About Us
The Department of Theatre Arts develops students as artists and human beings – fostering creative expression, collaboration, discipline and multicultural understanding through theatre.
Explore comprehensive programs
The Department of Theatre Arts offers comprehensive programs across performance, entertainment design and technology, African American theatre and dramaturgy and playwriting. We emphasize creativity, collaboration and hands-on production experience, preparing students for careers on stage and far beyond through innovative instruction and community engagement.
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History & Mission
For over a century, the Department of Theatre Arts has been shaping not just performers, but people. Tracing its roots to the founding of the University of Louisville Players in 1914, the department has grown into a training ground where artistic rigor meets human development.
That legacy expanded in 1993 with the founding of the African American Theatre Program (AATP). Today, AATP mounts two Mainstage productions each season, offers eight dedicated courses and extends its reach through community service and touring – training artists in the traditions of African American theatre while advancing a broader multicultural arts movement.
Across its classrooms, stages and community programs, the department teaches theatre as a living, humanist art: voice, movement, design and scene study alongside the historical and literary context that gives performance its meaning. The department strives to develop, disseminate and preserve knowledge – the ability to understand the theatre arts, to appreciate them and to create works of art that enhance the human condition.
Who we serve
Whether you're pursuing a degree, minoring in theatre or simply looking to fulfill a Cardinal Core requirement, the Department of Theatre Arts welcomes you.
- Undergraduates & minors: Build foundational and advanced skills in acting, voice, movement and design while exploring theatre's historical and cultural dimensions.
- Graduate students: Deepen your craft and scholarship through advanced coursework and mentorship, including specialized study through the African American Theatre Program.
- Non-majors & community members: Take a class to fulfill Cardinal Core, sharpen transferable creative skills, or simply audition as our stages are open to anyone in Louisville and beyond.
We support every student through a curriculum that blends technical training with historical and literary context, close mentorship from faculty who are working artists and scholars, and experiential learning on real stages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You should certainly consider it. At the University of Louisville, the Department of Theatre Arts prepares students to explore the world through theatre and performance with courage, discipline and skills gained from the world around you. Paired with a liberal arts curriculum, a theatre arts major will prepare you for a number of professions.
Yes. There are many courses available to non-majors, and many of them also count toward general education requirements. Some courses are restricted to theatre arts majors, and others may require permission from the instructor.
The undergraduate program in theatre arts has a liberal arts focus, with students studying four core elements of theatre. The master of fine arts in performance program is conservatory-based, with students studying performance-specific elements of theatre – including acting, voice and movement – alongside academic coursework.
General admission for adults is $20. Alumni, senior citizens and University of Louisville faculty/staff are $15, and students are $10. Season tickets are also available at discounted rates. Tickets are available online – see the Seasons and Tickets page for more information.
Auditions for our productions are open to anyone. We typically hold auditions in August, November, January and April. Auditions generally consist of cold readings and/or a prepared monologue, and they’re announced on our social media and through flyers on campus.
Contact Production Manager Braden Blauser if you’re interested in scenery, lighting, sound or props; Costume Shop Supervisor Melissa Shepherd if you’re interested in costumes; or Box Office Manager Stephan Carpenter if you’re interested in Front of House.
Yes! All new students are invited to audition and encouraged to begin their required work on productions. Volunteer ushers and backstage crew members are also invited to participate in our Mainstage Season, and all students are encouraged to take part in Studio Theatre productions.
From Stage to Streaming Success
Ready to turn your commitment to performance, collaboration, and creative vision into professional impact? Explore Theatre Arts at the University of Louisville — home to the first and only accredited African American Theatre MFA program in the nation, where training in live performance launches careers on stage, on screen, in education, and across every industry that needs people who can communicate and connect.