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Program Overview
Train for stage and screen in a community that puts people first.
When you study theatre at Asbury University, you won’t just learn to perform; you’ll be shaped as an artist, a collaborator, and a person of faith. Our program is built on the belief that when you care for the people who bring stories to life, the creative process becomes braver, and the productions become more powerful.
Here, you’ll act in professional-quality productions, collaborate on award-winning student films, and have an opportunity to train with professionals from acclaimed international theatre companies like Complicité —all within a Christ-centered community where your voice matters, whether you’re center stage or behind the scenes.
Your work at Asbury will combine practical knowledge, academic depth and a natural integration of faith into your craft. Students are encouraged to grow as artists and individuals within an encouraging community. Discover your personal theatre journey and prepare for a future career.
While here you will participate in projects where you will have to wrestle with ideas about media, information and faith under the mentorship and guidance from our faculty who have lived, worked and encountered these same questions.
Asbury’s Undergraduate +GRAD program allows you to finish an undergraduate degree, then earn a master’s degree with significant time and cost savings.
Asbury offers related master’s degree programs in:
People. Process. Productions.
In Asbury’s Theatre program, we put people first. Rooted in a Christ-centered community, every experience is designed to shape you as both an artist and a person of purpose through meaningful relationships, intentional training, and creative work that reflects truth and beauty.
Everything we do flows from three commitments:
Every artist matters here, from actors to designers, technicians, and everyone in between! You are not a number; you are an image bearer of God with a creative gift to develop. Our faculty are here mentor you spiritually, artistically, and professionally from your very first day.
Our rehearsal rooms and shops are brave spaces where you’ll take bold creative risks, learn resilience, and grow through collaboration. You’ll work across disciplines, performing in plays one week and acting in a student film the next. You’ll also have the opportunity to train with Complicité professionals or Pinewood Studio craftsman in London during a summer semester.
Every show we produce is crafted with excellence and intention. We create stories that reflect truth, beauty, and the shared human experience. Our world-premiere productions, regional Emmy-winning films, and professional-quality seasons aren’t just performances; they’re acts of service that glorify God.
Theatre students are offered many opportunities in tech, design and performance.
Study theatre in London while training with professionals from Complicité, one of the world’s most respected and innovative theatre companies known for groundbreaking ensemble performance since 1983. Students attend West End productions, explore London’s historic theatre scene, and learn directly from working artists who are active in the professional theatre industry. Production design students may also visit Pinewood Studios, the renowned film and television studio behind many major productions, where they gain insight from film industry professionals and see professional production design in action.
In Asbury University’s theatre program, students have opportunities to be a part of performances during their first semester. Because our program is intentionally small, students can participate in musicals, plays, student directed productions, and an original sitcom filmed before a live audience, allowing them to begin building a strong performance resume early in their college experience. Recent productions have included the world premiere of 40 Acres, written by an Asbury faculty member, highlighting the program’s commitment to original work and creative collaboration
Agents, film directors, professional actors, and working designers regularly visit Asbury University’s theatre program to meet with students, lead workshops, and provide feedback on performances and creative work. These visits give students the opportunity to learn directly from professionals in the theatre and film industries while gaining valuable insight into the field their passionate about. Many of these interactions also create early networking opportunities that help students build professional connections before graduation.
After completing foundational theatre courses such as stage management and directing fundamentals, students in Asbury University’s theatre program have the opportunity to propose and produce their own production as a part of the theatre season. Students may choose to direct, act, design, or contribute in another creative role that fits their calling as well. Throughout the process, faculty mentors guide students from the initial concept through rehearsals and performance, creating one of the most meaningful and hands on learning experiences in the program.
The Theatre program offers incredible opportunities. Take a 2-week acting intensive with professional actors and instructors from the Globe and National theatres. Work closely with the film & television programs, moving between acting or designing for stage to adapt those skills for acting or designing for film. The sky is the limit!
The Miller Center for Communication Arts is where theatre and film students bring stories to life. This modern creative facility gives you access to professional-style spaces for stage performance, film production, and collaborative storytelling. Inside the Miller Center, you’ll find the resources to develop your craft, including performance spaces, scene and costume shops, recording studios, and film production equipment. Students gain hands-on experience using industry-relevant tools while creating theatre productions, student films, and media projects.
Our theatre faculty aren’t just educators; they’re working artists, directors, and designers who bring current industry experience into every class and rehearsal. They know your name, attend your shows, and are invested in your growth as an artist and as a person of faith.
Asbury theatre grads can be found pursuing successful careers in acting, producing, and many other aspects of the entertainment industry. They actively work in roles including:
Asbury University’s theatre program is a Christ-centered theatre program that prepares students for both stage and screen. Students perform in live productions while also collaborating with the university’s film program, gaining experience that prepares them for careers in theatre, film, and other creative industries. The program is built around the philosophy “People First. Purposeful Process. Powerful Productions. All for the Glory of God.” This means every student artist is valued, the creative process is emphasized, and productions are designed to pursue both artistic excellence and meaningful storytelling.
Students also train alongside faculty with professional theatre and film experience. Asbury University’s theatre faculty combine professional theatre experience with advanced degrees such as the M.F.A. and Ph.D., giving students strong artistic and academic preparation. Led by Director of Theatre Kris Dietrich, M.F.A., professors mentor students in acting, directing, design, and storytelling while integrating faith and creativity. Students learn from faculty who bring real industry insight and interdisciplinary connections across theatre, film, and communication, preparing them for professional performance, production, and creative careers.
Asbury University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre within the School of Communication Arts. Students receive training in acting, directing, stage design, and technical theatre, while also having opportunities to participate in student film productions. The program combines a strong liberal arts foundation with hands-on creative experience, preparing graduates for professional careers or graduate study in theatre and the performing arts.
Theatre students at Asbury gain experience early in the program because the theatre department is intentionally small. The annual theatre season includes musicals, plays, student-directed productions, and original works. Students may perform, design, manage productions, or work on technical crews. The theatre program also collaborates with Asbury’s film program, which is estimated to produce more than 60 student films each year. Theatre students often act in these projects, allowing them to graduate with on-camera experience and a professional portfolio or acting reel.
Some student films have received Regional Student Emmy awards and Highbridge Awards for their projects.
Graduates of Asbury’s theatre program pursue careers across the performing arts, media, and creative industries.
Common career paths include:
Some graduates continue their training in graduate programs and conservatories. One alum was accepted into the MFA program at Yale University, while others have worked at Sight & Sound Theatres, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Derby Dinner Playhouse, and other professional companies.
Because students gain experience in both live theatre and on-camera performance, many graduates are prepared for opportunities across multiple areas of the entertainment industry.
Theatre students train in the Miller Center for Communication Arts, a 52,500-square-foot facility where theatre and film programs share creative space.
Facilities include:
The Miller Center also houses a collection of props and costumes from professional film and television productions that students can work with as part of their training. We have items from Narnia Films, Harry Potter, Titanic, Marvel movies, and the Chosen series, with the displays being refreshed occasionally.
admissions@asbury.edu
(859) 858-5000