Columbia College Chicago

Columbia College Chicago’s School of Theatre and Dance combines theory and practice in an intensely collaborative environment, producing around 40 theatre productions per year—including plays, musicals, devised projects, and one-acts—allowing students to take on roles in acting, directing, designing, stage management, and more. With daily exposure to performance, students gain experience across multiple mediums, including film and sound design, and even have access to the only stage combat program in the region.

The college offers multiple undergraduate degrees tailored to different interests and career goals. Options include Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs in Acting for Stage and Screen, Musical Theatre, Comedy Writing and Performance, Theatre Design and Technology, and Theatre Arts Production and Practice with concentrations in directing, playwriting, or stage management. The BA path provides flexibility for exploration, while the BFA offers rigorous training in specialized skill sets.

Core coursework balances foundational training in theatre history, dramatic literature, and critical theory, with practical work in performance and production. Acting students explore diverse acting styles—including physical theatre, on-camera technique, and advanced stage combat—with mentorship from resident faculty who bring experience from across Chicago’s professional theatre scene. Meanwhile, students in theatre arts production practice take structured concentrations in directing, stage management, and design, gaining leadership and portfolio building through multiple staged productions.

Facilities at Columbia support hands-on learning in a professional setting. The college’s Getz Theatre Center houses four performance venues, full scenic and costume shops, makeup and prosthetics labs, and media soundstages, providing a realistic theatrical environment for both majors and cross-disciplinary collaborators. Students frequently work in these studios as part of mainstage faculty productions as well as self-directed student work.

With its location in the heart of Chicago and close ties to industry institutions like The Second City, Columbia theatre students benefit significantly from city-wide exposure and networking opportunities. The faculty and alumni include nationally recognized professionals, and graduates move into careers on stage, behind the scenes, in television and film production, and arts administration. Many also continue into advanced theatre programs and conservatories, carrying forward a curriculum grounded in both artistry and practical readiness.