Saint Michael's College

What you'll study

The Drama programme blends hands-on studio practice with classroom study to develop versatile theatre-makers. Core areas include acting, voice and movement, stagecraft and technical design, directing, playwriting, and theatre history and criticism. Students balance practical courses with academic study, learning to analyse scripts, research historical contexts, and apply theatrical theory to performance and production.

• Acting & Performance: scene study, improvisation, character development, voice and movement techniques for stage.
• Production & Technical Theatre: set, lighting and sound design, stage management, costume construction and technical direction.
• Directing & Dramaturgy: fundamentals of directing, rehearsal process, text analysis and dramaturgical research.
• Playwriting & Creative Practice: writing for the stage, devising theatre, collaborative creation and new-work development.
• Theatre History & Theory: surveys of dramatic literature, performance history and contemporary theatre studies.
• Capstone & Performance Experience: culminating projects, senior seminars or capstone productions that synthesise practical and academic learning.

Students typically participate in multiple public productions each year, take courses across disciplines to deepen contextual knowledge, and may pursue independent projects or internships with regional theatre companies.

Entry requirements

Saint Michael's looks for applicants with a strong secondary-school record and genuine commitment to theatre practice. Typical requirements include a completed high-school diploma or equivalent and submission of academic transcripts. Because this is a practice-led programme, applicants are usually asked to provide a portfolio, recorded performance pieces, or attend an audition or interview — requirements vary by applicant background and area of focus (performance, design, technical theatre, or writing).

Additional materials that strengthen an application include letters of recommendation (academic and/or theatre-related), a personal statement outlining theatrical experience and goals, and evidence of involvement in productions or arts activities. Transfer applicants may be asked for college transcripts and a sample of creative work. International applicants should meet the college's English-language proficiency expectations.

Career prospects

Graduates leave with practical skills and critical thinking applicable across the arts and beyond. Typical career pathways include:

• Professional performer in theatre, film, television and voice work.
• Stage manager, production manager or technical designer in live performance.
• Director, dramaturg or playwright working in new-works development and ensemble companies.
• Arts administration, producing, audience development and fundraising for cultural organisations.
• Theatre education at K–12 levels (often combined with teacher certification) and community arts facilitation.
• Further study at conservatoires or graduate programmes in performance, directing, design, dramaturgy, or academic theatre studies.

The programme’s combination of practical experience, collaborative projects and internship opportunities prepares graduates for freelance careers and roles within regional, national and community-based arts organisations.

Why study at Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael's offers a theatre education grounded in a liberal-arts tradition and characterised by small classes and close faculty mentorship. Students benefit from frequent production opportunities that allow them to apply classroom learning in real-world contexts, as well as interdisciplinary study across the humanities and social sciences.

The college’s size fosters close collaboration among actors, designers and technicians, and provides room for students to take leadership roles in production and programming. Regional connections and a supportive campus community make Saint Michael's a good fit for students seeking a personalised undergraduate theatre education that combines practical training with scholarly enquiry.