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). Undergraduate theatre majors, as well as non majors, take academic and theatre practice classes in the department.  Other classes, such as dramatic literature and theory, are offered in the department and throughout the university.  Although there is no formal relationship between the undergraduate theatre program and the graduate Theatre Division, School of the Arts, at Columbia University, the two programs have increasingly coordinated on curricular choices and theatre events.
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What are some general characteristics of the department?

The Department of Theatre embeds theatre in the context of a liberal arts education. Students work in many different capacities in the theatre program.  Creative artistic and critical work are reciprocally related in the department; majors are required to take courses in acting, directing, and design as well as theatre history, theory, and literature. Faculty expect all students to collaborate closely with faculty and fellow students and to produce ambitious, original work.
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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, he or she may choose to major in theatre. There are auditions at the beginning of each semester to place students in acting classes and productions for that semester.
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How many theatre majors are there?

On average, there are 15 Senior Theatre majors, and over 500 students are involved per year in the program, taking classes or working on productions.
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Is there a theatre minor?

No, but at Barnard there is an English major with a concentration in theatre.
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Do students concentrate in one area of theatre?

Majors are required to take courses in theatre history, literature, theory, directing, design, and acting. In the senior year students narrow their focus to concentrate on one or two areas for a thesis project. Theses may be in directing, design, acting, playwriting, history, theory, dramaturgy, or criticism.  The senior project may be either a performance thesis or a written thesis.
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What is a typical production year like?

There are usually two or three productions in the fall semester directed by faculty or visiting artists, as well as the final project for students in the Advanced Directing class. The spring semester usually consists of the Senior Thesis Festival, a production directed by faculty or a visiting artist, and evenings of Solo Performances and Staged Readings.
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Do students get course credit for working on productions?

Yes. All students acting in or doing technical work for productions are enrolled in Rehearsal and Performance. Students receive 1-3 credits for production work depending on the assignment.
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What are the acting opportunities?

At the beginning of each semester there are auditions to place students in acting classes and cast productions for the semester. Students may prepare a 2-minute monologue or use material provided on arrival. There are generally 2-3 productions in the Fall semester.  In the spring semester there is the Senior Thesis Festival and the spring departmental production. 

Acting classes are based on subject matter – such as Acting Naturalism or Acting Shakespeare – 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.
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What are the opportunities for first-year students?

There is a separate audition session for first-year students in the Fall semester for classes and productions. First-year students are especially invited to audition for First-Year Scene Lab.  Often first-year actors work with senior theatre majors in the Advanced Directing Lab. These students work in outside rehearsals with several different directors on a wide range of scenes to be presented in class each week. First-year students are also encouraged to work on a production crew. This is a great introduction to faculty, fellow students, and the production process.
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What kind of internship opportunities exist in NYC theatres?

NYC theatres are pleased to have Barnard and Columbia students as interns. The Department of Theatre regularly posts information about internship opportunities. The Office of Career Development at Barnard and the Office of Career Services at Columbia on an  individual basis to earn internships for both the summer and the academic year.
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What do graduates of the department go on to do?

A lot of different things. Recent graduates have gone on to M.F.A. programs, law school, or other graduate programs. Many are auditioning and are cast in shows in New York and elsewhere and do voice over or commercial work. Others are writing, directing, and/or producing their own work in NYC and elsewhere. Some work at theatres, at talent agencies, at law firms, at cultural institutions, and as teachers.
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Are there opportunities for musical theatre?

There are classes in acting the song and musical scenes in the department, as well as related classes in other departments.  Departmental productions often include work for actor-singers, lyricists, composers, and musicians.
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