College of the Holy Cross

The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, offers a distinguished Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, situated within the Department of Theatre & Dance. Recognized as a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre, the program is designed to explore the theatre as a dynamic medium for dialogue about the human condition, aligning with Holy Cross’s Jesuit liberal arts mission.

Students choose between two emphasis tracks: Performance (Acting) or Design. Core coursework for all majors includes Acting I, Theatre History, Modern Drama, scene design, and a Cultural Perspectives in Theatre requirement highlighting marginalized voices. All majors also complete mandatory practicum labs each semester, offering hands-on production experience as actors, designers, or stage crew members.

Performance-focused students study voice, movement, and advanced acting including Shakespeare, while Design students take courses in lighting, sound, costume, and directorial practice. Elective courses may include global theatre perspectives, directing, and physical theatre forms. Many classes integrate studio components, workshops, and small ensemble productions alongside formal lectures.

Productions are central to the experience at Holy Cross. The department stages three mainstage faculty-directed productions annually, supplemented by student-directed one-act festivals, dance concerts, experimental theatre, and international/performance events including Balinese pieces. The Prior Performing Arts Center houses multiple performance venues, providing students with professional-grade rehearsal and performance spaces.

Students benefit from active co-curricular involvement through Alternate College Theatre (ACT), a student-run group that mounts two full productions and a cabaret each year, as well as a variety of performance labs and workshops. Faculty are actively engaged theatre professionals and mentor students through a curriculum that marries creative exploration with critical thinking. Graduates move on to careers in design, performance, dramaturgy, education, or advanced study at top graduate theater programs.