Academics

We are dedicated to providing a well-rounded, practical approach to the study and practice of theatre, striking a balance between study and application, between academic and professional opportunities, between performance and technology—with all students collaborating on an equal footing, whether as actors, technicians, designers, or directors.

The Department Communication Studies and Theatre Arts at Stetson University offers exciting opportunities for practical experience in and out of the classroom. You will find small classes, which provide maximum interaction between professors and students, and experienced faculty members who enjoy teaching undergraduates.

Outside the classroom, the theatre program helps you translate theory into action through performance. The Stetson dramatics production program focuses on undergraduates, which gives you the opportunity to play major roles under the direction of a faculty member.

Faculty
Excellence in teaching and a focus on student development are hallmarks of Stetson University and of this department. Highly professional and dedicated to their programs, faculty and members take a personal interest in their students and their progress. They stay in touch with their field through research and/or performing.

Our faculty includes:

• Ken McCoy, Ph.D., Bowling Green State University, director. Teaching/research areas: Performance (Acting/Directing/Voice), Latin American Theatre, Theatre and the Internet
• Julia Schmitt, Ph.D., Bowling Green State University, director. Teaching/research areas: Theatre Theory/History, Performance Studies
• William Elliott, M.F.A., Virginia Tech, designer/production manager. Teaching/research areas: Design/Tech.
• James C. Wright, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University. Research area: Theatre Theory/History

Theatre arts classes cover a broad spectrum. By choosing course offerings in the department, students can tailor a program to fit their interests and needs, within the guidelines established by the College of Arts and Sciences. Their course of study is crowned by a senior project that addresses their individual career goals. For those whose career plans include teaching drama in the public schools, Stetson offers teacher training through a cooperative program with the Division of Education.

Alumni Highlights
Learning and doing theatre within a liberal arts environment helps a student to develop a well-informed world view which will have a profound influence on their life in college as well as after. Through hands-on learning, not only do students learn about theatre, they also learn other things while doing theatre. This “training for the real world” includes developing such universal skills as working under the pressures of competition and deadlines, creative problem-solving, teamwork, and self-expression.

To give you an idea of what our theatre graduates do:

• Vanessa Aranegui, '03, high school drama and Spanish teacher in Orlando, Fla.
• Heidi Howard, '99, technician and director in the professional theatre in Atlanta, Ga.
• Erin Jones, '00, earned an M.F.A. in Art at Clemson University
• Erin Lett, '02, professional actress in Orlando, Fla.
• Mark Kenneally, '97, earned an M.F.A. in Playwriting from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
• Kendra Legendre, '01, high school drama and biology teacher in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
• Hanna Miller, '03, director of entertainment at Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction in Orlando, Fla.
• Maryalice Phillips, '02, high school drama teacher in Miami, Fla.