The Theatre program at Seattle University offers a conservatory style experience within the framework of a broad based Jesuit liberal arts education. Students are thrown into an immersive theatre experience that encourages a larger exploration of what it means to make theatre in the world today.

Nurturing the Individual

The Theatre program nurtures each student’s individual ambitions and strengths while delivering a comprehensive education in all areas of theatre including acting, design, directing, history and production. We offer major and minor degrees as well as departmental honors. 

Faculty Mentorship 

Faculty mentorship is a signature characteristic of our educational philosophy and our small class sizes allow students to develop close one-on-one working relationships with theatre faculty.  

Practical Learning

In tandem with classroom learning, students receive practical training through our Mainstage Season, working on all aspects of production: from acting to stage management, dramaturgy to assistant direction, backstage crew to design. The Mainstage Season is produced in theLee Center for the Arts, which features a state-of-the-art 120-seat flexible space theatre, costume and scene shops. 

Further performance and production opportunities are available through programs such as Scratch, a student run showcase series; Stretch, which brings together artists-in-residence to work with faculty and students on workshops and performances; directing scene showcases; and student honors performances. 

Connecting to the Community

Students connect to the wider arts community in a variety of ways: the theatre faculty is comprised of working artists with strong ties to the professional theatre community; artists-in-Residence are brought in to work with faculty and students through our Stretch program; professional guest artists work alongside students in the Mainstage Season; and students are encouraged to connect with the rich and vibrant theatre scene in Seattle through internships. 

Connecting to the World 

Students are encouraged to study abroad and learn about theatre traditions and practices in other cultures. Theatre students have studied in London, Italy and Ireland. 

Entering the World 

Our ultimate goal is to equip students with a strong foundation in all aspects of theatre, in order to prepare them to enter the professional theatre community as resourceful emerging theatre artists or to pursue specialized training in graduate schools.