Program(s) Available: B.A., B.S., Minor
A Theatre from Northwest degree opens up numerous career opportunities and helps you develop diverse skills. Our graduates are successful in getting jobs in professional theatre career paths. We offer profession-based learning through classes early on in your academic career. Want to find out more? Keep reading!
At Northwest, we want you to jump right in! It's why we have the first-year student showcase, where you can be in a production in your first year. Our students are successful. A degree in Theatre from Northwest will get you on the right path to a job in the industry. Alumni have found success as actors, directors, designers and more.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is designed for students to take a minor. This 30-hour program can often open students up to pursue pathways like creative writing or wellness to add other skills to their resume. The Bachelor of Science (BS) is a 60-hour program dedicated to theatre exclusively in two tracks; Performance and Technical and Design.
Performance students begin in their first year with Theatre Foundations, Stage Makeup, Acting and Technical Skills. Students can build a diverse resume with four mainstage productions a year and several one-act opportunities. Check out our current schedule of shows for this year.
This technical and design specialization offers courses in drafting, scene design, stage lighting and more. Students gain profession-based learning through participating in four mainstage productions a year as well as one-act shows. Student employment opportunities are available through working as an assistant to the Technical Director/Performance Facilities Manager. Students in this program have interned and are currently working as Stage Managers on Broadway.
Department of Fine and Performing Arts
660.562.1326
nikkiy@nwmissouri.edu
Career Ready
Theatre: Performance
“I think that Northwest has prepared me for the professional world in having a very well-rounded skill set. Being very versatile is wonderful for professional employers.” — Shawn Murphy
The Ron Houston Center for Performing Arts is home to three performance venues: the Mary Linn Auditorium, Black Box Theatre and the Studio Theatre. The theatre production program, Theatre Northwest, produces approximately a dozen shows each year.
The First-year Student Showcase introduces audiences to Theatre Northwest’s new performing arts majors while orienting the students with the people and practices of the theatre program. As in the past 30+ years, the production is performed by an all-first-year student cast.
A national honor society for theatre majors. A highlight for this group is an annual touring children’s show that donates the proceeds to a local charity.
