UVU Theatre is THE destination for theatre in Utah for both audiences and students. Every member of our community is touched by our work, whether through our main stage productions, our theatre for children and youth, through the influence of our teachers, and by contact with our students. Through our classes, programs, and productions, we are interwoven into the tapestry of our connecting communities to the extent we are an acknowledged "cultural treasure".
Communication is vital to your success in this program (not to mention in life!) Please make sure that your email address is up to date and check for messages daily. Don't be afraid to ask questions or reach out if you need assistance. We are a theatrical community here at UVU, and you are a valued part of it. That community only functions if we're communicating with one another!
Email is the primary mode of communication when faculty members need to get in touch with students. If you receive an email from a faculty member, especially regarding issues like registration, financial aid, or grades, please respond within 24 hours. Even if you have to say, "I don't have the answer right now," we need to know that you are receiving our messages and working on a response. Remember, you don't need to be perfect...you just need to communicate.
The following policies support our department's commitment to excellence:
All students must maintain a 2.5 GPA to be eligible for participation in departmental productions. You may be allowed to participate with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.5 only with special departmental approval.
Before you can register for upper-division coursework (3000 or higher), you must qualify for University Advanced Standing (UAS) by:
The department adheres to UVU policy regarding attendance: five absences in a term will result in failure of a course. There are no "excused" absences aside from official University Excusals. In the vast majority of cases, four absences are enough to account for unforeseen circumstances such as illness or family emergencies.
In the event that you are absent, you are responsible for making up any missed assignments. Please bear in mind that it may not be possible to make up experiential in-class work or performances. Often, others' work will depend on your presence in class. Your classes are learning communities...if you are not present, you may be slowing the pace of the entire ensemble.
If you are not registered on the first day of class, your spot may be given away in order to fill the course. This may impact your ability to graduate on time.
If you are registered, but do not attend within the first three days of class, you will be administratively dropped from the course. As always, please practice professional-level communication if you must be absent.
In the event that you have extenuating life circumstances, you are encouraged to visit accessibility services early in the term to make arrangements for a letter of accommodation. All exceptions to the department attendance policy must go through the accessibility office.
Students who need accommodations because of a disability may contact the UVU Accessibility Services Department (ASD), located on the Orem Campus in LC 312. To schedule an appointment or to speak with a counselor, call the ASD office at 801-863-8747. Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals, email nicole.hemmingsen@uvu.edu or text 385-208-2677.
Your perception and evaluation of your learning experience are important to us. Please take the time to complete the online Student Ratings of Instruction (SRIs) each semester as scheduled. These anonymous evaluations give us valuable information that helps us improve the quality of the program.
Some degree tracks require a Senior Project during your final year of study. These can be on- or off-campus projects in any of the following areas: performance, writing, directing, design, management, or research/dramaturgy. Typically, you complete the project just prior to, or during the semester you’re taking the Senior Project class (THEA 4993). The application for Senior Projects is found on the Theatre Department website.
The department mounts four mainstage shows each year, including one musical, one selection for young audiences (TYA), and two additional productions.
Auditions are competitive and open to students of all majors. Auditions are held once a semester (usually in October and March) for the next semester's productions. Audition requirements vary from semester to semester. If you are cast, you will be required to register for production credit.
The Theatre for Children and Youth programming, sponsored by the Theatre for Youth and Education (TYE) Center, offers design, directing, performing, playwriting, and teaching opportunities for students of Utah Valley University. Performing for thousands of children and youth each year, the TYE Center supports playwriting workshops, coupled with staged readings of developing new works from local and national playwrights with UVU students as both actors and directors. Throughout the month of June, the TYE Center hosts the Noorda Summer Camp, which offers internships or hourly wages for UVU students under the supervised guidance of UVU faculty and staff.
Short Attention Span Theatre is UVU’s annual short play festival. All plays are 10 minutes or less and written by student playwrights. Students also direct and perform in the festival. SAST culminates in three performances each spring.
The Platform series is the department's second-stage season. These plays are student-acted and directed and provide student opportunities to supplement the mainstage season.
