The B.A. in Theatre Arts major, with its four concentrations, offers students an opportunity to study with New York theatre professionals, to work on main stage productions, establish professional contacts, and obtain internships with some of New York’s major theaters and professional organizations.
Why Study Theatre Arts at MMC?
MMC is centrally located in Manhattan and offers classes that allow students to experience the richness of the city. We combine professional theatre education and training with the liberal arts, teaching our students how to create compelling, informed, imaginative, and innovative theatre. Our students are exposed to great theatre — on Broadway, Off-Broadway, along Theatre Row, and downtown in experimental theatres — and they take advantage of the best of New York City’s internship(opens in a new tab) opportunities.Since Marymount Manhattan is an undergraduate college, students do not compete with graduate students for design, directing, stage management, acting, dramaturgy, and playwriting opportunities.
What You Will Learn
Upon completing the theatre arts major, students will be able to:
Demonstrate comprehension of achievements in drama and theatrical production across a range of periods and cultures;
Demonstrate comprehension of the interdisciplinarity of theatre study and the collaborative nature of theatre production;
Demonstrate writing, oral communication, research, performance, and technical skills as foundations for building specific expertise in selected areas of concentration;
Draw on external resources for further study and work experience by utilizing museums, theatres, performing arts organizations, libraries, and other institutions in New York City and abroad.
Contact
Concentrations
Directing
Study the history of directing and learn to analyze texts, make conceptual choices, and guide actors in the rehearsal process. Assistant direct for faculty and guest- directed productions to learn and gain practical knowledge — rare opportunities at the undergraduate level.
Explore dramatic literature, history, and criticism while taking advantage of the unique opportunities NYC theatre communities provide. Develop your dramaturgical abilities through writing and direct involvement with the process of creating theatre.
Embrace cross-disciplinary opportunities that blend performance with video, interactive and social media, sound, storytelling, and music to explore emerging media technologies and create your own individual modes of expression.
Study with professional playwrights based in New York City and begin to develop a body of work to prepare for professional careers as writers for theatre, performance, and digital content.
Whether you’re directing in ourBordeauBox, serving as dramaturg on a studio production, or hearing actors bring your new work to life, MMC gives you the opportunity to make it happen.
I moved to New York wanting to be an actor. MMC helped me realize that there were other careers in the theater. If not for the flexibility of MMC’s liberal arts programs, I would not have been able to make the transition from in front of to behind the curtain so easily or fruitfully.
The Theatre Program at MMC fostered the development of strong artistic relationships with fellow writers, directors, actors, and producers who have become true collaborators and the cornerstone of my artistic community in NYC beyond graduation.
MMC allowed me to become a well-rounded theater artist. I was able to take courses in every aspect of theater, plus the liberal arts, and without that, I would not be running two theater companies today. The skills I learned at MMC have given me the confidence that’s necessary to succeed in theatre.
Leigh Berenis ’13
2013, Major in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Directing
The Theatre Department was incredibly helpful in guiding me through my college years and beyond. The unique curriculum allowed me to explore a variety of disciplines within theatre and ultimately showed me that there were lots of opportunities that I didn’t even know existed.
Marymount Manhattan College theatre alumni are working on Broadway, off-Broadway, in television, in film, at regional theaters, and everywhere in between. Many of our students also go on to graduate schools across the country and the world.
Productions and Companies
Broadway
Hamilton
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Kinky Boots
Slave Play
Tina! The Tina Turner Musical
Off-Broadway and Regional Theaters
The Civilians
Lincoln Center
The Public Theater
RepertorioEspañol
National Tours
Film and Television
Careers and Roles
Artistic Director, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts
Arts Manager, Cooper Hewitt Museum
Associate Producer, Project Runway All Stars
Casting Director, Fox Casting
Creative Arts Therapist, Kings County Hospital
General Management Coordinator, The Public Theatre
Vice President of Editorial and Creative, Media Management Group
Top College Program
Each year, the team at OnStage Blog announces the best performing arts schools for the coming year based on research by theatre educators, students, alumni, and parents—the people who really know what’s important in theatre education. MMC made the cut and was praised for our impressive master classes and lectures.
