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Theatre Arts Department
Step into the world of theatre and start creating from your very first semester. Whether you’re acting, designing, building sets, or diving into theatre’s rich history, you’ll gain hands-on experience while exploring dramatic structure, performance techniques, and the creative forces shaping contemporary art and culture.
At Bradley, you can focus your studies on theatre arts, performance, or production—each designed to give you the tools, experiences, and opportunities to stand out. Your degree opens doors to careers as a performer, director, producer, designer, technician, or arts manager. Along the way, you’ll develop valuable skills like communication, collaboration, organization, financial planning, and strategic thinking—qualities that employers in any field appreciate.
Plus, the Department of Theatre Arts offers generous scholarships to qualifying students, helping you pursue your passion while investing in your future.
Majors
Theatre Arts
Build your skills with degree concentrations in Theatre Arts Performance or Production. Pair your learning with minors available in Theatre Arts or Musical Theatre.
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Complementary Major
Entertainment Engineering
Do you want to work in the fastest-growing design area in entertainment: automation? This includes studies in hydraulics, pneumatics, rigging, motor and winch design, and structural design for theatrical productions. This degree prepares you to seek work in film, TV, theatre, theme parks, concert venues, touring shows, cruise ships, and unique entertainment experiences like Cirque du Soleil. Pair this complementary major with any engineering major, and with minors available in Theatre Arts or Musical Theatre.
Complementary Major
Our new Entertainment Engineering Major is the first and only such program in the country that is solely for undergraduates, while still being based in Engineering!
Through hands-on, practical training, you’ll engage with cutting-edge technology in our production season and in classes. You’ll collaborate with faculty, students, and guest artists on design and integration of automation into our production seasons. Additionally, there will be opportunities to apply automation in class projects and learning experiences.
Why a Complementary Major in Entertainment Engineering?
This degree prepares you for job opportunities across multiple disciplines such as film, television, theatre, theme parks, concert venues, touring shows, cruise ships, and distinctive entertainment experiences like Cirque du Soleil. Plus, it provides a pathway to a career in designing automation systems, animatronics, and special effects. You will also get a solid foundation for further education or immediate employment opportunities, such as an internship with Cirque du Soleil.
Major Requirements
Any Engineering Degree plus the following:
- THE 131: Theatre Appreciation (3 hrs.)
- THE 125: Stagecraft (3 hrs.)
- THE 226: Fundamentals of Design (3 hrs.)
- THE 310: Professional Seminar in Production – (3 hrs.)
- THE 484: Las Vegas Excursion (3. hrs.)
- THE 107: Theatre Practicum (1 hr.)
- THE 108: Theatre Practicum (1 hr.)
- THE 207: Theatre Practicum (1 hr.)
- THE 409: Theatre Engineering Practicum (3 hrs.)
- THE 410: Senior Capstone (3 hrs.)
Any Elective from the list below:
- THE 225: Advanced Stagecraft (3 hrs.)
- THE 325: Theatre Properties Design and Construction (3 hrs.)
- THE 229: Computer Aided Design for the Theatre (3 hrs.)
- THE 318: Stage Management (3 hrs.)
Total Hours: 27
Minors
Get involved in theatre, even if you’ve chosen another academic path! This minor will keep you engaged in all department productions as an actor, technician, crew member, or any number of other roles.
In addition, you will work closely with a theatre advisor. The minor is often paired with majors in communication, television arts, engineering, education, psychology, and other humanities programs.
This minor includes courses in acting, piano, music theory, and ear training/sight singing. You’ll be involved in theatre arts productions through our practicum program, and you’ll work closely with a theatre arts advisor, to keep you on track.
This minor pairs well with majors in music, theatre arts, communication, TV arts, creative writing, and other majors within the fine arts or the liberal arts and sciences.
Departmental Resources
See what’s up next for our stage performances and get your tickets today!
With a 270-seat modified thrust stage, the Meyer Jacobs Theatre is the home for most Bradley University theatre productions. Named for Peoria businessman Meyer J. Jacobs ’39, this intimate performance space is equipped with up-to-date digital lighting and sound systems and provides a dynamic showcase for both musical and non-musical theatre ranging from the classics to the boldest contemporary works.
Generously supported and dedicated by Mr. and Mrs. John O’Sullivan in memory of their daughter, Bradley alumna Blythe O’Sullivan, this flexible, fully-equipped theatre space is home to many of the department’s performance classes, student projects. mainstage rehearsals, special events, and occasional season productions.