Courses and productions are open to all undergraduates. A student may major or minor in Theater Studies. Courses are designed to encourage students to solve problems in collaboration with others, to develop skills in critical thinking, and to communicate effectively with language, physical expression, and visual images. This focus on the development of artistic and intellectual skills, through study and production experience, helps prepare students for careers in a variety of fields. Theater Studies faculty are scholars in dramatic literature, theory, or theater history, or theater professionals in acting, administration, design, directing, and playwriting.
Classes are small, insuring a high level of interaction between students and faculty.
A major area of interest among faculty is the development of new theater, both student and professional. Students are encouraged to write plays and new writing by Duke students is presented annually. This is complemented by professional productions and workshops of new plays that begin at Duke and then transfer to Broadway or other professional venues. These professional projects offer students opportunities to be interns and work with visiting artists on professional productions. I invite you to explore this website, which contains a wealth of information about the undergraduate program in Theater Studies at Duke.