The Department of Theatrical Arts at UVU has a partnership with the Sundance Summer Theatre at Sundance Mountain Resort. Students are frequently cast in the summer production.
Experience four exciting weeks abroad, based in the heart of London’s West End Theatre District. See all types of theatre—musicals, comedies, dramas, cutting-edge works, classical and contemporary pieces alike—and perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. This program, geared specifically toward theatrical text and performance, features visits to Shakespeare’s Globe, the Royal National Theatre, and other professional venues, along with a side trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. While in London, you can receive credit for two classes. Join the Theatre Study Abroad and be a part of what’s happening in the world’s preeminent theatre districts.
The department frequently hosts a NYC trip during Fall break where students can experience the city and see the latest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.
At state, regional, and national levels, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival participants celebrate the creative process, see one another's work, and share experiences and insights within the community of theater artists. The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing, and design. In January and February of each year, regional festivals showcase the finest of each region's entered productions and offer a variety of activities, including workshops, symposia, and regional-level award programs.
Similar to other large group auditions like UPTA or MWTA, the Rocky Mountain Summer Stock Theatre Audition (RMSSTA) allows you to audition for multiple paying summer stock theatre auditions all at the same time. It’s the most efficient way to find professional summer work to build a bridge to a career after graduation. Because it is open to actors from outside of UVU, it also provides an opportunity for you to make connections and test your skills within a larger talent pool.
We encourage you to take advantage of performing opportunities outside of the department. Performing in a non-academic environment can be a great way to hone your professional skills, make connections, and build your resume. Before you accept such work, however, it is important that you honor any prior commitments within the department. Failure to do so will have a negative impact on your professional reputation and future casting decisions. Because we cannot offer instruction and feedback outside of the department, no academic credit will be given for extra-departmental production work.
Appointments with School of the Arts advisors are available HERE.
The department chair can usually answer any questions about scholarship opportunities. Students on scholarship must maintain a 2.5 GPA and complete a scholarship interview with the department chair once per term in order to remain eligible.
Physical and emotional wellness are central to the quality and sustainability of your work as an actor. As a BFA performance student, and in the future as a professional actor, you will often work long hours on multiple projects, so it's important to have healthy habits and routines to support your busy artistic life. We encourage you to make your health a priority now. There are resources here at UVU to help.
The Student Life and Wellness Center offers programs and services that support students in their pursuit of lifelong wellness, including recreation facilities and classes, health coaching, massage, nutrition and cooking classes, and more.
Student Health Services has low cost services available for UVU students in the areas of medical and psychiatric care, psychological services, learning disability assessment services, and suicide awareness and prevention. They are located in SC-221.
The UVU library subscribes to Drama Online, an amazing searchable database of drama resources including play texts, monologues, videos and audio recordings. To access Drama Online, go to the UVU Library website, click on "Databases" and scroll down to "Drama Online."
The Theatre Arts Guild (TAG) is a student run organization at Utah Valley University. The organization is made up of a collaboration of artists, and it offers opportunities for students to connect with the theatrical community. This is done by providing valuable information, supporting local theatres, providing opportunities to showcase students’ talents, and networking professionally. TAG features student directors, designers, and actors in the recently developed “Spotlight Series.” Discount tickets to shows are offered to members of the organization along with free admission to parties, service events, theatre in the community, and the end of year TAG Banquet. It is also here to help build stronger bonds and community within the School of the Arts at UVU.
USITT (United States Institute of Theatre Technology) is a student run organization here at UVU for all theatre designers and technicians. Here at USITT we actively promote the free exchange of ideas and information regarding theatre technology and design. We also host events and activities to help us become better designers and technicians within our respective fields. Join USITT today!
Production experience behind the scenes is a vital part of being a well-rounded theater artist. You must complete a Production Practicum, THEA-159R, by the end of your freshman year in order to continue eligibility for casting.
You can find audition and casting information posted on the department announcements stream on the website.
