BA Performance

About the Performance degree

This concentration is chosen by students intent on a career in Theatre performance.  A focus is placed on voice, movement, as well as various performance skills and techniques. Admission is by audition and interview.

Students are mentored by performance faculty and special emphasis is placed on preparing the student for performing experiences beyond college. Mentoring plays an important role in guiding students to that next step, which may include graduate school,  internships, and entry-level roles in professional productions.

In addition to formal classes, students receive audition coaching from the performance faculty for graduate school auditions and professional Theatre auditions, in both formal workshop settings and in one-on one coaching sessions. 

Contact

The Coordinator for this degree is Derek Gagnier.

Criteria for admission

Students are admitted to the concentration by audition and interview and must meet annual criteria to continue in the concentration. The audition/interview should take place before the student's junior year. In order to remain in this program, students must meet this continuing criteria:

  • Successfully pass annual audition juries/interviews for Sophomore, Junior and Senior years.
  • Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum grade of B- in all performance courses designated on the check sheet.
  • Participate in each semester's auditions for the co-curricular season.
  • Successfully complete a professional Summer Theatre experience, which may be comprised of an acting internship at a professional theatre or a paid acting role in a professional production. (This must be completed before the student graduates.)

More information

All Theatre degrees in the department require the student to complete a core list of courses. In addition to these courses, you will have the opportunity to choose electives to meet your needs. View course descriptions and requirements in ASU's Undergraduate Bulletin.  This link also provides you access to Programs of Study that outline the specfic requirement of this degree. (After choosing the Bulletin year, look for the Programs of Study link on the page's left column.)

Finish in Four

Click here for a model Schedule Guide. (This link connects you to a chart of PDF files.)

Advising notes

Students planning to major in Theatre should avoid THR 2010 The Theatre Experience. This course is a survey that is part of the "Imagination, Innovation, and Meaning" theme in the General Education curriculum. Majors should enroll in THR 2005 Page and Stage, which is part of the "How We Tell Stories" theme.