Merrimack College

Merrimack College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts through its Department of Visual and Performing Arts. This undergraduate program combines a liberal arts foundation with immersive training in performance, directing, design, technical production, theatre history, dramaturgy, and arts management. As part of a broader arts education, the theatre program encourages creativity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration that prepares students for a range of professional and academic paths.

Students follow a structured curriculum that includes foundational courses such as Acting I, Technical Production, Theatre Practicum, Directing, Design for Theatre, Theatre History, Improvisation, and Script Analysis. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, particularly through the Theatre Practicum course, which involves active participation in mainstage productions. Whether acting, managing backstage operations, or designing sets and costumes, students gain practical experience that reinforces classroom instruction and fosters well-rounded skill development.

Merrimack’s performance and arts facilities provide essential support for the program. The Rogers Center for the Arts serves as the central venue for productions and includes rehearsal spaces, design studios, and exhibition areas. This environment offers students a professional-style setting to apply what they’ve learned in class, work on shows, and engage with the larger arts community on campus. The integration of visual and performing arts creates opportunities for cross-disciplinary artistic exploration.

Students are encouraged to participate in multiple productions during their time at Merrimack, often taking on different roles in performance, design, and management. Co-curricular engagement includes participation in regional and national festivals, such as the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, where students can showcase their work and receive external recognition. Faculty mentorship plays a key role, helping students refine their craft and discover areas of specialization within the field.

Career preparation is woven into the program’s structure. All theatre majors have access to internships and cooperative education placements that provide real-world experience in theatre, arts management, and related industries. Graduates are well-equipped for a variety of careers, including performing arts, education, event production, and communication, or for continued study in graduate programs. Merrimack’s Theatre Arts program offers a dynamic and supportive environment for students passionate about making an impact through the performing arts