Barton College

Department of Communication and Performing Arts - Theatre

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200 Atlantic Christian College Drive NE
Wilson,North Carolina 27893
252.399.6484
enroll@barton.edu

DEGREES OFFERED

Bachelor of Arts in Theater

Our theatre major combines the benefits of a focused, profession-oriented program with the broad, nurturing, liberal-arts experience Barton is known for. In addition to the core courses in the major, you’ll choose from concentration areas in design, management, and performance. Our students emerge well prepared for the rigors of the job market; if further study is desired, our B.A. degree is suitable for entry to any area of specialization. Special Features Concentration areas combine coursework in theatre with other relevant disciplines. The design concentration includes specialized courses in theatre design as well as studio art and graphic design; the management concentration provides courses in economics, accounting, and management from the School of Business; and the concentration in performance involves music and vocal study. The theatre program produces 4 main-stage productions each year, and students are encouraged to be involved in many capacities. Opportunities are provided to work on comedies, dramas, and musicals as well as student-produced shows, one-act plays, and faculty shows. Recent productions include: Violet • The Crucible • Sylvia • The Laramie Project • Big River • Love Letters • Godspell • Thieves • Working • Barton on Broadway • A Midsummer Night’s Dream • Annie, Get Your Gun • Twelfth Night • The Time Machine (a radio play) • Much Ado About Nothing • The Misadventures of Dating (an original play by a Barton College student) • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat • Halcyon Days • Bully for Barton (an original play) • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Participation in Barton productions is open to all students at the College, as well as faculty, staff, and theatre professionals from the greater community. Our small size provides students with immediate, hands-on opportunities that larger programs cannot offer. Leading roles and responsible positions on the production team are often secured by freshman and transfer students. Facilities In 2009, the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre opened at Barton College. This facility provides Barton, the Wilson community, and the eastern North Carolina region with a premiere teaching facility for the dramatic arts, as well as an excellent environment for entertainment and performances on a broad scope. This flexible and functional black box theatre is easily adaptable for theatre, dance, symphony, concerts, opera performances, and lectures. Course Information The theatre major provides rigorous training in acting, stagecraft, theatre history, directing, voice, and speech. You will take part in “Theatre Participation” at least four times, this one-credit course gives you credit for involvement in stage productions during that semester — whether you’re acting, directing, designing sets, or working in makeup. Our senior seminar course requires a self-directed, capstone project related to theatre. You will also develop your interviewing and auditioning skills, write a résumé, and prepare for professional opportunities or for graduate school. Scholarships and Financial Aid The Mabel M. Griffin Endowment is awarded to a Wilson County student majoring in theatre. Additionally, there are endowed scholarships in music for which theatre majors often qualify. Internships Barton students have interned at La Jolla Playhouse in California and Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy in Raleigh, as well as local public schools and the Arts Council of Wilson. Additionally, the Theatre of the American South, a locally produced, professional theatre festival, offers opportunities for students every summer. Career Opportunities Theatre majors can become actors, directors, dancers, theatre managers, producers, designers, technicians, agents, or teachers. In addition, the problem solving, leadership, and collaborative skills you’ll develop are not only desirable, but directly transferable to all professions. Successful Graduates Recent graduates are working professionally in North Carolina, in Los Angeles, and at Walt Disney World in Orlando, as well as in Broadway and Off-Broadway theatres. A career in theatre is incredibly rewarding and can be equally varied in shape and direction. We endeavor to prepare students for success at every level. Clubs and Organizations Barton’s theatre club, Stage and Script, is the oldest student organization on campus. Each year, this dedicated group provides support for main-stage theatre productions and organizes theatre-related social events.

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