Dominican University of California

Dominican University of California’s Theatre Arts program, housed within the Department of Theatre Arts and Music in the School of Liberal Arts & Education, provides an intimate and immersive theatre education rooted in a liberal arts setting. Small class sizes and dedicated faculty ensure individualized mentorship. From freshmen onward, students are encouraged to audition for mainstage roles, ensuring early and meaningful access to professional-caliber productions.

Academic and experiential study are tightly woven. Students participate in the university’s Theatre Arts Lab Series (TALS), which includes three major productions annually—a musical, a contemporary play, and a classical work. Productions follow industry standards, with contracts, rehearsal schedules, and guest artists directing or designing alongside students, mirroring professional theatre practices.

Classroom coursework spans acting methodologies, voice and movement, playwriting, directing, theatre history, dramaturgy, and technical design. Students often double-major or combine theatre with related fields such as creative writing, dance, or performing arts for social change. Liberal arts integration develops critical thinking and communication skills valued well beyond theatre.

The program takes full advantage of its location in San Rafael—just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. The state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center (DUPAC) hosts visiting professionals, guest artist residencies, and provides opportunities for students to work in scene, costume, and box office operations, as well as to intern with community arts organizations and Marin Shakespeare Company.

Graduates leave with strong theatrical portfolios in performance, design, technical production, and dramaturgy, as well as experience in professional settings. Alumni often move into graduate programs—such as Yale, NYU, or Stanford—or begin careers in acting, regional theatre, nonprofit leadership, or arts education. With its blend of practical training, liberal arts, mentorship, and regional engagement, Dominican offers a supportive yet ambitious theatre education.