What You’ll Learn

As a Theater Arts major at Vermont State,  project-based coursework and plenty of practical experience will give you a comprehensive understanding of the elements of theatrical production. 

In addition to core courses that introduce you to topics like the history of theater, acting, directing, and stage management, you’ll choose four electives from a wide range of possibilities to further explore areas that interest you.  

For the Technical Theater and Design Concentration, you’ll select four more courses from options including Scenic Painting, Lighting Design, and Computer Aided Design for Theater to deepen your skills in this area.  

Outside the Classroom, In the Community

From your first semester, you’ll have the chance to take an active role in student productions that entertain, inspire, and engage members of the surrounding community, who enjoy the Castleton campus as a local center for the arts.  

During the summer, many students in the program take advantage of the opportunity to secure internships with theaters and production companies around Vermont and across the country, gaining unique experiences and building a professional network for career opportunities after graduation.  

Special Facilities

Get hands-on experience with every dimension of theater during your time at Vermont State. Our comprehensive facilities include: 

• Casella Theater: This 484-seat, state-of-the-art facility hosts full-scale theatrical productions. 
• Black Box Theater: Explore diverse performance techniques in this intimate, flexible space. 
• Scenic Studio: Learn the tools and practices of set construction in this 1,280-square-foot build space. 
• Performance Studio: Rehearse for stage productions and experience active learning in this large room in the lower level of the Fine Arts Center. 
• Design Studio: Housing ten drafting stations, here is where you’ll hone your skills in scene, costume, and lighting design and construct models to explore design concepts. 
• Costume Shop: Work with faculty to build, dye, alter, and prepare costumes for department productions. The Theater Arts Department has one of the largest collections of costume stock in the state.