Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University’s Department of Theatre & Dance offers both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre/Dance with concentrations in Acting, Musical Theatre, Design, or Stage Management. The BA provides a flexible liberal arts-oriented path ideal for double-major students, while the BFA delivers rigorous pre-professional training through auditions and portfolio review. Both tracks emphasize performance, design, theory, and scholarship, guided by faculty who remain active professionals in their fields.

The BA degree—with a concentration in Theatre—allows students to explore acting, production technology, theatre history, and directing in a well-rounded curriculum. It is structured for students who wish to combine theatre study with other academic interests such as English, business, or psychology. This degree pathway encourages broad intellectual development alongside practical theatre training.

The BFA concentration programs in Acting, Musical Theatre, Design, and Stage Management provide intensive training focused on artistic and technical excellence. Musical Theatre students, for example, receive instruction across diverse styles ranging from classical to contemporary, including camera acting, voiceover, and motion capture. All BFA tracks culminate in professional-level performance or portfolio opportunities including showcases and design work.

Students benefit from a robust production schedule and exposure to guest artists. The department supports numerous visiting professional artists each year, offering masterclasses, workshops, and performance feedback. This frequent engagement enriches student learning and connects classroom theory to real-world practice, fostering professional readiness.

Graduates from APSU’s Theatre program are well-prepared for entry-level roles in theatre, dance, performance design, and stage management—or for graduate school. The program’s blend of flexible BA pathways, selective BFA training, real-world production experience, and industry linkage equips students to pursue creative careers regionally or nationally with confidence.