Kennesaw State University

Located in suburban metro Atlanta, Kennesaw State University’s TPS department offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance Studies with four concentrations: Acting, Musical Theatre, Design & Technology, and Performance Studies. The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and delivers a vibrant combination of liberal arts exploration and professional practice. Small class sizes and individualized faculty mentorship—often from working practitioners and published scholars—foster personalized academic and artistic growth.

The curriculum begins with foundational courses in theatre and performance studies, acting, and stagecraft, followed by advanced coursework in topics like play analysis, performance theory, theatre history, visual imagination, and dramaturgy. Students choose a concentration-specific sequence complemented by an applied/professional component tailored to their goals—such as internships, study abroad programs, practicum work, and service-based learning. The program wraps up with a senior seminar focused on preparing for careers or graduate study, emphasizing critical thinking, presentation skills, and creative problem solving.

TPS is known for its dynamic and inclusive production season hosted in two distinctive venues: the Stillwell Theater, a 315-seat proscenium, and the intimate Onyx Theater, a flexible black box. Student work ranges broadly—classical plays, musicals, immersive storytelling, new works, improvisational comedy, performance art, and ethnographic performance. Signature ensembles like the KSU Tellers and improv troupe K.I.S.S. perform publicly throughout metro Atlanta, including at festivals like the Atlanta Fringe Festival, providing real-world exposure and ensemble training.

Community engagement and regional partnerships are embedded in the TPS experience. Students frequently collaborate with local theaters such as Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, perform at community sites including Smith‑Gilbert Gardens, and engage with social impact work in service-learning contexts. International and study abroad opportunities—such as performance exchanges in Montepulciano, London, or at Ireland’s Gaiety School of Acting—broaden students’ creative and cultural perspectives.

Graduates leave TPS well-equipped for careers across theatrical disciplines, professional internships, graduate studies, or arts-focused professions. The program emphasizes building transferable skills like collaboration, empathy, critical inquiry, and leadership. With its focus on developing scholar-artists who interrogate and give form to stories that matter, TPS cultivates storytellers prepared to shape both stage and social narratives.