Theatre
Department of Theatre & Dance
College of Arts and Sciences
285 Alumni Arena
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-5030
Phone: 716.645.6898
Fax: 716.645.6992
Web: www.cas.buffalo.edu/depts/theatredance
Robert Knopf
Chair; Director, Theatre Performance
Gary Casarella
Associate Chair
Lynne Koscielniak
Director, Theatrical Design/Technology
M. A. Casarella
Assistant to the Chair; Director, Undergraduate Advising
About the Department
The Theatre & Dance department currently offers a B.A. and B.F.A. in Theatre, in which selected undergraduates study a broad range of performance, technical, artistic, literary and historical aspects of theatre, while concentrating on a specific area. Areas of emphasis include acting, design/technology, history/literature, playwriting, and directing. All in-coming, first-year students are considered intended B.A. majors. Students may audition into the B.F.A. programs at the end of their first year.
Department productions provide excellent pre-professional experience.
Performance spaces include the Center for the Arts on the Amherst campus and the Katherine Cornell Theatre.
The Center for the Arts building provides a centralized location for the study of art, media study, music, theatre, and dance. The close proximity of these disciplines facilitates increased opportunities for collaboration, interdisciplinary education and creativity. This $50 million facility features state-of-the-art technical capabilities in five theatres and multiple scene shops.
The 400-seat Drama Theatre is the Theatre & Dance Department's primary performance space. The Black Box and Rehearsal Workshop allow for smaller scale and experimental productions to be presented.
The Main Stage consists of an 1800-seat house where professional theatre and dance companies perform. These companies also present master classes and workshops, offering a unique experience for all UB students.
For more information about our performance spaces, see http://www.cas.buffalo.edu/depts/theatredance/performstudiospaces.
Special Features
The location of the University at Buffalo allows students access to the surprisingly rich and varied professional performance opportunities within the Buffalo theatrical community. Irish Classical Theatre, Studio Arena, Kavinoky, Andrews, Alleyway, MusicalFare, Upstage, and Artpark, as well as many other producing organizations, provide performance opportunity and professional experience for the developing student of theatre.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: B.A., B.F.A., Minor
Concentrations: Performance (B.F.A.), Design/Technology (B.F.A.)
Graduate: M.A.H.
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum grade of “C+” in all required courses.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in prerequisite courses.
Degree Requirements
See the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Courses
Suggested Introductory Courses
- TH 101 Introduction to Theatre - Majors/Intended
- TH 106 Introduction to Technical Theatre
- TH 108 Basic Acting I
- TH 135 Production Practicum
The typical class size for:
- Freshman/introductory courses is: 20-50
- Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 16-35
- Upper level/advanced courses is: 10-20
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
All theatre faculty have extensive professional experience which includes directing, designing, and acting in both on and Off-Broadway productions and in major theaters such as the Guthrie Theatre, New York Public Theatre, Irish Classical Theatre, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Kavinoky, Alleyway, ArtPark, MusicalFair, and Studio Arena Theatre. Many are active members in the professional unions and continue their professional theatrical activities in Buffalo and elsewhere. Faculty specialties include acting, directing, voice, experimental theatre, design, and theatre technology.
The faculty have received their training and previously taught in leading theatre schools such as Carnegie-Mellon, Juilliard, New York University, North Carolina School of the Arts, and major institutions in Europe.
Special Academic Opportunities
Special Majors, Double Majors, and Joint Majors
Students can design their major to fit their specific needs. Theatre can be combined with:
- Art
- Dance
- English
- Media Study
- Music
- Psychology
- many other departments
Awards
- College of Arts and Sciences Deans’ Departmental Award
- College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior Award
- Departmental Honors
- Julia Pardee Prize [Awarded for excellence in writing in theatre or dance]
- Performing and Creative Arts Scholarships
- Perry Watkins Scholarship for African Americans
- Talent Scholarships
Extracurricular Activities
The Guild
The Guild is managed entirely by students. It hosts opening night receptions, is the liaison among department faculty, staff and students and produces evenings of new works by students.
From the Wings
From the Wings is a student organization that offers non-credit performance opportunities for, but not limited to, music theatre majors. Faculty advisors are members of the Music Theatre faculty.
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
Majors that Complement Theatre
- All Arts and Sciences
- Architecture
- Business Administration
- Engineering
Minors that Complement Theatre
- All Arts and Sciences
- Management Science and Systems
Courses Outside the Major that Could Improve Employment Opportunities
- All visual and performing arts
- Anthropology
- Art History
- Education
- English
- Law
- Management
- Psychology
- Sociology
Advising Information
First-semester students are required to meet with the Director of Undergraduate Advising.
Career Information
- Actor/actress
- Arts manager
- Company director/artistic director
- Costume designer
- Dramatic coach
- Dramaturge
- Entertainment journalist
- Producer
- Scene designer
- Set designer
- Stage director
- Stage manager
- Technical director
- Theatre critic
Recent graduates in Theatre have been employed in the following ways:
Acting in Off-Broadway, film, TV, commercials, and national touring companies. Among our graduates is a Tony-award winning stage and television director, another is a casting director for CBS, and another graduate studied law and is General Counsel for Actor's Equity in NY. Recent graduates are working as stage managers, technicians and designers in regional and professional theatres as well as theatre and dance companies.
What percentage of undergraduates goes on to graduate school?
50%
What percentage of undergraduates goes on to find related employment?
30%
Links to Further Information About This Program
- Undergraduate Catalog
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Graduate Admissions
- Department of Theatre & Dance
- College of Arts and Sciences