In Race and Identity in American Theatre with Prof. Kate Duffly, I learned how to talk about race, identity, and art within the community and when engaging with critical discourse.
What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre
Learn how theatre helps us explore cultural values, social dynamics, and historical debates with a theatre major at Reed College. Study theatre history, create original work, design new worlds through scenography, and perform on stage in our interdisciplinary program. With the guidance of our expert faculty, investigate performance studies, including queer theatre, theatre and race, and community-based performance; learn about dramaturgy; and write and direct plays. Explore the breadth and depth of the human experience with a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Reed College.
Roadmap to the BA in Theatre at Reed
Receive a comprehensive education in theatre history, theory, and practice through Reed’s theatre department. Our curriculum includes classes and production experience in acting, directing, performance studies, and design, culminating in the senior thesis.
Year One
Set the Foundation
Begin your journey as a theatre major with courses such as Stagecraft or Fundamentals of Acting and Performance. Hone your skills and find new passions in our beautiful rehearsal and performance spaces.
Along with your fellow first-year students, enroll in Humanities 110, Reed’s cornerstone program. Study human thought, culture, and history in this yearlong interdisciplinary class. Lay the groundwork for your degree, and develop essential critical thinking and writing skills that shape your success at Reed.
Year Two
Develop Your Skills
Delve deeper into your major by enrolling in theatre courses like Directing or Playwriting. Explore different aspects of production, from lighting to costuming, as you gain hands-on experience on and behind the stage.
Make the most of your summer break by taking part in study away programs, internships, or apprenticeships. The theatre department and Reed College offer grants to help fund your trips or internships. Learn new perspectives and gain practical experience during this valuable time.
Year Three
Expand Your Horizons
Gain more theatre experience by studying abroad. Take classes in acting, dramatic criticism, and more at the British American Drama Academy (BADA) in London. Or immerse yourself in the National Theatre Institute at the Moscow Art Theatre School. Discover all our off-campus study opportunities.
In addition, take the junior qualifying examination, for which you closely study a play. Envision your own production and share your ideas for performance and design. This examination ensures your readiness to tackle your senior thesis project.
Year Four
Craft Your Senior Thesis
Draw on your years of theatre knowledge and experiences to write your senior thesis. Working closely with a thesis adviser, complete in-depth research to answer a question about theatre. Your project can also incorporate production to study directing, playwriting, acting, and design. Unleash your creativity and showcase your talent with your Reed senior thesis.
Why Study Theatre at Reed College?
Create and Inspire in the Performing Arts Building
Create and collaborate in Reed’s Performing Arts Building. This beautiful space contains rehearsal spaces, scene and costume studios, collaborative spaces, and a multimedia lab. Perform in the 99-seat Blackbox Theatre or the 180-seat Diver Studio Theatre.
Learn from Guest Artists and Scholars
We regularly welcome guest artists and scholars to share their work, deliver talks, and conduct workshops. These interactions provide invaluable opportunities for skill-building and inspiration as you foster a deeper understanding of the ever-evolving landscape of theatre. Recent guests:
- Tim Miller, NEA 4 performance artist
- Anthony Hudson, interdisciplary artist
- Vanport Mosaic
- Veronica Tjioe, playwright
- Bread and Puppet Theatre
- Split Britches
Discover Our Sustainability Efforts
Reed’s theatre department embraces green practices as part of its commitment to sustainability. We believe in recycling and reusing, even repurposing materials for decades. Here are some of our activities:
- Using stock furniture, costumes, and props
- Sharing resources with a network of local theatres and schools
- Decorating with eco-friendly scenic paints
- Recycling shop and classroom materials
- Reusing platforms and flats
- Discussing sustainability and conservation in theatre courses
- Featuring plant-based catering at department events
Our Performing Arts Building is also Earth Advantage certified for its sustainable construction. Our eco-roof houses 100% native Oregon plants, while our building features 100% on-site stormwater management, solar panels, and daylight sensor-controlled lighting.
My Favorite Courses
Aziza Afzal ’17
Theatre
Alexander Swann ’16
Theatre
Theatre 223, Visual Performance Narratives, was like a fusion of an art history course and a design course that taught me how to look at objects and spaces in the same way that Humanities 110 taught me how to look at texts—inquisitively and critically. It has been the most useful thing I ever did in terms of talking about the ideas behind my work, as well as that of others.
Careers for BA in Theatre Graduates
Reed theatre graduates have the creative and collaborative skills for successful careers in fields from performance art to politics. Current roles of theatre majors include the following:
- Associate professor, Swarthmore College
- Directing lecturer, University of California, Riverside
- Director and founding member, Faultline Ensemble
- Professional staff, Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Program director, Carpe Diem Arts, Inc.
- Sound designer, Self-employed
- Writer and producer, The Wire, Law & Order
Achievements of Theatre Alumni
Prestigious MFA and doctoral programs across the nation have accepted Reed’s theatre majors:
- California Institute of the Arts
- Carnegie-Mellon University
- The Juilliard School
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- University of Washington
- Yale School of Drama
Meet Our Theatre Faculty
A team of passionate scholars and professional artists drive Reed’s theatre department. Our professors lead captivating on-campus productions and contribute to research in areas such as theatre history, activism, and text analysis. Through their courses and mentorship, hone your skills and develop your unique artistic voice.
