Department of Theatre Arts

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Events

African American Theatre Program

actors on a stage

Founded in 1993, the African American Theatre Program is committed to staging works by new and established African American dramatists.

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AATP 30

Ladies and Gentlemen, The University of Louisville African American Theatre Program Presents the 30th Anniversary Black Light Gala on Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 6-10 pm. 

Join us for a night of excellence, live performers, vendors, plated catering, and recognizing black arts.  Hosted by Sherlene Shanklin.

This year, our keynote speaker is Brandon McCall, Simba in The Lion King on Broadway in New York City.  Broadway actor and vocalist Brandon A. McCall--a native son of Birmingham, Alabama --received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Alabama State University. Last year, he was inducted into the 2022 Class of ASU’s 50 Under 50. Mr. McCall is a proud member of the Beta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 

Brandon’s professional credits include Sister Act, Dreamgirls, Smokey Joe's Café, Disney’s The Little Mermaid as Sebastian, and Schoolhouse Rock, He has been in the films Woodlawn and The Deadliest Lie among others.

Support the Black Arts and get your ticket today: http://uoflalumni.org/2023-AATP BlackLightsGala or scan the QR code on the flyer.  If your department is interested in buying a table, let us know.  We hope to see you there!

#louisvillekentucky#Louisville #UofL #aatp

#buyblacklou #blacklouisville #DEI #theaterlife

Podcast Collaboration with KCAAH

 

Voice of the Griot Podcast: Traveling While Black

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage presents the Voice of the Griot Podcast. This is our inaugural program, "Traveling While Black: Louisville's Struggle to Desegregate Public Transportation."

Many of our graduate students provided voice acting for this episode. Check it out HERE

Voice of the Griot seeks to affirm, inspire, liberate, and restore our historical and cultural memory by telling our tales of struggle, resistance, and triumph over racism. This inaugural episode of Voice of the Griot features the story of one community's resistance to racist efforts to create a segregated society by depriving African Americans of equal access to public transportation in Louisville, Kentucky, post-Civil War years.

 

 

As part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Theatre Arts Department is committed to a liberal arts education for undergraduate students. The ancient art of theatre is most fully understood and exists at its deepest and most intimate level through the creation of performances shared with an audience. Doing so demands a deep array of knowledge and skill combined with a professional attitude and work ethic that can serve students throughout their lives in whatever profession they choose.

We believe that these goals, abilities, and attitudes should be evident daily in both our classrooms and our rehearsal rooms. Students who internalize this way of thinking and working are prepared extraordinarily well for any goal they pursue in the future.

The Theatre Arts department fosters creativity, collaboration, discipline, and artistic growth in its students and embraces the theatre as a means of creative expression, cultural understanding, social development, and historical perspective.

Learn more about the Department of Theatre Arts

The University offers a B.S. in Theatre Arts which trains students in the fine art of theatre, voice, movement, scene study, and design and also teaches the historical and literacy context of the theatre as a humanist and liberal art. This knowledge includes the ability to understand the theatre arts, to appreciate them, and to create works of art that enhance the human condition. All students are exposed to the diversity of multicultural theatre.

Major in Theatre Arts

Minor in Theatre Arts

Minor in Black Performance Studies in the African American Theatre Program

Master of Fine Arts in Performance

Graduate Certificate in African American Theatre

The Theatre Arts program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

Theatre Arts majors will find careers in onstage and behind the stage of productions both large and small. TA majors can apply their ability to think analyze scripts, interpret and research historical context of characters, and communicate effectively and clearly. The professionalism that TA majors will ascertain here at the University of Louisville will make them invaluable assets to any production team. Listed below are some common careers that Theatre Arts majors can expect to find.

  • TV and Film Actor
  • Director/Producer
  • Booking Agent
  • Scenic Designer
  • Film Editor
  • Advertising
  • Theatre Production

Theatre Arts Department

2314 South Floyd Street

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky 40292

Office Hours

M-F 8:30am to 4:30 pm

No holiday hours

Contact

tel (502) 852-7682

tel (502) 852-6814