Theater at Swarthmore

Swarthmore's Theater Department is an educational and artistic laboratory—a place for testing the talents and intellect of students and faculty alike.

At Swarthmore, we combine a rigorous liberal arts education with the practical exploration of performance. We continually seek new working relationships between the academy and the professional theater and build bridges between the American theater and our international colleagues.

Our department encourages students to fully engage each other, our faculty, master artists, other disciplines and cultures, and ultimately the world beyond Swarthmore—while simultaneously nourishing each student's individual talents and aspirations.

If you would like to receive periodic updates from the department about auditions, events, and other opportunities, please fill out this form. For answers to some frequently asked questions, including major/minor requirements and how to get involved in department shows, check out the FAQ below.

Frequently asked questions

What productions will happen this year? How can I get involved?

January 2021

• PRODUCTION ENSEMBLE Elizabeth Stevens will direct THEATER OF ALL POSSIBILITIES, a remote devised show about the end of the world. 
• PERFORMANCE RESEARCH WORKSHOP Alex Torra will teach this remote class exploring community engagement and the chorus, culminating in a work-in-progress showing of THE SUPPLIANT WOMEN by Aeschylus. 
  
  If you are interested in participating in either of these shows, just sign up to take the corresponding class! 

​​​​Spring 2021
TBA

Can I get paid or earn credit for working on a Department show?

Yes! You can earn up to 1 credit for working on a department show. For more information, contact the show’s director (or, for Senior Company, Laila Swanson). If you are interested in getting paid to work on the production team of a show, send an email to Scott Cassidy describing your area(s) of interest.

What are the major and minor requirements?

You can view the major & minor requirements, including honors, here. 

Which courses are offered this semester?

J-Term 2021

• THEA 022: Production Ensemble (Stevens)
• THEA 026: Performance Research Workshop - Community Engagement and the Chorus (Torra)
• THEA 015: Performance Theory & Practice (Kuharski) 

Spring 2021

• THEA 002A: Acting I (Stevens)
• THEA 004A: Set Design (Saunders)
• THEA 004B: Lighting Design (Murphy)
• THEA 004C: Costume Design for Queer and Transgender Actors and Characters (Swanson)
• THEA 006: Playwriting Workshop (Shaplin)
• THEA 008: Movement Theater Workshop (Kidwell)
• THEA 012: Acting II (Stevens, prerequisite THEA 002A) 
• THEA 012B: Voice Workshop (Purnell)
• THEA 021A: Production Dramaturgy (Staff)
• THEA 025: Solo Performance (Torra)
• THEA 055: Directing II - Devising for Directors (Stevens)
• THEA 102B: Acting Capstone (Torra, by arrangement)
• THEA 106: Theater History Seminar (Kuharski, prerequisite THEA 015)
• THEA 121: Dramaturgy Seminar (Magruder, by arrangement)

Tentative course listings for Fall 2021 and beyond can be found here.