By auditioning for the season, you are indicating your intention to participate if cast. If there are any extenuating circumstances, scheduling conflicts, or other considerations the directors should be aware of, you should indicate those on your audition form. In the "real world," it is bad form to audition for a show, be offered a role, and then expect a director to wait on your acceptance. It can be a career-ender to back out of a show once you've accepted a role. Please bear this in mind, honor your commitments, and communicate professionally.
If you are cast in a department production, you must confirm your participation and commitment to the project and register for THEA 319R (1 credit) immediately. Once cast, if you drop out of a show, you will be placed on the departmental "black list" and will not be seen at the next semester season auditions. This may impact your ability to graduate on time.
Your stage manager will provide you with a rehearsal schedule and notify you of any changes to the daily rehearsal call. Any scheduling conflicts should be noted on your audition form and cleared in advance. More information about rehearsal absence requests can be found in the appendix.
Please see the Performer's Guides to Costumes and Makeup at the back of this Handbook for important information and procedures.
Please see your stage manager for details on complimentary tickets.
Your participation in departmental productions counts as coursework and will be assessed accordingly, based on your preparedness, growth, and collegiality. This is the chance to practice professionalism. Your grade will reflect professional expectations, taking into account such things as:
A large part of your professional reputation rests on your ability to communicate thoughtfully, respectfully, and in a timely manner. Remember to be proactive and organized in your communication, check your email frequently, respond to messages promptly, and communicate in ways that show respect for your instructors and collaborators.
The work we do together in the theatre is sometimes challenging and stressful. Professionalism means moving past these challenges by focusing on the positive.
When faced with a challenge, don't just list the problems...offer a solution!
Time is a limited resource. Please always strive to be "on time"-- which means arriving early in most cases! If you are physically in the room, but not yet dressed, warmed up, focused, or otherwise ready to work, then you are not actually on time. Planning ahead to allow for easy transitions throughout your day will mean less stress for you and the people you work with and make for a more pleasant, professional work environment.
It should go without saying, but missing an appointment, especially without communicating, is considered very rude behavior and will have a negative impact on your professional reputation. In the age of smartphones, a true emergency situation is the only appropriate excuse for standing someone up.
There are many people here at UVU sharing a small number of rehearsal and classroom spaces. It is up to all of us to keep them tidy. Please take a few moments as you leave a room to stack and straighten the chairs, move furniture out of the performance area, and dispose of your trash responsibly. Strive to leave the room "neutral" for the next people who need to use it. You'll appreciate it when they do the same for you. Guides for "neutral" rooms are posted on the walls.
Arriving "ready to work" includes all of the following:
The quality of your work can be measured in several ways:
Maintaining appropriate boundaries is a life skill every actor must practice. It is important to think about your own boundaries early and often, as it is much harder to say "no" to something that makes you uncomfortable in the moment (e.g., when being offered a contract) if you haven't carefully considered the limits of your "yes."
If you choose to work on material that involves physical intimacy or staged violence, it must be approached respectfully and technically, with the full consent and participation of all involved. Boundaries are to be determined individually prior to rehearsal, discussed together before and during blocking, and respected at all times. Any such material is to be choreographed and technically rehearsed to all scene partners' satisfaction prior to presentation. All actors should feel physically safe at all times. When in doubt, communicate or ask for assistance.
Department guidelines on touch, boundaries, consent, staged intimacy, instructional touch, and communicating concerns are posted on the website under student resources.
Cell Phones and Computers are not allowed in the classroom except in special circumstances determined by the instructor. Please keep them silenced and put away for the duration of class.
Audio or video recording of your classmates' performance work will not be tolerated under any circumstance.
(Information adapted from Center for Courage & Renewal)
The habits you cultivate today are the foundation of your professional reputation and success in your future career. So get organized, get positive, get curious, and let's get to work!
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre Arts is designed to provide undergraduate students with a well-rounded, liberal arts degree that they can customize to meet their individual career objectives. The BA degree is the best fit for students who want to emphasize Directing, Playwriting, Dramaturgy, Theatre Management, Film Studies, Theatre Management, or Theatre for Children and Youth during their time at UVU. The BA prepares students for graduate work in theatre in an MA/PhD track. It also provides a creative foundation for future careers within and beyond the discipline of Theatre Arts.
