Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University’s Department of Theatre & Dance is strategically based in Playhouse Square, the nation’s second-largest performing arts district after New York City. Located in Cleveland’s vibrant downtown arts scene, the department offers both a B.A. in Theatre Arts and a Theatre minor, with concentrations available in Acting, Directing, and Design/Technology. Coursework includes acting technique, theatre history, dramaturgy, voice and movement, stagecraft, and production design, all rooted in a liberal arts context and reinforced by professional-grade training.

Each academic year, students are immersed in the department’s production season, typically comprising three mainstage shows and one workshop production, as well as dance concerts. Productions are staged in Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre, the Outcalt Theatre, and the Helen Lab Theatre—professional venues shared with Cleveland Play House. This setup offers undergraduate students real-world experience in both performance and technical theatre.

CSU’s location allows students to work closely with Cleveland Play House, a Tony Award–winning resident company. The partnership enables students to participate in professional-level productions, attend guest-artist workshops, and benefit from faculty with direct industry experience. This connection helps bridge academic training with the practical demands of the regional and national theatre world.

Students are expected to engage actively in departmental productions, including mandatory weekly service hours and monthly majors meetings designed to reinforce professionalism and collaborative discipline. Auditions and crew opportunities are open to all majors and minors, with policies in place to ensure that participants meet academic and performance standards.

Graduates from CSU’s program emerge prepared for careers in performance, design, directing, arts administration, and education, or for continued study in MFA and other graduate programs. With its strong academic foundation, immersive production opportunities, urban location, and professional partnerships, the department delivers a dynamic and career-ready theatrical education in the heart of Cleveland’s arts district.