Theatre BFA, Acting and Original Works Specialization

About this Program

Create original performances while building your skills in acting, voice, movement, directing and playwriting. Learn from professional artist faculty, gain performance experience across stage, film and games, and prepare for careers in theatre and beyond.

Through a curriculum that emphasizes performance, collaboration and professional development, you will develop as both a versatile actor and an innovative creator. You will study a range of acting techniques alongside voice, movement, devising, dramatic writing, directing and producing original work. Throughout your studies, you’ll be encouraged to take creative risks, refine your artistic voice and collaborate with fellow artists across disciplines.

Your education extends well beyond the classroom. Perform in main stage productions, act in films created by film students and lend your voice to animation and game projects while taking advantage of Seattle’s thriving theatre community through internships and professional connections. Graduates pursue careers in acting, directing, playwriting, producing and other creative fields, joining accomplished alumni whose work has reached Broadway, Hollywood and acclaimed regional theatres.

Quick Facts

Program Type

Major with Specialization, Minor

Degree

Bachelor of Fine Arts

School

Cornish College of the Arts

Campus

South Lake Union

Learning Format

In-Person

Duration

4 years

Start Date

August, January

Credits

120 semester credits

Find YOUR Creative Path

Our Theatre programs are designed with flexibility in mind. Students can explore different academic and creative paths early in their studies and, if their interests evolve, easily transition between the BFA and the BA without losing progress toward their degree. BA students benefit from the freedom to study across disciplines by pursuing a double major or minors, while students pursuing a BFA receive specialized training. This structure helps you find the program that best supports your artistic and professional goals as they evolve through your course of study.

Acting & Directing Minor

The Acting and Directing minor introduces you to the fundamentals of performance, directing and theatrical storytelling while complementing a wide range of majors. Through courses in acting, voice, movement and directing, you’ll build confidence as a performer, strengthen your communication and collaboration skills, and gain practical experience bringing creative work to life. Whether you plan to pursue theatre professionally or apply these skills in another field, the minor provides a strong foundation in performance and creative leadership.

Core Skills & Techniques

Acting: A variety of techniques that can be easily accessed when performing in period pieces, contemporary plays, and improvisation works.
Voice and Speech: Training in vocal power, dialects, voiceover and speech for performance.
Movement: Physical theater, stage combat, viewpoints, clown, burlesque, devising, and movement for actors.
Dramatic Writing: Playwriting, screenwriting, and innovative original works.
Directing and Producing: Fundamentals and foundations in directing, creative collaboration, and Senior Thesis production management.
Theater History & Theory: Research in the historical and theoretical contexts of theater and performance.
Professional Practices: Audition techniques, career management, and networking in the performing arts industries.

Learning Outcomes

The Acting & Original Works specialization is designed to cultivate versatile actors and innovative creators. Students receive comprehensive training in acting techniques, voice, movement, and dramatic writing, while also developing skills in devising original works. The program emphasizes performance, collaboration, and professional development, preparing students for dynamic careers in theater, film, game arts, and beyond.
Students participate in main stage performances, create original works, and collaborate on directing and producing projects, culminating in a Senior Thesis in their final year. Additionally, students can act in student films produced by Cornish Film peers and can collaborate with their Game Arts and Animation peers in creating voiced characters in animations and video games.

Connect Your Passion to New Possibilities

Explore purposeful academic combinations while pursuing a rigorous arts education to enhance your career preparation. At Seattle University, you can customize a Theatre BFA by pursuing any minor offered across Seattle University without extending your time to degree.

While this is not an exhaustive list, explore some of the many ways Theatre can be paired with other disciplines to enhance your academic journey and strengthen your professional preparation:

Visit Cornish College of the Arts

For more than a century, Cornish College of the Arts has inspired artists, performers and designers to push creative boundaries and shape the future of their fields. Today, at Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University, you can experience that legacy firsthand while exploring the studios, performance spaces and collaborative community where creativity comes to life. Schedule a campus visit, take a virtual tour or connect with our admissions team to discover how you can make this historic creative community your own.