Texas State University Theatre

Texas State University’s School of Theatre, Dance & Film (SoTDF) offers a robust and diversified theatre arts curriculum, grounded in both liberal arts and professional training. Known for its low faculty-to-student ratio, the department blends classroom learning with real-world performance and production experience. Faculty include Broadway actors, award-winning designers, and active directors, ensuring students learn within an industry-informed environment.

Students engage in a comprehensive production calendar—from mainstage shows to experimental student lab performances, including the department-run Jeremy Torres Lab Theatre. This structure allows students to participate in acting, technical design, directing, and playwriting across diverse production types. Facilities across multiple venues—including black-box, proscenium, and film studios—support varied theatrical forms and workflow collaborations.

The curriculum emphasizes both critical inquiry and practical training. The B.A. in Theatre offers a research and scholarship-based track with no audition required, valuing theatre history, dramaturgy, criticism, and writing. In contrast, the B.F.A. programs deliver conservatory-style training with emphases in Acting for Stage & Screen, Musical Theatre, Performance & Production, Technical Production, Film Production, and even Teacher Certification. Rigorous performance labs, specialized electives, and senior capstones prepare students for diverse industry careers.

The Musical Theatre B.F.A. program is particularly distinguished. Named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s best drama schools of 2025, its selective, tuition-free track enrolls roughly 14 students annually and focuses on holistic artistic and wellness development. Alumni—such as Ashlyn Maddox and Shelby Acosta—are succeeding on Broadway, Netflix, and beyond.

Situated just outside Austin in San Marcos, Texas State offers strong industry access and bold entrepreneurial training. The Performance & Production B.F.A. supports students interested in cross-disciplinary theatre creation—featuring leadership in the Jeremy Torres Lab Theatre, where student-driven work thrives. Overall, the program equips graduates with artistic versatility, design fluency, research competency, and performance experience.