Marymount University

What you'll study

This undergraduate theatre programme blends studio practice, technical production and academic study. Core modules and experiences typically include acting technique, voice and movement, stagecraft (lighting, sound, set and costume), script analysis, theatre history and dramatic literature, directing, playwriting and dramaturgy. Students take ensemble and scene-study classes, participate in mounted productions, and learn stage management and production rehearsal processes.

The course structure emphasises progressive practical labs and public performances alongside classroom seminars. Many programmes also incorporate a production practicum or internship, a senior capstone project or thesis performance, and elective options that let you specialise in performance, design/technology, directing or theatre studies.

Entry requirements

• Completion of secondary education or an equivalent qualification recognised by Marymount University.
• Academic transcripts demonstrating readiness for university-level study.
• For performance-focused applicants, an audition or submission of a performance portfolio is commonly required; this may include prepared monologues, a short musical selection if applicable, movement work, or recorded materials if an in-person audition is not possible.
• Additional materials such as a personal statement and letters of recommendation are often requested to assess fit and commitment to the field.
• International applicants must meet the university’s English language proficiency requirements and provide documentation of previous study from their country of origin.

Career prospects

Graduates emerge prepared for a wide range of roles within the performing arts and related sectors. Common career paths include work as actors, directors, stage managers, designers and technicians (lighting, sound, set, costume), dramaturgs and playwrights. Graduates also move into arts administration, casting, education (often with additional teacher certification), community arts programming and producing.

Many students progress to graduate study (MFA or MA) in performance, directing, design, theatre history or arts leadership; others build portfolios through regional theatre, touring companies, commercial and non-profit venues, or by freelancing within the vibrant Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Why study at Marymount University

Marymount offers a small-college environment with hands-on, conservatory-style training embedded in a broad liberal-arts curriculum. Students benefit from close faculty mentorship, frequent opportunities to perform and work on fully mounted productions, and practical experience in technical and production roles.

The university’s location near Washington, D.C. provides access to a wide range of professional theatres, cultural institutions and internship placements, helping students build industry contacts while still studying. Practical training, community engagement and preparation for both professional practice and further academic study are central features of the programme.