Students who enroll in the BA program complete 48 credits of General Education, which includes Introduction to Theatre and at least 12 credits in the same foreign language. They also complete a core of 27 credits in the Theatre Arts Discipline Core, which includes courses in Acting, Directing, Stagecraft, Design, Stage Management, Theatre History and Literature, Script and Text Analysis, Portfolio, and Theatre for Children and Youth. BA students complete three modules of their choosing, 12 credits each, 9 of which must be at the 3000 level or above in each module. In consultation with their Academic Advisor, BA students select a Performance Module (Directing, Musical Theatre, or Acting), a Production Module (Design or Technical Production), and a Specialty Module (Theatre for Children and Youth, Scriptwriting, Dramaturgy, Film Studies, or Theatre Administration).
BA students may apply to enroll in courses designed for BFA Performance students on a space-available basis. BFA instructors will post a wait list for interested BA students each semester prior to registration. Generally speaking, BA students must have completed all prerequisites for BFA classes. Individual instructors may elect to hold an audition or otherwise screen applicants depending on course demand.
The BS in Theatre Arts Education prepares and certifies students to teach and direct theatre in public, private, and charter schools. Student in the program take courses in Acting, Directing, Stagecraft, Design, Script and Text Analysis, Theatre History and Literature, and Theatre Teaching.
Those seeking the BS in Theatre Arts Education complete 36 hours in General Education, including Introduction to Theatre. They also complete 57 credits in Theatre Arts, including Acting, Directing, Theatre for Children and Youth, Stage Management, Script and Text Analysis, and Theatre History and Literature, as well as at least 13 credits in Technical Theatre. Students in the BS Theatre Arts Education program also take 22 credits in courses from the School of Education In Pedagogy, Curriculum, Classroom Management, and Child and Adolescent Development and 10 hours of mentor-guided student teaching. Students who successfully complete the coursework, student teaching, and state testing and licensure requirements receive a Professional Educator License for the State of Utah. Those seeking to complete a teaching minor in another subject area may need to take an additional year of coursework.
UVU's BFA performance emphases in Theatre Arts (Acting and Musical Theatre) seek to create innovative and confident actors who possess a strong work ethic, know their casting, and will work professionally. To this end, students are held to professional standards as they engage with industry-current faculty who balance time-honored, foundational teaching methods with cutting-edge pedagogy.
Pathways to the BFA in Performance
There are two ways to be accepted into the BFA Performance program at UVU:
This option is best for graduating high school seniors who know that they want to focus on performance training and are willing to devote four years of full-time study to that goal.
Video auditions are accepted from early September through January 15.
Callback auditions usually take place the fourth Saturday in February.
We also accept a limited number of incoming students through auditions at the Utah Theatre Association Conference (UTA).
Students who are not selected through either of these auditions are still encouraged to attend UVU as a BA student in Theatre and audition again at the end of their first year as outlined below.
April auditions are primarily for current UVU students who have taken or are currently taking the following prerequisite courses:
To inquire about the April auditions and sophomore acceptance, please contact a BFA Performance faculty member.
More information about auditions is available on the website.
Repeatedly failing to respond to email messages from faculty may lead us to remove you from the BFA program.
Your placement in either the Acting or Musical Theatre emphasis reflects careful thought on the part of the faculty. We take several things into consideration when making this decision, including what we see in terms of your industry castability and where we feel you have the most potential for growth during your time at UVU. As you will see in the course sequences included at the end of this handbook, the two emphases are very similar in their design; all performance majors receive training in acting, voice, movement, singing, and auditioning.
A student may change emphasis only in exceptionally rare cases in order to focus on the skills the faculty feel are most important for that student's growth and professional preparation. Any such change will be initiated by invitation from the BFA Faculty Committee, not by the student; will generally happen before the junior year of study; and will be contingent upon available space in the new emphasis. Students who change emphasis are responsible for meeting all degree requirements for their new emphasis, which can extend their time to graduation.
