Rollins College

What you'll study

The programme blends hands-on experience and academic study. Core areas include acting, voice and movement, scene study, directing, playwriting, stagecraft and technical theatre, as well as theatre history and dramatic literature. Students explore both classical and contemporary texts, and receive training in design disciplines such as lighting, sound, costume and scenic design.

• Foundations: Acting fundamentals, voice & speech, movement, scene study.
• Production & Technical Training: Stagecraft, lighting design, sound design, set construction and stage management.
• Creative Practice: Directing, playwriting, ensemble work and devised theatre.
• Academic Study: Theatre history, dramatic literature, dramaturgy, performance theory and criticism.
• Performance Opportunities: Mainstage and studio productions, student-directed projects, and community-engaged theatre.
• Capstone / Senior Project: A final performance, design portfolio, or research project demonstrating creative and scholarly development.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically hold a high-school diploma or equivalent. Admissions usually consider a combination of academic record, letters of recommendation and a personal statement outlining interest in theatre. Most applicants to performance tracks are asked to audition; design and production applicants may submit a portfolio of relevant work. International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through recognised tests or acceptable institutional evidence. Transfer applicants are evaluated on college transcripts and examples of practical theatre experience.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to a wide range of careers in the performing arts and related sectors. Common paths include work as actors, directors, stage managers, dramaturgs and technicians, as well as scenic, lighting and costume designers. Alumni also pursue careers in arts administration, education, playwriting, community arts programming, theatre criticism and freelance production. Many graduates continue to postgraduate training at conservatoires, MFA programmes or graduate schools in theatre, film and related disciplines.

Why study at Rollins College

Rollins offers a small-college environment with close faculty mentorship and intensive, practical training alongside a broad liberal-arts curriculum. Students benefit from frequent production opportunities—both mainstage and experimental—access to local professional networks in the Orlando region, and dedicated facilities that support performance and technical training. The programme emphasises collaborative, interdisciplinary work and gives students the chance to build a professional portfolio while exploring complementary academic fields within the college.