Programs of Study
The Performing Arts department offers all Rockford University students a unique opportunity to explore dance, music, and theatre as separate but interrelated art forms in an innovative, experimental environment where they can express themselves creatively, study the performing arts in their historical-cultural context, and participate in departmental programs and productions.
Our faculty members believe in a hands-on approach of positive instruction and guidance to nurture creative and intellectual abilities. Classes are small for maximum student-teacher interaction. Some courses involve team teaching to provide a full understanding of the interrelationships of dance, music, and theatre.
Students will have numerous opportunities to enhance their education in the performing arts. We stress to all our majors the importance of disciplining themselves to the rigors of academia within and outside the performing arts, attending artistic events and workshops with professional artists, and participating in student-produced as well as faculty-directed productions.
Juniors and seniors are urged to spend a semester or year in the Rockford University program at Regent’s University in London, where they will have the opportunity to pursue the many cultural advantages of London and to study with an impressive variety of skilled British artists and teachers in specially designed programs. Juniors and seniors may also take advantage of internship programs with professional artistic organizations in the Rockford and Chicago areas.
We offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in theatre with tracks in acting/directing, design and production, musical theatre performance, and theatre management. We also offer a BA in dance and theatre arts. Minors are available in dance, music, and theatre arts.
Majors and Tracks/Concentrations
Theatre (B.F.A.) Acting/Directing Track
The Bachelor of fine Arts in acting/directing offers a comprehensive and systematic approach to the study of acting and directing. The program combines theoretical foundation courses with practical performance and directing opportunities. The BFA program provides the student with exceptional training and a selected core of liberal arts classes designed to add historical context and insight into their creative choices. Our curriculum also includes frequent opportunities to view professional productions in Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee as well as an optional semester of study at Regents University in London. All students in the program are required to audition and interview for professional summer theatre work. Our professors assist in preparing the students for these auditions. The BFA in acting/directing is ideally suited for students who wish to pursue a professional performance and/or directing career.
Majors are required to audition for every main-stage production and are encouraged to audition for as many Three-Penny and Artists’ Ensemble Theatre productions as their schedules will allow. Admittance to the program is by audition and must coincide with acceptance into the university.
Theatre (B.F.A.) Design and Production Track
The Design and Production Track provides students with a balanced combination of coursework and practical application in the areas of scenic, lighting, costume design, or stage management. Students will work to develop proficiencies in painting, drawing, drafting, costume and set construction, draping, pattern drafting, and other technical skills. Through courses in text analysis, acting, technical theatre, theatre production, stage management, drawing, art history, and theatre history, students will develop a diverse combination of knowledge and skills. Advanced courses include upper-level scenic, lighting, or costume design, scene painting, costume history, computer-aided drafting, and directing.
There are numerous opportunities for practical application of the developing theatre artist’s skills. Each year the Performing Arts Department stages two musicals, two mainstage plays, up to four student-directed productions, and four Artists’ Ensemble productions. All are housed in our two state-of-the-art theatres.
Artists’ Ensemble Theater is a professional Equity theatre company in residence at Rockford University. They partner with the Performing Arts Department to offer students unique opportunities to apply their craft as actors, designers, technicians, or stage managers, and to provide internships in theatre management.
Trips to Chicago and the surrounding area to see professional productions of theatre, musical theatre, opera, dance, and music are actually part of the curriculum. In addition, a semester of study abroad at Regents College in London can easily fit into the plan of study.*
*additional study abroad opportunities are also available
Theatre (B.F.A.) Musical Theatre Performance Track
With integrated studies in music, dance, and theatre, the bachelor of fine arts in musical theatre offers the best combination of theoretical foundation courses with practical performance opportunities. Students in the BFA program will combine exceptional training with a selected core of liberal arts courses designed to add historical context and insight into their creative choices. Our curriculum also includes frequent opportunities to view professional productions in Chicago, Madison, or Milwaukee as well as an optional semester of study at Regents College in London. The bachelor of fine arts in musical theatre is ideally suited for students whose goal is to pursue a professional performance career.
Majors are required to audition for every main-stage production and are encouraged to audition for as many Three Penny and Artists’ Ensemble Theatre productions as their schedules will allow. Admittance to the program is by audition and must coincide with acceptance into the university.
Theatre (B.F.A.) Theatre Management Track
The bachelor of fine arts in theatre management combines hands-on managerial experience with a systematic approach to performance and the process of theatre in general. The program offers a blending of theoretical foundation courses with practical internships in three separate professional performance venues. It is possible for a student seeking a BFA in theatre management to pursue performance as well. The program provides the student with exceptional training in selected courses in the business department and a core of liberal arts classes designed to add historical context and insight into their creative choices. Our curriculum also includes frequent opportunities to view professional productions in Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee as well as an optional semester of study at Regents College in London. The BFA in theatre management is ideally suited for students who wish to pursue both the business of theatre and an overall career in the theatre.
Each year the Performing Arts Department stages two musicals, two mainstage plays, up to four student-directed productions, and four Artists Ensemble productions. All housed in our two state-of-the-art theatres. Artists Ensemble Theatre is a professional Equity theatre company in residence at Rockford University. They partner with the Performing Arts Department to offer students unique opportunities to apply their craft as actors, designers, technicians, or stage managers, and to provide internships in theatre management.
Theatre Arts (B.A., B.S.)
The bachelor of arts in theatre at Rockford University offers students the broadest exposure to all aspects of theatre training and education. Combined with our excellent liberal arts tradition, it prepares students for a variety of career options including talent agent, casting director, performance or production, and related fields such as film, television, and academia. The bachelor of arts in theatre is also the foundation for secondary education certification. The BA also works well in combination with other majors and minors and is structured to support a semester of study at Regents College in London or other studies abroad destinations. All potential BA candidates must go through an audition or interview process and must be accepted by the university.
Minors
- Dance Minor
- Music Minor
- Theatre Arts Minor
- Design Tech Minor
Degree requirements for these programs can be found in the Academic Catalog.
Performing Arts
Clark Arts Center
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4122
Fax:815-394-4089Beth Dorland, Performing Arts Chair
EDorland@rockford.edu
