Theatre Arts
At Rollins, you’ll learn more than how to play a part on stage—you’ll learn to become an active participant in the world. Recently ranked among the nation’s top BA theatre programs, our curriculum offers rigorous and individualized theatrical training in a dynamic liberal arts environment, where your performances are strengthened with insights from psychology, English, sociology, art, music, and history.
You’ll hone your craft in our state-of-the-art on-campus facilities, which include the Annie Russell Theatre—Florida’s oldest continually operating theatre— and the stunning new Tiedtke Theatre and Dance Centre, which brings together a neighborhood of theatre and dance spaces and features a blackbox theatre at its core. When you study theatre at Rollins, you develop the technical know-how and life skills that will prepare you to create, shape, and share stories of substance and meaning in fields as varied as entertainment and business.
Why Study Theatre Arts at Rollins
The Rooms Where It Happens
Whether it’s on stage, backstage, in the costume studio, or the scene shop, our state-of-the-art spaces are where stories come to life.
Production Opportunities
From performing in, directing, and designing for everything from golden-age musicals to student-written pieces, you’ll have many opportunities to hone your craft in front of an audience.
Deeply Connected Learning
You’ll be invited to jump in and take risks in the classroom, on our stages, with our community partners, and on our international field studies.
Interested in Studying Theatre Arts at Rollins?
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“My adventure in the theater department was a true work-study experience. On one hand I was exposed to all elements of theater: history, stagecraft, directing, acting, all helping to lay a foundation of learning. On the other, I had this unique opportunity to make theater for a paying audience. The chance to create shows and work with vibrant students and professors was an awakening about how theater is made and what it really takes to do it well.”
Rollins Theatre Arts Careers
Rollins theatre arts grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most innovative companies. Learn more about careers in theatre.
Janis Hirsch ’72
Sitcom Writer/Producer,
Megan Borkes ’10
Actor, original cast of
Isabella Ward ’15
Dancer and Actress, National Broadway Tour of
Akin Ritchie ’11
Technical Director at The Zeiders American Dream Theater, and Freelance Lighting Designer
Michael Schantz ’05
Actor and Director; Co-Founder, Wheelhouse Theatre Company
Kathleen Capdesuñer ’17
Lead Producer, Grassroots Pro-Choice Theatre Initiative
Real World Experience
From community engagement courses to internships, theatre arts students hone their skills in the real world.
See for Yourself
Get a feel for Rollins’ unique brand of engaged learning and personalized attention through one of our virtual or in-person visit experiences.
Popular Courses
As artists in a liberal arts environment, you’ll explore the rich variety of courses within our department, where you’ll find small classes, one-on-one advising, and a commitment to flexibility and responsiveness.
THE 225 Improvisational Theatre I: Fundamentals
Investigate the foundational concepts and principles of improvisational theater that enable collaborative, spontaneous play. Emphasis is given to narrative, scenic structure, and team-based creativity.
THE 112 Fundamentals of Theatrical Design
Learn the creative process fundamental to designing for the stage, with a focus on visual communication and critical response, through drawing, painting, collage, and research.
THE 255 Acting for Musical Theatre I
Delve into lyric analysis and the history and context of different writing styles, including classical aria, 19th-century patter song, American standard, and Broadway and West End musicals.
THE 333 Directing I: Fundamentals
Study directing terminology, formulation of ground plan, communication with actors, and concepts such as visual pause, beats, and blocking.
THE 337 Voice III-Dialects
Examine the process of speech mechanics associated with patterns of speech other than Standard American, and you’ll nail that Irish brogue by the end.
A Day in the Life of a Rollins Theatre Arts Major
“Being a theatre major at Rollins is inspiring; every day I am lucky enough to work alongside my closest friends to produce phenomenal shows in the longest-running (and most beautiful) theatre in Central Florida all the while perfecting my craft and growing as an artist.”
Virtual Tour: Annie Russell Theatre
Go behind the scenes of the Annie Russell Theatre, and find out what it’s like to perform on its iconic stage.
Beyond the Classroom
Rollins Improv Players Committed to service and entertainment through performance, this on-campus improv troupe engages the Rollins community in challenging, provocative subject matter ripe for discussion and discovery.
International Field Studies Ongoing international experiences at the Prague Quadrennial in the Czech Republic and Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival encourage exposure to different perspectives and approaches.
Theatre and Autism This innovative course created in partnership with OCA, a nonprofit organization for people with special needs, allows you to put your skills to the test in the real world while serving our community.
Dive Into Theatre Arts at Rollins
Explore more about what it will be like to major in theatre arts at Rollins.
What You Will Learn
The Department is dedicated to developing embodied learners who celebrate all aspects and components of theatre and dance productions inside and outside the classroom.
Facilities
Students studying theatre arts and dance at Rollins enjoy state-of-the-art facilities.
Scholarships
There are several scholarships the Department offers and last year we awarded over $130,000. Each February, we welcome students wishing to begin at Rollins the following fall to audition and interview.
Keep Exploring
Get a sneak peek at your Rollins Life by taking a deep dive into the past, present, and future of theatre on America’s most beautiful campus.
March 12, 2024
Charles Publishes New Book on Improv
Theatre professor David Charles has published The Improv Dictionary, a book on improvisational approaches and concepts.
March 07, 2023
Sneak Peek: Tiedtke Theatre & Dance Centre
A behind-the-scenes first look at how the new Tiedtke Theatre & Dance Centre will further strengthen Rollins’ role as a leader in performing arts education.
July 29, 2022
Off and Running
One year after crossing the commencement stage at Rollins, these five Class of 2021 graduates are already establishing themselves as up-and-coming leaders in their respective fields.
Expert Faculty
Experts in their field and respected members of the professional theatre community, our group of educators stand ready to make an investment in your development as an artist and a scholar.
Department of Theatre & Dance
Telephone: 407.646.2501
Missy Barnes, MFA
Musical Theatre
Areas of focus: Musical theatre performance and history, psycho-physical education
David Charles, PhD
Acting, Improvisation
Areas of focus: Scholarly and performance work in improv and non-scripted theatre
Allison Crutchfield
Artist-in-Residence
Areas of focus: costume design and production
Lisa Cody-Rapport, MFA
Costume & Scenic Design
Areas of focus: Collaborative intersections of art and theatre, particularly in set, costume, makeup, and the fundamentals of design
Marianne DiQuattro, PhD
Theater Literature & History, Associate Professor
Areas of focus: Intersection of dramatic literature and phenomenology, theatre and disability
Robin Gerchman
Director of Dance, Professor
Areas of focus: The interconnectedness of movement with multiple disciplines, aesthetics, criticism, historical, and cross-cultural perspectives
Robert Miller, MFA
Sound Design, Technical Direction
Areas of focus: Technical direction, sound design, rigging, pneumatics, and structural design for the stage
Thomas Ouellette, MFA
Acting, Directing
Areas of focus: Acting and directing philosophies and approaches
Eric Zivot, MFA
Acting
Areas of focus: Voice and speech, movement for the stage, and acting for film
Experience #RollinsLife
There’s no better way to get a feel for life at Rollins than by scheduling a campus tour.