Theatre Studies
Academic Program Introduction
The Theatre Studies program encompasses performance, playwriting, design, stagecraft, directing, and public speaking, as well as academic investigations into the history and currency of this ancient global art form. Students gain a deep awareness of the technical components, practical applications, and historical and social contexts of theatrical performance craft.
Under the guidance of faculty who are working theatre professionals, students develop confidence and self-sufficiency as creators who can envision a product, state their goals, and collaboratively turn their ideas into reality. The program actively aims to cultivate well-rounded majors and makers for whom theatre is the nexus of many disciplines. Students have the opportunity to apply their studies to department productions, a thesis, or a capstone project. Our program is open to all Wellesley students, and there is no special audition process.
Learning goals
- Understand the evolution of dramatic literature while developing original work.
- Craft a compelling, connected, embodied performance as an actor or director.
- Learn the elements of design and stagecraft.
- Develop a framework for artistic collaboration and problem-solve both independently and within an ensemble.
- Achieve competence to compete with conservatory-trained graduates for graduate school or opportunities within the industry.
Programs of study
Theatre major
Students will gain knowledge and appreciation of the history, literature, movements, and opportunities of the theatre through practical application in performance, design, and production coursework.
Professional company in residence
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Wellesley Repertory Theatre
WRT is an award-winning professional theatre company whose mission is to bridge curricular inquiry with professional opportunity for our majors, makers, and graduates. Wellesley College Theatre (Theatre Studies and WRT) awards grants to graduates, providing support for development and production of unpublished/unproduced work in the field. Learn more here:
Places and spaces
Ruth Nagel Jones Black Box Theatre
Our main performance space is a black-box style theatre that seats 80-plus people and can be re-configured for each show.
Diana Chapman Walsh Auditorium
This 1,000-seat auditorium hosts events, lectures, and performances by many campus groups. Theatre Studies classes, our annual Fall Showcase, thesis performances, and student theatre performances all use this space throughout the year.
Research highlights
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At the annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Wellesley students present both design and performance work from Theatre Studies Mainstage Productions to peers and a panel of professionals. Students have recently won regional and national awards for design, outstanding one-act plays, and journalism and advocacy.
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Student actors and designers from THST 345: Practicum: Theatre Production created an international exchange production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale with students from Soonchunhyang University in South Korea, staging the production at both institutions in the 2024-25 academic year.
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Design students regularly attend the annual United States Institute for Theatre Technology to learn from industry professionals and discover new technologies, under the guidance of production manager and faculty member David Towlun.
Opportunities
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Honors thesis
Seniors majoring in theatre studies may pursue an honors thesis exploring work outside the curriculum. Recent thesis students have written, rehearsed, produced, and performed their own full-length work, collaborating with both outside professionals and fellow students.
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Beauclair-Masson Fellowship
This fellowship is awarded to a performance or directing-focused major in support of a senior honors thesis or independent study. It can be used for research, travel, procurement of books, films, or other expenses.
Beyond Wellesley
Beyond Wellesley
Our graduates work in all aspects of the theatre, film, and television industry—and beyond—as actors, writers, directors, filmmakers, designers, dramaturgs, stage managers, agents, managers, casting directors, photographers, professors, teachers, and arts advocates, and in various leadership roles.
Recent Employers
For more
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106 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02481