Theatre Department

The Minor in Theatre provides the opportunity to engage in the range of opportunities offered by the Theatre department: students who minor in Theatre take a mix of lecture and seminar courses in drama, theatre, and performance studies, as well as courses in a selected area or selected areas of performance practice: acting, design, directing, dramaturgy, stage and production management, playwriting.

The Barnard College Department of Theatre mounts a full season of productions in the Minor Latham Playhouse and the Glicker-Milstein Theatre, a crucible of investigation that is a credit-bearing element of the curriculum, and open to all undergraduate students for audition. A collaboration between students and professional theatre artists, our productions are both a learning process and a scene of encounter, where perceptions are shaped for the attention and creative reflection of a larger public.

The Design program emphasizes a critical engagement with dramatic writing, the development of a coherent and personal response to a text, and the ability to express that response in visual, spatial, or aural terms. The department offers coursework in the principal design fields — scenic, costume, lighting, and sound — and students are encouraged to develop a focus in one or more design fields. Through a process of intensive research, collaborative discussion, and rigorous craftsmanship, students develop clear and coherent design practices, a set of tools that can be applied to a wide range of production styles and media. Students are encouraged to experiment with different design fields and tools, and have the opportunity to apply their skills in fully realized productions. Design students have continued to professional careers in theatre, as well as to MFA and Ph.D. programs in a number of fields.

Student Learning Objectives:

Students successfully completing a concentration in design should be able

a. to analyze dramatic texts and translate that analysis into documents used in the production process (breakdowns, plots, etc.)

b. to research images and texts that provide insight into the developing design idea, and accurately communicate historical and stylistic choices

c. to demonstrate fluency with the craft of a design field - e.g. sketching, model making, drafting, sound and lighting plots, and associated software

d. to perform collaboratively, adapting and informing their designs with ideas generated through conversation with colleagues, classmates, and advisors

The directing program develops the interpretive and spatializing imagination needed to bring dramatic writing effectively to the stage, in dialogue with both historical and contemporary dimensions of performance. Directing I provides the fundamental instruction in directing, and is prerequisite to Directing II and the Advanced Directing course. Students wishing to specialize in directing, or to undertake a senior thesis in directing, should contact members of the directing faculty early, and be certain to take courses in the sequence as early as possible. Directing students have continued to professional careers in theatre, as well as to MFA and Ph.D. programs in a number of fields.

Student Learning Objectives:

Students successfully completing a concentration in directing should be able

a. to recognize the different demands of different configurations of stage space

b. to apply compositional tools

c. to define production style and its influence on performance choices

d. to communicate effectively with actors

e. to analyze the historical, social, and aesthetic elements of a dramatic text as the basis for a directorial conception

The emphasis in Stage and Production Management provides a working knowledge of the stage management process, focusing on the creative role of the Stage Manager in the production process. Students specializing in Stage and Production Management develop familiarity with practices and technical resources in the field in preparation for an advanced creative collaboration. The Stage and Production Management emphasis culminates in being assigned as the stage manager for a faculty-directed stage production in the Department season, working alongside faculty and guest artists and the Department's professional staff; the thesis also includes a written research casebook, and is supervised by a member of the design and stage production faculty and staff. Stage and Production Management students have continued to professional careers in theatre, as well as to MFA and Ph.D. programs in a number of fields.

Student Learning Objectives:

Students successfully completing a concentration in stage and production management should be able

a. to read and analyze a performance text from stage and production management perspectives

b. to communicate with and coordinate the needs of all members of the production effectively

c. to organize and manage the rehearsal process

d. to develop and update the production budget

The emphasis in Dramaturgy lies on the interface between critical and artistic work. The dramaturg has played a central role in the European theatre of the past two hundred years, and has become increasingly visible in contemporary American theatre as well. The dramaturgy concentration emphasizes a sophisticated grasp both of the literary and formal dimension of plays and the critical work of theatre practice; it encourages close collaborative with directors, and an ambitious attitude toward the development of engaged, critical performances. Instruction in dramaturgy emphasizes the dramaturg's critical role as artistic collaborator, conceptual provocateur, cultural and theatrical historian, and voice for the critical work of performance in stage production. Dramaturgy students have continued to professional careers in theatre, as well as to MFA and Ph.D. programs in a number of fields.

Student Learning Objectives:

Students successfully completing a concentration in dramaturgy should be able

a. to apply important critical and theoretical concepts to the analysis of dramatic writing and theatrical performance

b. to synthesize and evaluate contemporary research scholarship and apply it to a specific production, including biographical, historical, and interpretive information

c. to write clearly and effectively about the goals of a production, its critical contexts and purposes

d. to communicate the critical stakes of a performance to a director and cast; to be able to work with a director in fashioning those stakes

e. to edit dramatic scripts for production

The emphasis in Playwriting foregrounds the critical role that writing can play in changing the expectations, aesthetics, and practices of performance. Students take at least three playwriting courses; they also have the opportunity to work with the Playwrights Center Core Apprentice Program, and to be considered for the Dasha Amsterdam Epstein Playwriting Fellowship at the Powerhouse Center. The Playwriting emphasis culminates in a staged reading as part of the Festival of New plays, and is accompanied by a casebook; it is supervised by a member of the playwriting faculty. Playwriting students have continued to professional careers in theatre, as well as to MFA and Ph.D. programs in a number of fields.

