Dear Prospective Student,

The Department of Theatre & Dance at Southeast Missouri State University is delighted to hear that you are interested in pursuing a professional career as an actor, dancer, director, choreographer, designer, technician or teacher. No doubt, you are in the midst of deciding which university you wish to attend after high school. As I am sure you are aware, this is one of the most important decisions you will make in launching a successful career. 

Southeast Missouri State University offers one of the most affordable, quality, liberal arts educations in the nation, and the Department of Theatre & Dance is at the core of the new School of Visual & Performing Arts and the new $50 million River Campus facilities (opening 2007). The Department of Theatre & Dance is an intensive pre-professional training program within the context of a liberal arts education designed to prepare you for advanced educational programs, internships and professional careers in the performing arts. Yes, you can make a living doing what you love to do.

The Department of Theatre & Dance offers the following degree programs and minors:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Performing Arts with Options in Acting/Directing, Dance, Design/Technology or Musical Theatre
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre & Dance
• Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) - Theatre & Speech
• Minors in Theatre, Dance, Acting/Directing & Design/Technology

The department has nine full-time professional faculty and two full-time staff, plus approximately 90 majors. Each year, the department produces four to six major, faculty-directed/choreographed productions, plus a multitude of student-directed/choreographed/designed projects, resulting in ample opportunity for you to gain experience in one of our professionally equipped theatres or studios. The department also regularly incorporates outside professional companies and guest artists into its normal on-campus programming, and it strongly emphasizes student professional development through outside professional jobs, internships, masterclasses, conventions and festivals.

The only true way to select a program that is right for you is to visit. Therefore, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our faculty, staff and students, to participate in classes for a day, and to see a production. We are delighted to answer your questions about our program and career opportunities. We also are happy to discuss our generous scholarship and workship programs. Thank you for your interest in the Department of Theatre & Dance; we look forward to helping you nurture your performing arts career while “Experiencing Southeast.”

Sincerely,

Rhonda Weller-Stilson, Chair

573-651-2489
mailto: rstilson@semo.edu