Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University’s Theatre & Drama program, part of the College of Arts & Media, offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Drama as well as a BA in Theatre Education for K‑12 certification. Admission into both programs requires an audition, reflecting the program’s emphasis on performance and professional skill development. The curriculum spans acting, theatre history, dramatic literature from ancient Greece through contemporary works, and hands‑on training in set and prop construction, lighting, sound, costume design, and stage management.

Student training is deeply immersive and collaborative, with close mentorship from faculty who are also practicing theatre professionals. GCU maintains performance spaces including the larger Ethington Theatre and a flexible Black Box Theatre, where students across disciplines take part in major productions, student-led projects, improv shows, and theatre clubs like the Cantalopes Improvisation Club. Over 90 total productions occur each year across the College of Arts & Media, many providing students with ample onstage and backstage experience.

Each performance season typically features a diverse thematic mix—students participate in shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Little Women (the musical), and The Glass Menagerie, alongside original and contemporary plays chosen to spark dialogue and reflection. Seasons are curated to blend spectacle with storytelling, alternating between musicals, classics, and emotionally resonant dramas that explore the human experience. Student-run companies, such as the faith-based Parables troupe, also provide outreach opportunities by performing in local schools and community settings.

Graduates emerge with professional portfolios and transferable soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving—qualities nurtured both in and out of the theatre. The program’s faith-based educational environment encourages students to align their artistic pursuits with values centered on service, empathy, and leadership. Whether students aim for careers in performance, education, design, or arts administration, GCU offers a practical, compassionate theatre education grounded in mission and community.