Theatre Arts
The Theatre Arts program prepares artists and leaders for a diverse and challenging job market and, through an integrated curriculum, trains practitioners in the field to impact the development and welfare of their community through viable arts experiences.
The department puts on three public performances a year, and in addition to starring in the shows, students help with sets, costume design, and front-of-house management. This participation gives students a well-rounded college experience that prepares them for professional theatre work.
What You'll Study
Five areas of theatre arts are the focus of this major: artistic direction; performance; arts management; technical theatre; and cultural, critical and historical perspectives.
This array of choices means you can foster whatever artistic interest you have, from on stage to off stage to above the stage! Your courses will range from basic acting to costume design to private voice to directing, and through it all you’ll be surrounded by fellow artists, both students and professors.
Internship Spotlight: Summer Theatre
When spring semester classes come to an end, many Theatre Arts students turn their attention to the world of professional theatre. In Summer 2022, students performed and worked behind the scenes for Lees-McRae Summer Theatre, Horne in the West, Tweetsie Railroad, and Dollywood, to name just a few.
“Every time I get a new job in theater it makes me see more and learn more about the industry that I hadn’t really thought of before. Being able to try, in my experience, three different companies shows me three different ways of leadership, and three different ways to run a company. I learn that there’s more than one way to do things." —Abby Paulson ’23
Beyond the Classroom
Intern with Lees-McRae’s professional Summer Theatre company, travel to England or New York City during our May term and participate in mock auditions in front of multiple professional companies.
You'll also have the opportunity to travel to the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC)—the largest theatre conference in the U.S.—with faculty and peers to build connections and find employment.
Theatre Arts Organizations
Alpha Psi Omega National collegiate dramatics honor society
Highlanders Vocal ensemble
After Graduation
Common Career Areas
- Performance—Actors, Extras, Choreographers,
- Directing—Set Design, Stage Directors, Stage Managers, Creative Directors,
- Educating—Dance Instructor, Drama Teachers, Education, Professor, Secondary Education
Career information is provided through Vault and O'Net. Current Lees-McRae students can see the full results on Vault using their student email and password.
Alumni Success
Technical Direction Graduate Student North Carolina School of the Arts
Performer/Administrative and Production Assistant Luminocity Entertainment Division (L.E.D.)
Stage Manager Riverside Center the Performing Arts
Costume Designer Twin City Stages
Theatre Teacher Rockingham County Schools
Meet the Faculty
Joshua Yoder, MFA
Director and Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts
Michael Hannah, PhD
Program Coordinator and Professor of Theatre Arts
Natalie R. Davies, MFA
Assistant Professor
Shauna Godwin, BA
Dance Instructor
Kathleen DenBleyker, MM
Instructor of Music
Allison Bishop, MA
Staff Accompanist
Pam Joslin, BSc
Operations Manager, Theatre Arts Administrative Assistant
Scott Koenig, MFA
Technical Director for Theatre Arts
Stacey Trivett, BA
CAPA Director
Janet Barton Speer, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Artistic Director, Summer Theatre
Guest Artists:
Kara Wooten
Dustin Gibson
Todd Teagarden