Study of Theatre
Through the study of drama, students learn how to use the elements of theatre as performance as well as process. Performance experience helps students gain a deeper understanding of themselves and human behavior. Students learn how to manipulate space, lighting, color and texture in the studies of design. Collaborative participation in the creative process helps students develop the teamwork skills needed to be effective and successful members of contemporary society.

Study of Film
The study of film encourages students to explore the relationship between film as an expressive art, and the interaction between films and the cultural and society of which they are a part. Through the study of film forms and structures "mise-en-scene", cinematography, editing, sound, screenwriting and acting, students learn how these elements create meaning and shape an audience's understanding of film narrative. The department offers a minor in film.

Degree Programs
The B.A. and B.S. degrees are available for students interested in the study of theatre within a liberal arts background, or as part of a teacher education program. The B.F.A. is a rigorous, competitive program of study for students interested in pursuing careers in professional theatre.

A core of theatre work is required of all theatre majors. Specialization is available in performance or design at the undergraduate level, and students enjoy flexibility in shaping their studies according to particular goals or interests. Minors are available in theatre and film for those students wishing to expand the focus of their degree program.

The department also offers Idaho's only M.F.A. in theatre, and students may select an area of emphasis in acting, directing or design and/or technology (with specialization in scenery, costumes or lighting). Numerous opportunities exist to design, perform and direct productions, which are considered an integral part of graduate training.

Curriculum
The curriculum is intellectually, emotionally and physically rigorous. The undergraduate and graduate programs are skill-oriented. They focus on developing a student's working knowledge of their chosen field of study through prescribed coursework, class projects and production experiences. Small class sizes and a strong emphasis on tutorial work assures that each student's needs are fully addressed throughout their studies.

Production Opportunities
Mainstage productions, which include collaborative partnerships with the university's music and dance programs, helps students foster a close working relationship with faculty, and enable the kind of growth that comes through working with professional artists. Class projects and studio work are fully integrated with the department's mainstage season to create a balance between theory and skill development.

Career Opportunities
Arts and entertainment is one of this country's fastest growing sectors, and the career options continue to expand along with its economic impact. The career prospects are vast, literally hundreds of possibilities in professional theatre, film, television, education, playwriting, dramaturgy, arts management and production, art therapy and recreational drama for special populations. The department's program of study offers a solid foundation for competitive placement in distinguished graduate programs.

Facilities
The department has two mainstage theatre venues as well as a black box studio. The 417-seat Hartung Theatre features a semi-thrust proscenium stage, new digital lighting and fully equipped shops for scenery and costume construction. The Kiva Theatre is an intimate 125-seat theatre, configured for theatre-in-the-round. It also features digital lighting. The 50-seat Arena is a black box studio used for student productions, rehearsal space and classroom. more

Faculty
Individually, faculty members have distinguished themselves as professionals in their specialty areas: directing, acting, design, technology, theatre history. They also have broad experience with how various areas interact in theatre-making. Collectively, they compose a dedicated team, deeply committed to helping each student realize their potential. more

Drama Competition
The department is a participating member of the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, which promotes and recognizes excellence in collegiate drama. Each year, more than 900 productions and 18,000 students participate in ACTF nationwide. In 2004, UI will host the Region VII event.

Idaho Repertory Theatre
Idaho Repertory Theatre is the UI's resident summer theatre company. Established in 1953, it is one of the longest-running professional summer theatres in the Northwest. Four plays are produced during the five-week season, and presented in classic repertory format. College students participate as interns to enhance their knowledge of theatre by working side-by-side guest directors, designers and performers. For MFA acting candidates, an IRT internship is part of their degree requirements.

Internships
Each year, UI students are invited to join many of the nation's leading theatre companies to work as interns with roles on stage and in a variety of design/tech areas. These theatres include Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Tacoma Actors Guild, Actors' Theatre of Louisville, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Colorado Shakespeare Festival, to name a few.

Summer Fine Arts Camp A summer theatre fine arts camp is offered for high school students (grade 9th and above). Both high school and college enrollment is available about request. The camp involves six intense days of classes, workshops, exercises, rehearsals and studios, with cultural and recreational activities scheduled for the evenings. The week ends with performances and exhibits showcasing the students' work. more

Freshman Theatre Weekend
Prospective students have an opportunity each spring to discover what UI has to offer its theatre majors. This weekend event provides high school seniors an opportunity to audition, present portfolios, visit with faculty and students, compete for freshmen scholarships, tour campus and attend a main stage production. more

Student Organizations
The Student Theatre Organization is dedicated to fostering an environment for inspirational experiences to enrich the minds of students and touch their hearts. The STO produces a full season of contemporary and experimental work, which is selected, designed and directed by theatre students. A new student organization has emerged with the integration of film studies into the department. The group collaborates on a variety of film projects, from scripting to producing videos that are student-driven. more

Advanced Study
Graduates often choose to further their studies with graduate training, and their training at UI prepares them for competitive placement in nationally-acclaimed graduate programs, such as Yale School of Drama, Rutgers University, Southern Methodist University, New York University and the University of Washington.

Alumni
The quality of our program is reflected in the achievements of our graduates who have launched successful, diverse careers in professional theatre, television and film across North America, from Broadway to Hollywood. They contribute to the field in many ways: performers, directors, playwrights, designers, technicians, teachers, producers, administrators, dramaturgs, counselors for youth-at-risk and other special populations. Our graduates find their place in dozens of career fields, which draw on their skills in communication, creative problem-solving and critical thinking, hallmarks of a degree in theatre.

University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the state's premiere institution in the performing, visual and literary arts. Faculty have distinguished themselves in every discipline, and many have national and international reputations in their field. The UI's range and depth of the liberal arts disciplines creates extraordinary flexibility for personalizing a theatre degree to meet particular goals or interests. Theatre students enroll in a myriad of electives in music, dance, visual art, creative writing, architectural design and many other fields, and many minor or double major in one of these fields. The UI is consistently listed as one of America's 100 Best College Buys and is regularly ranked as a national university in guides published by U.S. News and World Report, Kiplinger's Report and the Princeton Review.

Moscow, Idaho
Moscow, a community of 20,000, is a gateway to the natural wonderland of north Idaho and is ranked as one of "The Best 100 Small Art Towns in America." Located on the Idaho-Washington border, it is only eight miles from Pullman, home to Washington State University. Many courses at each university are cross-listed, which greatly extends the learning and cultural environment for students at both campuses. Free bus service runs between the two universities.