BlackBox Theatre - Blue Ridge Community College

Blue Ridge Community College offers an accessible and professionally-inclined Associate in Fine Arts in Theatre (AFA) degree designed for students aiming to transfer to four-year institutions or deepen their performance and technical theatre training. This 60-credit transfer pathway typically includes general education—such as Theatre History—and concentration courses in acting, play production, stagecraft, and design. Of special note, the program emphasizes developing critical analysis and hands-on experience through structured practicum participation.

A cornerstone of the theatre curriculum is Theatre Workshop (CST 136), a practicum course that offers students immersive involvement in the theatrical process—from performance and dramaturgy to set-building, lighting, stage management, and promotion. This course can be repeated for credit and allows students to apply theory directly within the College’s production environment.

BRCC students showcase their talents on the Fine Arts Center stage, including a 400-seat Main Stage and a flexible black-box theatre. The college presents numerous theatrical events annually, including public productions, youth workshops, and community partners like Waynesboro Players and the Shenandoah Cabaret, many of which take place in their modern Fine Arts Center. These collaborative performances provide real-world learning and public visibility for student participants.

Courses span fundamentals (Theatre Appreciation, Literature of the Theatre) and studio practice (Acting I & II, Voice for Performance, Readers’ Theatre, Stagecraft I & II, Stage Makeup), offering a balanced mix of intellectual and creative training. Through this approach, students not only hone their craft but also develop transferable skills—communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and artistic flexibility.

In summary, BRCC’s Theatre Arts program combines affordable tuition, individualized guidance, and community-based production opportunities to support student growth in both theory and practice. Whether preparing for transfer to a four-year theatre program or pursuing personal enrichment in the dramatic arts, students graduate with both a practical portfolio and a strong foundational skill set in performance and technical theatre.