Overview

Theatre uniquely shapes perceptions about life into an active experience. Because this process encourages critical thought and discussion, the Department provides a singular and important aspect of a liberal arts education through its production season and coursework. Viewed as a practical extension of the Department’s curriculum, shows are produced in Neely Auditorium, a laboratory where students learn to form creative expressions as well as to evaluate and critique them.

On one level, the Department of Theatre helps the general liberal arts student develop reasoned standards of criticism and an understanding of the intimate correlation between the theatre and the society which it reflects, preparing Vanderbilt graduates for successful careers in theatre as well as other fields of interest. For its major and minors, the Department provides a more detailed and specialized study of the major components of theatrical endeavor, allowing opportunities for the practical application of coursework in the productions staged at the theatre. In many cases, the Department helps to prepare students with professional aspirations as either artists or teachers for future training and education in their specialized area of interest.

The Department is closely linked with Vanderbilt University Theatre, a student organization which supports the department by recruiting crews and actors, as well as publicizing productions. Each year, more than one hundred different students participate on some level in the various productions throughout the year.