Chapman University

What you'll study

The programme balances conservatory-style practical training with theatre history, criticism and production work. Students take core modules in acting technique, voice and speech, movement, scene study and improvisation, alongside courses in script analysis, dramatic literature and theatre history. Technical and production classes cover stagecraft, lighting, sound, costume and scenic design, while directing and dramaturgy seminars explore the creative and organisational processes behind productions.

• Acting and performance: scene study, classical and contemporary techniques, audition preparation
• Voice, speech and movement: vocal technique, dialects, physical theatre and stage combat
• Text and theory: script analysis, theatre history, playwriting and dramaturgy
• Production and design: scenic, costume, lighting and sound fundamentals; stage management
• Professional practice: rehearsal process, production practicum, internship and industry workshops

Over the course of the degree students participate in multiple public productions staged in campus venues, and many projects encourage collaboration with film and media students to develop screen-forward skills valuable in the Los Angeles market.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised secondary school qualification. Admission typically considers academic transcripts, a personal statement (or portfolio) and evidence of commitment to theatre. For performance-focused pathways an audition or recorded performance submission is usually required; design and technical applicants may be asked to provide a portfolio of practical work.

• Academic background: satisfactory secondary school grades with preparation in English and, where available, performing or visual arts
• Audition/portfolio: live audition or recorded submission for acting; design/technical portfolios for production pathways
• International applicants: proof of English language proficiency where required
• Additional materials: letters of recommendation and a personal statement outlining theatrical experience and ambitions

Career prospects

Graduates move into a wide range of theatre and allied professions. The degree prepares students for careers onstage and offstage, and for further study at graduate-level drama schools.

• Professional actor (stage, film and television)
• Director, assistant director and dramaturg
• Stage manager, production manager and technical director
• Designer (set, costume, lighting, sound) and theatrical technician
• Producer, company manager and arts administrator
• Education and community arts roles, teaching, outreach and workshop leadership
• Related careers in casting, talent development, production for screen and interdisciplinary performance

Why study at Chapman University

Chapman offers intensive, hands-on theatre training within a liberal-arts environment and strong links to the entertainment industry in Southern California. Students benefit from small classes, regular public productions in campus venues and access to the Musco Center for the Arts and on-campus theatres for performance opportunities.

Proximity to Los Angeles creates internship and networking pathways in film, television and professional theatre, and interdisciplinary collaboration with the university's film and media programmes expands employment options. Chapman also emphasises career preparation, providing students with practical production experience, audition training and career services to support entry into the performing arts sector.