The undergraduate Theatre Arts program at Saint Mary’s is designed to fuel the creative spirit by providing diverse opportunities in performance, design, production and management. Unlike bigger schools, SMU offers these experiences from day one – no waiting until your junior year to portray the role of a lifetime or to manage a production from start to finish.

The Department of Theatre Arts is dedicated to promoting a diverse and innovative artistic environment on the Winona campus, and is committed to inspiring excellence in the next generation of performers, designers and technicians.

Whether you hope to obtain an entry-level position in a theatre anywhere in the country or plan to enter graduate level studies upon graduation from this program, our nurturing faculty will offer individual guidance and the practical experience needed to ensure success. With twelve (12) full and part-time faculty members, we offer a B.A. in theatre arts which includes four (4) areas of focus, offering students maximum flexibility in exploring a wide range of opportunities:

• Performance Studies – includes additional courses in acting, directing, voice and movement, singing, dance, psychology, and literature
• Musical Theatre – includes additional courses in acting, voice and movement, singing, dance, music theory, and piano
• Technical Theatre – includes additional courses in design, theatre crafts, studio art, and stage management
• Theatre Management – includes additional courses in stage management, arts administration, accounting, marketing, business management, and graphic design

Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin London Theatre Program

Theatre majors who meet institutional requirements and who are in good standing in the department are expected to participate in the theatre semester in London, England. The London theatre experience, under the guidance of Saint Mary’s University faculty, includes:

• Classes in theatre as well as courses focusing on broader enrichment 
• Attending numerous performances in London’s West End, Off-West End, and Fringe theatres 
• Fully mounting a student production in a London theatre 
• Studying at Dublin’s renowned Gaiety School of Acting 
• Traveling to various sites in the United Kingdom as well as additional travel in Europe

Studying theatre at Saint Mary's University is unique in that it includes:

• The London semester abroad is a requirement of the major and includes a full student production in a London theatre 
• Three (3) unique, state-of-the-art theatre spaces are available for production on campus 
• Five (5) departmental productions as well as additional student productions are mounted each year 
• Opportunities for involvement in productions begin in the freshman year 
• Small class sizes and personal attention; 10:1 student/faculty ratio 
• Opportunities for individualized senior projects in performance, directing, or design 
• A close networking relationship with graduates 
• Faculty who are highly qualified, professional, and diverse 
• Technical opportunities working with the Page Professional Series and guest artists 
• Various internship opportunities at theatres throughout the country and abroad

The Lillian Davis Hogan Scholarships are endowed four-year renewable scholarships for bachelor degree-seeking students intending to major in Theatre Arts.

All scholarship candidates must:

• complete the standard undergraduate admission process and be accepted to the university.
• participate in an interview with theatre faculty, ideally on the Saint Mary’s campus, or at another designated site.
• include a resume of theatre activities, honors, and awards. 
• arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent to the scholarship committee by February 1. One of the letters should be from a theatre teacher or director.
• include a type-written, double spaced essay answering each of the following questions: 

1. Why do you wish to pursue a Theatre Arts major at Saint Mary’s? 
2. At this point in time, do you have any career aspirations? 
3. Reflect on the significance of the theatre experiences noted in your resume of theatre activities. 
4. In what other extra-curricular activities have you participated? 
5. If you had to chose a career other than theatre, what would it be and why? 

• present a prepared audition monologue, a portfolio representing technical and/or design work, or a theatre-related research paper.

Studying theatre at Saint Mary’s will give students a basic introduction to all areas of theatre as well as intermediate instruction in their area of concentration. The degree also prepares students for graduate school to pursue careers that may require advanced training. Careers include:

	Performer	Technical Director
	Director	Theatre Technician
	Stage Manager	Producer
	Set Designer	Arts Administrator
	Lighting Designer	Playwright
	Costume Designer	Dramaturg
	Make-up Designer	Casting Director
	Sound Designer	Talent Agent
	Music Director	Theatre Teacher

A graduate of the Saint Mary's Theatre Arts program will also have a myriad of transferable skills that can be applied to many other occupations.

Our Graduates

Many of our alumni exemplify the characteristics of the Saint Mary’s University Theatre Arts department with their continuing successes through the arts in their communities. Our alums can be found at:

Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis)
Chanhassen Dinner Theatre (Minneapolis)
Theatre de la Juene Lune (Minneapolis)
Steppenwolf Theatre (Chicago)
Goodman Theatre (Chicago)
Court Theatre (Chicago)
Theatre Building Chicago (Chicago)
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (Chicago)
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre (Milwaukee)
Alaska Shakespeare (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Perseverance Theatre (Juneau, Alaska)
Several on and off Broadway theatre productions
National Tours
Las Vegas casinos and theatres
Other major US cities including Seattle, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and more.

Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts take the following courses.

Theatre Arts Major (48 credits)