Theatre-Acting Major
Find your voice, hone your approach, and make your mark as you prepare for a career on the stage in Drake University’s Theatre-Acting program.
College of Arts & Sciences | On-Campus
Program Options
Diving into all aspects of a production is one of the strengths of Drake’s Theatre Arts program. And regardless of how you structure your degree, you’ll take classes with each of our full-time faculty members before you graduate.
B.F.A. in Theatre-Acting
Begin with basic performance techniques and then take specialized courses in a range of acting styles. Eventually, you’ll determine (or create) a method that works best for you. Classes additionally cover stage management, theatre history, directing, and other behind-the-scenes considerations that help you produce a more captivating show.
Design and Technology Minor
Study the art and science of stage production to design set pieces and vibrant environments for actors. You’ll take classes in stagecraft, lighting, sound, and costume design while also gaining production experience.
Directing Minor
Students seeking a B.A. or B.F.A. from the Department of Theatre Arts can minor in directing. This 26-credit program not only prepares you to helm your own production but also to identify talent and structure scenes like a director.
Musical Theatre Minor
Round out your talent toolkit with classes in singing, dancing, movement, voice, piano, music theory, and various acting styles plus opportunities to participate in classroom, main stage, and experimental productions.
Meet the Faculty
Our faculty are seasoned professionals, boasting credits in film, on television, and in theatres both in the U.S. and abroad. You’ll learn from every member of our department, as you’ll study with each before you graduate.
Outside the Classroom
An acting degree from Drake delivers more than top-notch training. You’ll also get the connections and experience you need to start building a career. Earn opportunities to perform on campus, land a life-changing internship, and connect with professionals around the country.
Productions
Ready to work? Put your talent to the test in any of the six Main Stage productions the Theatre Arts Department produces on campus every year, or find a gig among Des Moines’ professional and community theatre companies.
January Term
Auditions prove to others that you’ve got what it takes. Head to New York City in our Auditioning J-Term course, which gives you the skills (and confidence) to meet professional casting directors and agents.
Internships
Make insider connections and gain professional experience through real work. In recent years, Drake students have interned for the Santa Fe Opera, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the Goodman Theatre company.
Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Our partnership with the O’Neill Center in Connecticut gives you access to one of the country’s premier launchpads for new talent: O’Neill alums have won every major award in theatre arts.
The Drake Curriculum
What’s the historical or cultural context of a playwright’s output? Alongside conservatory training, the Drake Curriculum’s focus on communication, critical thinking, scientific literacy, technology, and artistic experience allows you to contemplate classic and modern works on a deeper level.
Scholarships
In addition to Drake’s Presidential Scholarships—awards worth $26,000 to $34,000 offered to every incoming full-time student—the Department of Theatre Arts recognizes talented performers with scholarships worth $4,000 to $8,000.
Careers & Skills
Graduates of Drake’s Theatre-Acting program thrive in roles both on-stage and off. In recent years, Drake students have launched theatre, television, and teaching careers in places such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York. That variety befits our own wide-ranging approach to the classes you’ll take, the productions you’ll stage, and the life you’ll lead outside the Harmon Fine Arts Center.
Opportunities
- Regional theatre
- Teaching
- Film
- Radio/television
- Graduate study
Skills
- Performance methods and styles
- Knowledge of the theatre arts, including acting, building sets, casting, lighting, and directing
- Stage acting and production experience
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
Take the Next Step
An acting degree from Drake is a big break that leads to many more (and often more visible) opportunities. Join the alums whose careers on stage and screen started here.
