Theatre and Performance Studies
We prize the close-knit structure of our undergraduate program. Students come to know faculty well during their time in the department, and faculty take an active interest in students' progress. Course evaluations describe our faculty as dynamic, caring, and enthusiastic participants in students' development.
The program boasts a diverse array of course offerings and training opportunities. Learn more about our course offerings, or how to major or minor in Theatre and Performance Studies.
Our ideal student is:
- A risk-taker
- Open to challenges
- Willing to learn and apply new skills
- Aware that creation requires focus, exploration, and dedication
- Committed to using Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies to capture the diversity of the human experience
Study-abroad and off-campus programs are available for one or two semesters during the junior year. Popular choices include the British American Dramatic Academy (full-time training in acting or directing) and the National Theatre Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Center (acting, directing, design).
The Boston area is home to over eighty professional theatre companies and more than twenty dance companies. Students with an interest in pursuing careers in the arts have found opportunities for internships as well as paid positions as actors, assistant directors and dramaturgs, technicians, assistant stage managers, and marketing and outreach interns around the Boston area. Depending on the nature of the work, students may receive course credit for their professional collaborations. Many of our faculty members are active in Boston-area theatre and dance companies and have been able to help students make connections. Tufts offers support in finding and financing internships that enable students to pursue professional theatre opportunities.
The application process does not require an audition or interview. However, students are welcome to submit materials including a brief statement about how they connect their creative work to a liberal arts education. On a visit to the campus, you are welcome to observe Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies' classes and meet with a faculty member. Arrangements should be made in advance through the Department Office, by calling 617-627-3524, or you can email the drama program.
Young students with an interest in arts education often enjoy collaborating with our summer and year-long children's theatre programs, including Magic Circle Theatre and Creative Arts.
