Program Description If you’re a theatre buff or have acting chops, a stage isn’t the only option for you. The Bachelor of Arts Community Studies, Major in Applied Theatre offered at CBU takes a unique and practical approach to theatre. This high quality program weaves the art of theatre into a career path that progresses, educates or aids your community; taking your training beyond the traditional theatre major. Applied Theatre is designed as a major in the four-year Bachelor of Arts Community Studies. The program focuses on traditional theatrical skills like acting, writing, directing, and technical production applied through process-oriented, experiential and in-community learning.
We educate our students to see theatre as an opportunity to provide creative solutions within their community. This program takes drama outside of conventional theatre spaces, leveraging the art in different contexts and situations. The Applied Theatre Major really opens students’ eyes to accessible avenues where they can integrate their passion for theatre, including museums, heritage sites, professional and governmental organizations, schools, and other community initiatives.
At CBU, theatre is a part of our heritage.
Traditions dating back 50 years are carried out at the Boardmore Playhouse (est. 1979), a fully equipped, flexible theatre space featuring dozens of live productions every year. Boardmore performances are based on collective creation and community engagement, providing a supportive environment for students studying in this program. We have active theatre scene featuring a range of theatres, drama schools, and heritage sites students can tap into. When you graduate, we make sure you’re ready to apply theatre in almost any context from bringing museum exhibits to life to training medical students to deal with patients. You’ll develop the skills that a successful theatre professional needs like group facilitation, project management, and marketing. There’s no one way to apply your education, from touring schools and energizing and educating our youth to consultancy to help organizations train new hires, you choose a path that fits best.
