Theatre

At BJU, you’ll study the theatre not merely for the sake of art, but for the sake of God’s glory. You’ll learn of the great need for communication characterized both by artistic excellence and timeless truths.

As an artist, you’ll imitate God’s role as creator as you unveil stories of truth and beauty that point your audience to the fulfillment of all beauty and truth—Jesus Christ. You’ll study the power of drama to plant seeds of biblical truth in people’s hearts. And more than that, you’ll develop biblical discernment and the skills to find and produce pieces that are appropriate for your audience.

Program

From our University’s founding, theatre has played a vital role in the very fabric of our institution. From Classic Players and our Opera Association to student-led productions and new play festivals, we continue to equip our students to tell good, true, and beautiful stories for the benefit of others and the glory of God.

Our program focuses on comprehensive training across all theatre disciplines in a collaborative, close-knit, and rigorous environment. Our focus on classical texts pushes you to practice at the highest level and provides you with a strong foundation for creating new works.

Your studies will culminate in a fully-produced production in which you'll serve as a director, lead actor, designer, or stage manager. This mentored capstone experience will challenge you to apply your creative and organizational skills in practical and rewarding ways.

Recent capstones have included Frederick Knott's Wait Until Dark and Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility.

BJU Core

You’ll complement your theatre classes with the BJU Core. English, history, economics, philosophy and other subjects will broaden your horizons and help you relate to more diverse audiences. Liberal arts also develop essential life skills—critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and effective communication—that will help you adapt to any situation.

Electives

In the theatre program at BJU electives are offered in the many disciplines of the field. If you enjoy writing, you can develop your own scripts, from monologues to one-acts and full-length plays. For actors you can increase your sensitivity and imagination through improvisation, theatre games, scene work and vocal and physical exercises. Rehearsing scenes with your fellow acting students will stretch you as a performer and help you to act and react as a believable character in dramatic circumstances. If backstage work interests you, you can familiarize yourself with every behind-the-scenes activity in theatre with classes in lighting, costume design, scene design and directing.