About
UIC’s School of Theatre & Music is part of the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts. It serves over 90 undergraduate majors in theatre and around 80 in music, supported by a faculty of 13 permanent and more than 30 adjunct professors—many of whom are award-winning working professionals from Chicago’s Tony‑award theaters like Steppenwolf and Lookingglass.
On the theatre side, UIC offers three distinct degree tracks: a B.A. in Theatre & Performance, a B.A. in Theatre Design, Production & Technology, and a B.F.A. in Acting. The curriculum integrates theatre history, theory, and dramatic writing with hands-on coursework in acting, voice & movement, directing, and design. Students learn in small, interactive classes and participate in both faculty-led mainstage productions and student-generated performance projects.
Performance spaces at UIC are designed to foster experimentation and ensemble learning. The program facilities include a flexible “black box” mainstage, studio theatres, and other experimental performance areas. Students frequently collaborate with guest artists and take advantage of Chicago’s dynamic theatre landscape through internship opportunities with leading institutions such as Steppenwolf and Lookingglass.
The music program complements theatre offerings with robust ensemble experiences. UIC’s music students perform in five choirs, concert band, jazz ensembles, orchestra, chamber groups, and mariachi ensembles. Admission auditions are typically only required for select ensembles (e.g. Chamber or Treble choir), but many offerings are open to non‑music majors. All concerts are free and open to the public, enhancing both educational and community engagement.
Graduates from UIC’s program have successfully gone on into professional theatre, film, and graduate study. The department also supports co-curricular student-driven initiatives like improv ensembles (e.g. Red Light School District), while showcasing senior capstone projects that highlight creativity across writing, design, and performance disciplines. Small classes, faculty mentorship, and access to Chicago’s arts ecosystem make UIC well-suited for emerging scholar-artists and hybrid theatre-makers
Program Details
Degrees & Programs
Degrees
BA, BFA, Minor
Majors / Emphases
Audition requirements
Admission to UIC theatre programs requires the completion of an audition for BFA Acting and BA Theatre and Performance applicants. Portfolio reviews are required for BA Theatre Design, Production, and Technology applicants.
Alumni
Alumni profiles
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