The intimacy of Hollins’ nationally recognized theatre program allows you to identify and apply your own strengths, helping you to write, design, build, direct, and star in the most important play on the planet: your life.

Find out how doing what you love can prepare you to love what you do. And why loving what you do can help you win in life.

Recent Kennedy Center accolades

Every year, we actively participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). In 2013 we were recognized on many levels:

• The Hollins Theatre production of Natasha Trethewey's (M.A. '97) Bellocq’s Ophelia was awarded the high national honor of "Distinguished Production of a New Work," "Distinguished Performance and Production Ensemble," "Distinguished Scenic Design," and "Distinguished Choreography," the last by Lexi Martin Mondot '12.
• Meredith Levy ’12 (now a student in Hollins’ M.F.A. program, Playwright’s Lab) received the high honor of the National Partners of the American Theatre Playwriting Award, and the regional David Shelton Award for her original script, Decision Height.
• Kevin Ferguson, also an M.F.A. student in Playwright’s Lab, was named a national finalist for the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play for his work, Losing Sight.

Scope of the theatre program

Theatre students at Hollins work hard, play hard, and win big. They participate fully in every aspect of theatre production, including acting, musical theatre, design, directing, stage management, and technical production. At the same time, classroom work provides a solid foundation in history, theory, aesthetics, and technique. The course of study culminates in the capstone senior project designed by the student to flex every muscle she has developed.

The practical side of a theatre major or minor

At Hollins you can major, minor, or just play in theatre, while earning your B.A. You can also earn an Arts Management Certificate. Our program provides a solid foundation for those wishing to pursue graduate-level work in theatre, professional theatre apprenticeships, or any environment where creative problem solving, collaboration, and research/analysis skills are valued. The major and minor are compatible with many majors, including business, communication studies, dance, English, film, history, philosophy, and other majors. It’s a place where your mind-expanding liberal arts studies will provide the materials for you to build the stage that will become the platform for your life.

When you study theatre at Hollins, you learn to be:

• Creative
• Practical
• Analytical
• Technical
• Brave!

You also learn:

• Improvisation
• Project Management
• Working with a limited budget
• Dealing with very different human beings
• Understanding the human condition
• How to embrace hard work
• How to overcome "technical difficulties"
• Making different choices
• Presentation skills
• Doing the best you can do with what you’ve got

Dream big, go small

Our small (but mighty) theatre program, proudly positioned in the middle of a dynamic liberal arts curriculum, can nurture big dreams and help prepare you for any theatre path you choose. But first you have to discover your talents and learn how to use them, so you can shape your dreams into a life. Many theatre programs, especially B.F.A.s, prepare you for the tough professional track, but that doesn’t always prepare you for the tough road ahead, in theatre or any other career path you choose.

Creative scholarships

Take advantage of creative scholarships for actors, technicians, and designers. Arrange an audition or portfolio review by contacting our Office of Admission.

Photo, above, Bellocq's Ophelia, February 2012.