Theatre Arts

B.F.A. in Theatre Arts (Acting)


The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Acting provides personalized and intensive classroom instruction and stage experience to prepare students for acting careers. Students receive a rigorous grounding in history, literature, theories and methodologies of classical and contemporary theatre arts, and work with professional actors and playwrights. Students also have a variety of opportunities to perform in main stage productions directed by renowned New York City directors. The 120-credit program is selective and acceptance into the program requires an audition.

The acting concentration draws from the Suzuki, Stanislavsky, Chekhov and Linklater techniques. The core program, taught by professional theatre artists, emphasizes development of a riveting stage presence based on dynamic physicality, emotional authenticity and a commanding voice. Students receive individual and ensemble training in television and film acting, singing and dancing from artists of national and international renown. The program culminates at the end of the senior year, when students showcase their talent before agents, managers and directors in New York City.

This exciting program is coordinated with the Post Theatre Company, where students gain hands-on participation in all aspects of a working theatre company. Students gain a wider perspective through internships on and off campus, and travel to festivals in the United States and abroad.

Students have access to excellent facilities to gain practical experience and showcase their talents.

Qualities That Set Our Program Apart

  • Physical acting training based on the Suzuki Technique with an emphasis on building technique through movement, voice and speech training
  • Opportunities to collaborate with professional playwrights in developing new plays for stages worldwide
  • Main stage productions directed by professional New York City directors, public performances and collaborations with renowned New York City-based artist that offer networking opportunities and access to potential employers
  • Extensive internship offerings
  • A stellar roster of alumni working on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in American regional theatres, on national tours and in international venues and in films and TV programs including "ER" and "Six Feet Under."

About the Field

The B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Acting can lead to rewarding careers in stage and screen acting as well as related fields such as playwriting, directing, stage management, costume design, lighting design, make-up artistry, set design and much more. The Acting concentration particularly prepares graduates for careers as actors or to pursue graduate study for careers as acting teachers and coaches.

Admission Requirements

Students must have an interview or audition for admission to the B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Acting program. Applicants will be notified of departmental admissions decisions by the early spring. Mid-year transfer students are contacted individually. All B.F.A. candidates must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in the major.

Auditions
To audition for the Theatre Arts - Acting Program:
  • Apply to LIU Post
  • Call 516-299-4217 to schedule an audition slot. Total audition time is 3 minutes.
  • Prepare two short contrasting monologues from a play.
  • If you are pursuing a music concentration, prepare one short monologue and 16 bars of a song.
  • Submit a headshot and résumé at the time of audition.

Auditions Information

Auditions for Post Theatre Company Productions

Auditions for the season productions are open to all theatre majors are held in the Little Theatre on Mainstage unless otherwise posted. Check the callboard in the Theatre and Dance building for audition requirements and sign-up sheets.


Program Curriculum

Course # Course Name Credit
Required Introductory Theatre Arts Courses (6 credits)
THE 104 Technical Theater Practices 1 3
THE 105 Technical Theater Practices 2 3
Required Theatrical History and Literature Courses (9 credits) 
THE 101 Introduction to Drama 3
THE 141 Classical Theatre History 3
THE 142 Modern Theatre History 3
Required Theatre Production Laboratory Courses (4 credits from any of the following) 
THE 239 Production Laboratory 1
THE 240 Production Laboratory 1
Required Theatre Contract Courses  
THE 204 Department Contract 0
Three courses from the following
THE 201 Department Contract 0
THE 202 Department Contract 0
Acting Concentration Requirements (Required Acting Courses - 24 credits) 
THE 121 Basic Acting 3
THE 122 Basic Acting II  3
THE 123 Intermediate Acting I  3
THE 124 Intermediate Acting II  3
THE 125 Advanced Acting I  3
THE 126 Advanced Acting II  3
THE 152 Professional Skills: The Business of Acting 3
THE 192 Senior Acting Studio 3
One Of The Following Junior Course linked to the THE 125/126 Option (3 credits) 
THE 168 Advanced Voice & Speech 3
THE 542 Advanced Theatre Movement 3
Required Additional Theatre History and Literature Courses (3 credits) 
THE 143 Shakespeare in Performance 3
Required Additional Theatre Arts and Technique Courses (15 credits) 
THE 131 Directing I 3
THE 145 Playwriting I  3
THE 151 Beginning Suzuki Technique 3
THE 166 Beginning Voice & Speech I 3
THE 167 Beginning Voice and Speech II 3
Elective Theatre Courses (Any THE course(s) 18 Credits)
Required Voice Music Lessons - Two credits taken from the following
MUS 88A Studio Lessons: Musical Theatre Voice 1
MUS 88B Studio Lessons: Musical Theatre Voice 2
Elective Theatre and Dance Courses
Any THE or DNC courses (13 Credits) 

Course # Course Name Credits
Required Core Courses 
(32-33 Credits)
POST 101 Post Foundations 1
FY First-Year Seminar 3
ENG 1** Writing 1 3
ENG 2** Writing 2 3
MTH 5 Quantitative Reasoning 3-4 
Choose one course from each of the five below course clusters and one additional course from one of the clusters.
Scientific Inquiry & the Natural World
4
Creativity Media & the Arts 3
Perspectives on World Culture 3
Self, Society & Ethics 3
Power, Institutions & Structures (ECO 10 Required) 3
One additional course from one of the five above clusters. (ECO 11 Required) 3
General Elective (3 Credits from Any Course)

* Some courses may count as core and others as electives.

** In addition to ENG 1 and 2, students take at least 3 more writing intensive (WAC) courses as part of their major, core, or elective courses.  ENG 303 and 304 can satisfy the ENG 1 and 2 requirement for students in the Honors College.


Credit Requirements
Total Major Requirement Credits 85
Total Core Requirement Credits 32-33
General Elective  3
Total Degree Credits 121