Emory And Henry College Theatre Department

Nestled in Emory, Virginia, Emory & Henry’s Theatre & Dance Department combines conservatory-style training with a strong liberal arts foundation. Students choose from flexible degree tracks, including a B.A. in Theatre, B.F.A. degrees in Performance, Musical Theatre, Directing & Stage Management, or Production & Design, and even a B.A. in Dance or Dance minor. Small class sizes and close faculty mentorship ensure personalized instruction throughout each student’s progression.

A standout feature is the department’s deep partnership with the Barter Theatre, Virginia’s state professional theatre company. Through this alliance, students gain remarkable hands-on opportunities—internships, rehearsal observations, master classes with Barter professionals, and even understudy roles in professional productions—blending classroom learning with industry-level experience.

Students perform and design in the state-of-the-art McGlothlin Center for the Arts, which houses a 461-seat proscenium Main Stage and a 120-seat Black Box Studio Theatre. The facility includes modern production spaces, design labs, dressing rooms, and an on-campus art gallery—providing a versatile, professional learning environment for dramatic arts.

The department presents a robust season of productions—including mainstage musicals, straight plays, student-directed shows, and dance works—offering frequent performance opportunities across all disciplines. Students majoring beyond theatre are also welcome to audition, promoting an inclusive campus theatre community. Past seasons have featured shows like Mary Poppins (staged in early 2024), highlighting student-centered collaboration under the leadership of faculty like Dr. Kelly Bremner.

Beyond performance, the curriculum emphasizes professional readiness and creative versatility. Courses in stagecraft, dramaturgy, theatre history, acting, directing, and design are reinforced by career development training—resumé building, audition technique, and theatre business essentials—all geared toward preparing graduates for careers in professional theatre, education, or further study.