Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Bluegrass Community and Technical College provides a practical Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) in Theatre Arts, structured to introduce students to foundational skills in acting, stagecraft, design, and performance. As part of the broader Visual & Performing Arts curriculum, this two-year program supports transfer pathways for students planning to continue their theatre studies at four-year institutions, as well as those preparing for entry-level roles in the performing arts.

Instruction balances classroom training with immersive production experience. Students enroll in coursework covering acting techniques, theatre history, script analysis, technical design, lighting and sound systems, and costume and set building. Practicum courses integrate learners into actual theatre productions from early in their academic journey.

Production experience at BCTC includes staged shows, with at least one fully realized production each semester—many presented at local venues such as the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center in downtown Lexington. These shows provide students with real-world experience in performance, direction, technical support, and stage management.

BCTC’s theatre department emphasizes student leadership and collaborative innovation. The Drama Club and short-play initiatives enable students to write, direct, or act in experimental or devised works. The program has earned regional and national recognition, including awards for creative works such as “BCTC Presents Antigone” and “The COVID Monologues,” underscoring the creative synergy between theatre and film students.

Located within Lexington, a regional cultural hub, Bluegrass Community and Technical College offers affordable tuition and open-access enrollment. The Theatre Arts program delivers a supportive environment for artistic exploration, creative development, and portfolio-building. Graduates emerge with production credits and transferable coursework, prepared to advance in four-year theatre programs, regional theatre, or arts-related careers.