It is imperative that you follow your graduation plan, course sequence, and catalog year very closely when it comes time to register for classes. Unlike many other degrees, where you can choose among several sections of the same course or take courses out of order, BFA majors must register for specific course sections in the correct semester of study in order to stay on track and remain with their student cohort. These sections are often only available to BFA majors. If you do not register for the correct classes at the correct times, we cannot guarantee that there will be room for you in a future semester. For this reason,
If you fail to register correctly, you may be unable to continue in the BFA program.
Advising sheets and registration numbers can be obtained from your advisor.
The BFA performance track is a rigorous program of professional preparation. In order to remain in the program, you will be evaluated on a continuing basis and given constructive feedback. You will be expected to engage fully with the course of study and demonstrate ongoing growth as a performer in order to continue as a BFA student.
BFA students must earn a grade of C or higher in all Theatrical Arts courses in order to graduate. BFA Students that receive a C- or lower in ANY Major course must retake the course for credit and/or advancement to upper division/next-level courses. Students who earn a C- or lower in a major course will be ineligible for casting in the following semester (although all BFA students are required to audition).
BFA Students must maintain a 2.5 Cumulative GPA for Acting/Musical Theatre, and a 3.0 Cumulative GPA for Design, in ALL BFA Major courses to maintain status and enrollment in the BFA Theatre programs.
It is important that you finish your Math and English requirements early in your university career. If you do not complete these requirements in your freshman year, you will not be eligible for casting moving forward until you have successfully passed them.
If you are not in class when the instructor takes attendance, you will be marked absent for that day. If you enter after attendance is taken, you will participate at the discretion of the instructor. If you have an academic conflict please advise the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Per university policy, a student may not pass a course with five absences.
All BFA Performance Students are required to audition for ALL Plays and Musicals offered in the regular mainstage season. These auditions happen once per semester for shows taking place in the following term.
BFA students cast in a main stage production must accept and fulfill the assigned roles to fulfill their 319R credit requirements. Special arrangements, approved in advance by program heads, for reasons such as: significant outside professional opportunities or employment conflicts that may compromise financial security, or other personal issues to be approved by the discretion of the program head, may be considered. As a UVU Theatre Student, university productions hold priority over ALL outside casting opportunities (including community and semi-professional theatres in the region).
Once per year you will perform in an assessment. This is an opportunity for us to evaluate your progress, give you feedback, and let you know if you are on-track in the BFA program.
Assessments are usually held the first weekend in November for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, and on the spring reading day prior to exams for First-Year students.
All BFA performance students are required to perform at their proficiency time for further consideration in the program and advancement into upper division major courses. Failure to effectively complete proficiencies will jeopardize placement in BFA programs.
Students will perform required materials, followed by a personal verbal assessment with the BFA Performance Committee to discuss overall personal progress and areas for improvement in the future.
Students in the Musical Theatre emphasis should prepare a one-minute monologue and 32 bars of a song.
Students in the Acting emphasis should prepare two one-minute monologues.
In any given semester, if you receive a C- or below in a BFA course, there are concrete consequences:
If you find yourself in this position, you will be encouraged to switch to the BA, which has similar classes but more flexibility.
To avoid this, make sure to pass all classes with a C or above.
BFA Internships are generally scheduled in your senior year. They must be approved by the faculty in advance, and cannot be completed before your third semester of BFA studies.
As a BFA student, you are permitted to work outside the department, but please remember that outside employment must not interfere with your ability to commit fully to the BFA course of study. Excessive work conflicts may be considered grounds for dismissal from the program.
Students at UVU may also choose to complete an Associate of Art (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree. These degrees require completion of 63 credits, including 35 General Education credits that include Introduction to Theatre. The AS requires 28 credits in theatre courses while the AA requires 20 hours in Theatre Arts and 8 hours in the same foreign language. UVU students pursuing other academic majors can complete a Theatre Arts Minor with 23 credits from prescribed theatre courses. More information about these degree options can be found under “Degrees” at uvu.edu/theatre.
