Acting

Curriculum, performance opportunities and variety of training techniques help hone your approach to character and acting choices in preparation for a career in acting and/or advanced training at the graduate level.

Dance

Deepen your art in a rigorous curriculum of ballet, tap, jazz, modern and dance conditioning with a focus on technique, composition and performance. Perform in musical and the annual dance show.

ACU Theatre Tech students

Design/Technical

Develop your rendering skills and express your artistic vision in all design areas through hands-on learning and training through show crews and practicum hours.

Directing

Gain exposure to a variety of styles and genres, including contemporary, period and musical theatre, creating your own directing portfolio under the mentorship of faculty. Explore your vision and bring it to fruition.

Musical Theatre

Singing techniques to support all styles of theatre music combined with intensive acting and dance training work together to develop a proficiency that makes you competitive in the marketplace.

Theatre Education

Theatre Education

This hybrid track prepares you in areas of directing, design, acting and children’s theatre while qualifying you for teacher certification with classes required by ACU’s Department of Education.

ACU Theatre Students perform Godspell 2023

Theatre Ministry

Develop practical ways to explore the intersection of faith and art, preparing for ministry positions in fields such as drama ministries and worship service design through leadership roles on campus and in local ministries.

Our Students

A maximum of 12 students are admitted each fall after a rigorous application and audition process. Our total department enrollment never exceeds 50 students to provide each student with more performance opportunities and rich mentorship. More than 50% of ACU’s Theatre students regularly make Dean’s Honor Roll, and many have been awarded academic and service honors.

ACU Theatre alumni are successful in graduate school and professional employment, with names on Broadway and Hollywood marquees.

Explore Student Opportunities

Senior Showcase 2023 ACU Theatre

2023 graduating BFA performance track seniors from the spring ‘23 Senior Showcase

2023 graduating BFA performance track seniors from the spring ‘23 Senior Showcase

2023 graduating BFA performance track seniors from the spring ‘23 Senior Showcase

ACU Theatre alumni, now industry professionals (l-r): Peter Hargrave (’12) currently on the national tour of The Lion King; Kat Hargrave (’11) Senior Agent at DGRW Agency, NY; Ashley Parizek (’12) Agent at Avalon Artist Group, NY; Ally Beans (’14) Casting Director with Eisenberg/Beans, NY, Dallas; Owen Beans (’14) Equity Actor, Producer, Dallas

https://acu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Ally-Beans-Ashley-Parizek-and-Michael-Cassara-all-top-level-New-York-industry-casting-directors-and-agents-both-women-are-ACU-Theatre-alumni.jpg

Ally Beans (’14) Casting Director with Eisenberg/Beans, NY, Dallas; Ashley Parizek (’12) Agent at Avalon Artist Group, NY; Michael Cassara, CSA, Casting Director with Michael Cassara Casting, NY

Our Training & Faculty

Our faculty is comprised of masters in their field who are dedicated to providing exceptional instruction in both theory and craft. Our collective training reflects cutting-edge, contemporary curriculum that includes:

  • Alexander Technique
  • Linklater Vocal Technique
  • Concepts of actor training from
    • Stanislavsky
    • Uta Hagen
    • A Practical Handbook for the Actor (Atlantic Theatre Company) Improvisation

Our Facilities

Williams Performing Arts Center

The home of ACU’s departments of music and theatre, it includes the following:

The 325-seat Lewis and Jerry Fulks Theatre, is a thrust-stage facility designed to the theatre department’s specifications with the help of acoustical and theatre consultants.

The Clara and James Culp Theatre is a multi-form facility that allow multiple stage/audience configurations. The only physical restrictions in this black box space are the fixed locations of the walls, ceiling and floor.

The $9.5 million renovated Boone Family Theatre is a tremendous enhancement to the performing arts at ACU, providing an acoustically redesigned hall and state-of-the-art theatrical equipment that supports a variety of full-scale productions.

Established in 1929, Sewell Theatre is the former home of the ACU Dinner Theatre and now functions as the base for scenie design and construction, costumes and properties.

  • A 282-seat Recital Hall that is acoustically “tuneable” to accommodate the performing artist(s) and number of patrons.
  • Spacious, modern dressing rooms
  • Large instrument and choral rehearsal halls
  • A computer lab featuring Macs, PCs and 16 electronic pianos
  • Forty-four acoustically treated practice rooms and faculty studios
  • Faculty offices and meeting rooms
  • State-of-the-art classrooms
  • Choral and band libraries
  • A box office, courtyard and sculpture garden

Periodically the ACU Theatre uses the Abilene Convention Center for the annual Homecoming Musical. The exceptional acoustics have drawn praise from the most veteran entertainers, and the vast amount of fly and wing space allow elaborate set changes. The 70×72 ft. stage (which includes a hydraulically operated orchestra pit) faces 2,091 seats.

Follow ACU Theatre on Social Media

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK   FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

Quality Education with a Christian Worldview

As artists, we participate with God to incarnate the word – to give it life and meaning. No matter which path we take to earn our living, we have been called into the vocation of theatre. Every theatrical endeavor pursued by ACU Theatre belongs to the community as a whole. From the lighting operator to the lead actor to guest artists, we are all essential to the creative process. We encourage our students and staff to take ownership of every production regardless of their involvement.

As Christians, we believe each individual who comes to us is God-created and carries his image in unique, creative ways. We seek the integration of faith and artistic life, and we believe it must be stated clearly that the basis of our life and work is found in the spiritual values of historic Christianity.