The Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Oregon is committed to a liberal arts approach to theatre education and to maintaining the highest standards both in academic pursuits and performance. We deeply believe in the value of theatre as a form of cultural formation and communication as well as a pathway for personal growth.
PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS EACH YEAR
Left Hand of Darkness, 2017
University Theatre
The University Theatre’s annual season includes productions ranging from traditional musicals and Shakespearean classics to contemporary and experimental works to student-written plays. Auditions are open to all UO students. Visit the University Theatre website to learn more about the current season and purchase tickets.
What You Can Do with a Degree in Theatre Arts
Theatre arts majors use their skills and liberal arts foundation for a wide range of professional employment, including professional theatre and other creative media, as well as education, law, and marketing. Theatre arts provides students with a foundation for employment in:
- Community, regional, and commercial theaters
- Repertory companies
- Amusement and theme parks
- Cruise lines
- Radio stations
- Television and motion picture studios
- Acting conservatories
- Arts councils
- Talent agencies
- Colleges and universities
How Theatre Arts Launches Your Career
“Studying theatre arts at the UO laid the foundation for me to build my life and career in the arts. Whether I am directing a show, delivering on stage, presenting in a boardroom, balancing budgets, or myriad other things I never imagined then, I know my time in Villard Hall prepared me well for all of it. All these years later, I have a career I'm proud of and a job I love.”
—Sean Andries '05, executive director, Chehalem Cultural Center
Our Degree Programs
Undergraduate students can major or minor in theatre arts. Graduate students can pursue a master’s or doctorate.
The Home Planet, 2019
Learn from Experts in the Field
As mentors, collaborators, and coaches, our faculty advise and coach students who are auditioning for professional training in acting or pursuing graduate training in stage management. They maintain a longstanding tradition of excellence and innovation as well as a liberal arts approach to theatre education.
Hay Fever, 2022
Get Real-world Experience
Students in the Department of Theatre Arts have many opportunities to participate in productions as actors, directors, designers, choreographers, playwrights, composers, musicians, technicians, dramaturgs, publicists, and arts managers. Our University Theatre serves as a laboratory for theatre arts majors to apply what they learn in their classes and develop practical job skills.
Scholarships and Funding
All theatre arts graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for annual departmental scholarships. Students can also seek funding from a variety of additional sources.
Academic Support
Our academic advisors can help students understand their major or minor requirements, plan their course of study, explore study-abroad opportunities, and more.