Student Learning Objectives:

Students successfully completing a concentration in playwriting should be able

a. to create an individual theatrical voice in writing

b. to construct dramatic and theatrical events onstage

c. to communicate supportive critique to fellow writers

d. to interpret plot and story, and to employ language and spectacle creatively

e. to recognize dramatic structures, and be able to shape and hold an audience's attention

The emphasis in Stage and Production Management provides a working knowledge of the stage management process, focusing on the creative role of the Stage Manager in the production process. Students specializing in Stage and Production Management develop familiarity with practices and technical resources in the field in preparation for an advanced creative collaboration. The Stage and Production Management emphasis culminates in being assigned as the stage manager for a faculty-directed stage production in the Department season, working alongside faculty and guest artists and the Department's professional staff; the thesis also includes a written research casebook, and is supervised by a member of the design and stage production faculty and staff. Stage and Production Management students have continued to professional careers in theatre, as well as to MFA and Ph.D. programs in a number of fields.

Student Learning Objectives:

Students successfully completing a concentration in stage and production management should be able

a. to read and analyze a performance text from stage and production management perspectives

b. to communicate with and coordinate the needs of all members of the production effectively

c. to organize and manage the rehearsal process

d. to develop and update the production budget

This Thesis explores the unique potentiality of a solo work of theater. The Thesis in Solo Performance provides the opportunity for a student who has specialized in Acting - along with interests in direction, design and writing - to create and to perform an original multi-disciplinary work of theater. Students identify a subject/theme/question, and conduct research into their thesis’ context and sources, choosing already existent materials to work with. These materials could include texts, movement, objects, image and sound to form the basis of the project. While not a thesis in autobiography per se, the works produced are profoundly original and expressive explorations. Throughout the semester, students work both individually and collectively with their cohort, engaging with new acting techniques and methods of self-direction vital to the art of a solo performance. Final performances in the Senior Thesis Festival at end of semester are typically 15-20 minutes long. 

Students undertaking a Solo Performance thesis are expected to engage in a guided creative process, achieve a refined final performance in terms of conception and execution, and to reflect on their process and production in their Casebook. The Casebook includes weekly written journal entries that explore and document their creative process, including relevant visual materials and web links. Grades are assessed on the basis of both the performance and the Casebook; theses are graded by the director of the thesis (the instructor of Acting II Devised & Solo) and a second reader chosen by the Chair. Solo Performance students have continued on to professional careers in theatre and film, as well as MFA and Ph.D. programs in a range of fields.

Named for Marion Victor (née Pinkussohn) of the Barnard class of 1925, Milbank 229 is a small black box rehearsal and classroom studio used for theatre department acting, directing, and design classes, as well as for rehearsals for departmental productions and scene study classes (by student appointment). 

The theatre design room is a classroom and workspace for design classes and students completing design work on departmental productions. 

The department costume shop, managed by Kara Feely, is where department costumes are stored, altered, and fitted for productions. Costumes are available to borrow for studio classes as necessary; students should make an appointment with Kara to check out items. Students interested in work-study positions in the costume shop should see here for more information. 

The department scene shop, located in the basement of Milbank Hall directly beneath the Minor Latham Playhouse, is where scenery is stored and built for department productions. Contact Technical Director Greg Winkler with any questions about the scene shop. For more on our sustainable design and production practices, see here. Students interested in work-study positions in the scene shop should see here for more information. 

Please email theatre@barnard.edu and ask to be connected with a current Theatre major that matches your interests in the department and the field. Our students are eager to connect!

What is the relationship between the Columbia and Barnard Theatre Departments? 

The Department of Theatre, Barnard College, is the theatre department for all undergraduate students at Columbia University (Columbia College, Barnard College, School of General Studies, School of Engineering and Applied Science). The Department offers classes in the critical study of drama, theatre, and performance, as well as classes in the artistic practice of a range of disciplines: directing, design, dramaturgy, performance, playwriting. Although there is no formal relationship between the undergraduate theatre program and the graduate Theatre Division, School of the Arts, at Columbia University (which offers only the MFA and does not teach undergraduate courses in theatre), the two programs have increasingly coordinated on curricular choices and theatre events.

Are there auditions for the program? 

No, since this is a B.A. rather than a B.F.A. program. Once a student is admitted to Barnard or Columbia, they may choose to major in Theatre. There are auditions on the second day of class of each semester to cast students in productions for that semester. The Theatre Department does not review applications for admission to Barnard or Columbia. Please contact the Admissions Office at either school for questions regarding admission.

How many Theatre majors are there? 

On average, there are 20-30 Senior Theatre majors, and over 300 students are involved per year in the program, taking classes or working on productions.

Do students specialize in one area of theatre? 

Majors are required to take courses in theatre history, literature, theory, and a range of praxis courses. In the senior year students apply for a thesis area. All theses include a piece of critical writing.

