Florida Southwestern State College

Florida SouthWestern State College provides a vibrant Theatre Arts program that emphasizes both learning and creative development across its multiple campuses in Southwest Florida. Embedded within the Performing & Visual Arts Pathway, the program combines liberal arts coursework with studio-based theatre training, covering areas such as acting, stagecraft, design, play analysis, and playwriting. Students work in supportive, community-oriented environments that foster critical thinking and cultural literacy.

Learning is highly experiential. Students engage in semesterly theatrical projects—from small-scale reading labs to fully staged performances—in facilities ranging from Black Box theatres to multi-use production spaces. Coursework includes acting, theatre history, script analysis, performance studio, and technical theatre classes like lighting and stagecraft. Practicum options enable students to earn credit while gaining hands-on experience in roles both in front of and behind the curtain.

FSW Theatre benefits from strong institutional partnerships and community engagement. Performance events take place in campus theatres including the on-site Black Box as well as the professional-grade Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. The program also collaborates with guest artists, community theatre organizations, and scholarship opportunities that support student growth and local visibility.

The curriculum is flexible and designed to accommodate transfer and career-oriented goals. Students may complete an Associate in Arts degree tailored for theatre transfer, or pursue certificate programs like Stage Technology. These pathway options are structured to ensure alignment with Florida’s public four-year university standards, easing transfer into Theatre programs at institutions across the Florida College System.

Overall, FSW’s Theatre Arts program nurtures creative confidence, technical skill, and performance readiness. Graduates leave with foundational theatre training, portfolio pieces, and transferable credit suited for continued undergraduate study or direct entry into community and regional theatre production, education, or arts administration.