Hope College

Hope College’s Department of Theatre stands out as a vibrant, liberal arts-centered program emphasizing the development of “citizen artists” who use theatre to foster creativity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of human diversity. Through personalized Bachelor of Arts degrees and optional minors, students design individualized degree “contracts” based on concentrations like Performance, Design (scenic, lighting, sound, costumes), Stage Management, or Directing. The curriculum is intentionally flexible, encouraging double or composite majors in fields such as art, dance, music, education, communications, and business.

Students participate in four faculty-led mainstage productions per year, supplemented by smaller-scale projects including student-directed performances and independent directing classes. Past seasons have featured works ranging from Rohina Malik’s The Hijabis and Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to Kate Hamill’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and contemporary pieces such as You for Me, You for You and The Night Witches. This rich variety of genres enhances student exposure to different forms and themes in theatre.

Hope College’s facilities offer professional-level training environments. Productions are held in the DeWitt Center’s Mainstage Theatre (a thrust stage seating nearly 500) and its Studio Theatre, while technical classes benefit from dedicated scene, costume, lighting, and sound workshops. The department collaborates across the arts—including art, dance, and music—to enhance interdisciplinary learning and creative synergy.

Students also gain valuable real-world experience through the acclaimed Hope Summer Repertory Theatre (HSRT)—a professionally staffed summer company that operates from mid‑June to mid‑August and produces six to seven shows in rotation across three venues, including the Mainstage, a proscenium theatre, and a theatre‑in‑the‑round. Participation in KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival) is also a highlight: students compete for awards, Irene Ryan scholarships, and intensive professional workshops, consistently earning national recognition for both productions and individuals