Las Positas College

Las Positas College in Livermore, California, offers a vibrant and inclusive Theatre Arts program centered in the state-of-the-art Barbara F. Mertes Center for the Arts, which houses a 464-seat proscenium theatre, a 100-seat black box, and a 750-seat outdoor amphitheater—the core venues for student performances, rehearsals, and technical training. The Performing Arts department embraces both beginners and experienced learners in a supportive atmosphere that fosters community, creativity, and growth.

The curriculum features a blend of classroom instruction and hands-on production training. Coursework includes Acting I & II, Theater History, Modern American Theater, Fundamentals of Stage Speech, Children’s Theater, Musical Theater, Technical Theater, Lighting Design, Costume Design, Stage Management, and Theater for Young Audiences, among others . Students regularly engage in practical learning through performance labs, improv, and design workshops designed to develop artistic fluency and collaboration skills.

Las Positas presents four mainstage productions each year, complemented by smaller productions, student-directed pieces, and theater for young audiences. These performance opportunities are supported by Actors Conservatory conservatory-style training and a technical theatre track that together offer real-world experience in acting, musical theatre, design, and production operations.

Academic pathways lead to both transfer-ready degrees and specialized certificate programs. Las Positas offers both an AA‑T (Associate of Arts for Transfer) in Theater Arts and a regular AA in Theater Arts, tailored respectively for students planning to transfer to UC/CSU systems or seeking a general foundation. Additionally, they offer Certificate of Achievement options in Acting, Actors Conservatory, Musical Theater, and Technical Theater—which can be stacked into a year-by-year progression culminating in the AA/AA‑T degree.

Guided by faculty mentorship and supported by multiple performance venues and production teams, the program emphasizes both personal artistic exploration and professional preparation. Students graduate with practical skills in performance, technical theater, stage management, and design—whether they plan to transfer to four-year institutions or enter local theater, entertainment, or arts industries directly.