Your life is not a dress rehearsal. This is your chance to follow your dreams and do what you love. UB’s theatre program is for anyone who wants to be surrounded by the unmatched creativity and tight-knit community that you’ll find in the theater, along with all the academic opportunities you’ll get from a world-class research university. Whether you crave the spotlight—or you prefer being in the director’s chair, behind the scenes or writing about the arts—there’s a place for you here.
Do you want a broad, flexible education that covers the history and context of different theater productions? Or perhaps you’d rather specialize in an area like acting, costume design or dramaturgy? Either way, UB has the major for you. And with plenty of plays, musicals, experimental works and more, you’ll also get hands-on, unforgettable experiences as you strengthen your skills in collaboration, communication and critical thinking.
Each year, you'll find hundreds of ways to gain experience and make friends.
At UB, our graduates have performed and worked behind the scenes in productions on Broadway, off-Broadway, in Europe and in regional theatres. In fact, you may have seen them on major TV network shows or in movies, including Black Panther. While many of our theatre graduates go on to successful careers in professional theatre, film and television, many others apply the skills and knowledge from their theatre studies to go to law school and MBA programs—or enjoy a career in arts administration, education and many other professional fields. A theatre major is an excellent way for you to develop your strengths in writing, technology, presentation and critical thinking—and fuel your professional success.
At UB, you’ll get valuable skills that you can apply to a broad range of career paths, including:
From Broadway and film to television and regional theatres, our faculty are internationally recognized, highly experienced and well-connected.
They are active actors, directors, technicians and scholars—and are members of the Stage Actors Guild, Actors' Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, United Scenic Artists and other leading organizations.
Of course, they are also exceptional teachers and mentors, having earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and numerous other honors for teaching and mentoring.
UB also hosts world-class guest artists and alumni who work closely with students in master classes, productions, workshops, seminars and performances, making it even easier to get experience and grow your network.