What is a typical production year like? 

The Theatre Department produces two productions in the fall semester directed by faculty or visiting artists. The spring semester consists of a production directed by faculty or a visiting artist, the Senior Thesis Festival of student directed work, and evenings of solo performances, research presentations, and new play readings.

Do students get credit for working on productions? 

Yes! All students acting in or doing technical work for productions are enrolled in practicum courses. Students receive 2-3 credits for production work depending on the assignment. Students cast in departmental productions register for a graded 3-credit course.

What are the acting opportunities?

 At the beginning of each semester there are auditions to cast productions for the semester. Students are asked to prepare a 60-second monologue of their choosing. Acting I is the first class for all students. Acting II classes are based on subject matter — such as Scene/Character Study or Acting for the Camera — rather than a consecutive progression. Students are exposed to a variety of acting techniques and may work with one or several different techniques in a course.

Are there opportunities in musical theatre? 

The Theatre Department offers three courses in acting musical theatre which vary by semester: Acting the Musical Scene, Acting Contemporary Musical Theatre, and Acting Sondheim. Although we don't typically produce large-scale musicals as part of our production season, we often incorporate original music and singing into productions.

What kind of internship opportunities exist in NYC theatres? 

NYC theatres are pleased to have Barnard and Columbia students as interns. Beyond Barnard and the Office of Career Services at Columbia regularly post internships for both the summer and the academic year. Recently, students have interned with the following arts institutions: The Public Theater; Disney Theatricals; Theatre Communications Group; The Apollo Theater; HERE Arts Center; WP Theater; Jim Henson Company; Mabou Mines; Object Collection; Target Margin Theater; Waterwell; Keen Company; Colt Coeur; Chautauqua Theater Company; Chicago City Limits; Epic Theatre Ensemble; Flying Carpet Theatre Company; TADA! Youth Theatre; Theodora Skipitares/Skysaver Productions.

Why should I major in Theatre? 

Majoring in Theatre enables students to engage in a wide spectrum of creative and critical work; indeed, the major encourages students to find a productive balance between one (or several) branches of artistic work and a critical, historical, and/or theoretical perspective on the cultural work of performance. Both majors and students who have taken courses or auditioned for productions have gone on to a variety of careers: in professional theatre, to MFA and Ph.D. programs in various aspects of theatre and theatre studies; to positions in theatre management and administration; or to other professional schools (law school, for example).

What research opportunities exist in or through the department? 

The Department offers a wide range of work-study assignments, and the opportunity to work with research faculty members on specific research projects.

Will study abroad enhance this major? 

Study abroad is a rich and valuable experience, and majors have frequently participated in the British Academy of Dramatic Arts, as well as in other study abroad opportunities. Students planning to study abroad should discuss their course plans early with their faculty adviser, in order to ensure that they have the appropriate requirements for pursuing thesis options when they return.

How does one receive departmental honors?

 Departmental honors are determined by the faculty, and based on the student's GPA in the major.

What awards and prizes are sponsored by the department? 

The Department offers the Kenneth Janes prize, which is awarded to a Barnard College junior or senior; the department faculty nominate a Columbia College senior for the Austin E. Quigley prize. The Department also nominates Barnard and Columbia majors for a range of prizes at Barnard and Columbia College.

What career opportunities follow upon study in this field? 

Many of our students decide to pursue work in the theatre, either auditioning here in New York, auditioning elsewhere, or by applying to an MFA program in some discipline of theatre (Acting, Design, etc.). In recent years, Barnard/Columbia students have joined several theatre companies, or have formed their own companies. Given the substantial emphasis on literary, historical, and critical studies in the major program, students are also well prepared to apply to graduate school in a range of fields (theatre studies, performance studies, literature), as well as to professional schools.

Whom should I contact about graduate study in the field? 

The Department Chair, Alice Reagan, is happy to discuss graduate study, and to make connections with appropriate members of the Barnard and Columbia faculty.

Since 2012, Barnard College Department of Theatre has been developing practices to foster more sustainable design and production methods in theatre. Our work has crossed from the classroom to our season to professional work done off campus by our faculty. We focus on sets, costumes, and props, with an emphasis on emissions reduction through circular design and production methods.

Our goal is to connect the dots all the way from the first design meetings all the way through strike, and to create a systemic, trackable, institutional approach so that "green" becomes the way we do business. Charles Eames said that "design depends largely on constraints," and that the many constraints we are all accustomed to facing – time, money, architectural realities – can actually fuel the artistic process and help shape the work we produce. Social environmental impact can be considered one of the "necessary constraints" of the artistic process, and can make our work stronger, more impactful, and more responsive to the world we live in.

Our aim is to create both a logic of why to change material and production choices and a simple set of tools that explain how to do so. We have shared our practices with colleagues at colleges and universities across the country, USITT, USA 829, and Broadway Green Alliance.

Student theatre is robust on the Barnard/Columbia campuses. There are more than a dozen extracurricular student theatre groups that produce musicals, Shakespeare, new plays, comedy, and more. All student theatre groups are under the umbrella organization Columbia University Performance Arts League (CUPAL).