BA in Theater

Theater

From commanding the spotlight to operating it, you’ll explore every aspect of theater production and learn to use the stage to make an impact on the world.

The cast performing the theater production of "Little Shop of Horrors."

Program Overview

Shot of the actors in a scene of the theater production of "Rage" — Theater program students in a scene from “RAGE,” a play that explored gun violence in schools and an author's remote role in it.

Discover your role

Theater production is both a fine art and a technical craft. A great performance depends on the dramatic presence of its actors, the vision of its director, creativity of its set and costume designers, and precision of its stage technicians.

Our BA in Theater is a preprofessional program that is ideal for expressive and highly motivated students who embrace collaboration and wish to pursue creative careers within the theater arts. Our program prepares you for all areas of theater performance and production — from acting, directing and playwriting, to stage managing, design and arts administration.

You’ll take advanced courses and engage in hands-on production work, as well as complete a competitive internship with a local professional theater. Participation in the theater department’s Main Stage season will be central to your experiences that culminate with a senior capstone project and a fully developed portfolio of work. Both are designed to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge, skills and experiences to potential employers and graduate theater programs alike.

College by the Numbers

95% Major Success

Percentage of our 2020 College of Arts and Sciences graduates who are either employed or in graduate programs.

+10.7% Above Average

Quinnipiac’s 10-year employment rate is 10.7% above the average of all private institutions in the country. It is also 9.7% higher than the national average of all public and private institutions. (Zippia.com, 2018)

Image of the United States with #1 in the middle

#1 Best Employment Rate

For the third year in a row, the career site Zippia ranked Quinnipiac as the best college in the nation for employment 10 years after graduation. (Zippia.com, 2021)

Director’s Message

Kevin Daly

Theater Program Director

Welcome to QU Theater!

Whether you’re a prospective student, current student, alumnus or member of our Hamden community, you’ve come to the right place if you have an interest in theater.

We offer an exciting theater major and a minor that explore all areas of theater production, performance and design. We’ve developed the program with enough flexibility that you can easily double major in theater and just about any other area of study at the university.

Want to perform on stage or be an integral part of our team behind the curtain? We have a ton of opportunities including faculty-led productions, a student theater organization, improv, musical theater and new play development — and you don't have to be a theater major to participate.

Did you know we have high-quality live theater right here in Hamden? Join us at our Theatre Arts Center, where we bring in guest artists from New York, New Haven and around the country to develop new plays and musicals with our students, as well as imaginative interpretations of the classics.

If you’re looking for community, you’ll find it here. I did, 20 years ago as an undergraduate at Quinnipiac. Back then we didn’t have a major or even a minor, but we had a community of enthusiastic and committed students and faculty who appreciated the meaningful experiences and lifelong friendships born from rigorous involvement in theater. That sense of community is still at the heart of what we do today.

Are you a prospective student? I’d be delighted to hear from you. Let’s meet to discuss your interests and goals in theater — I’d love to tell you more about what makes QU theater special.

Regardless of what brought you here, I hope you’ll consider joining us!

Kevin

Kevin Daly, Theater Program Director

Email: kevin.daly@qu.edu

Phone: 203-582-3500

Theatre Arts Center

Our Theatre Arts Center is located at 515 Sherman Ave. in Hamden, just around the corner from the York Hill Campus. The facility features a state-of-the-art black box theater, scenic shop, design studios, classrooms, faculty offices, a student lounge and additional rehearsal space.

Learn more about our Theatre Arts Center and view a list of upcoming and past productions at our Quinnipiac University Theater site.

Go to theater.qu.edu