Message from the Director
Welcome to the School of Theatre at Boston University
Our website is intended to give you a thorough look inside the programs, philosophy, and people that comprise our Boston University School of Theatre community. On behalf of the faculty, students and staff of our School, I am delighted by your interest in our work and encourage you to feel free to contact us with any questions that may arise or to set up a visit so that you can have a first hand experience.
The School of Theatre in the College of Fine Arts at Boston University was established in 1954 as one of the country's leading institutions for the study of acting, stage management, design, production, and all aspects of the theatrical profession. In recent years, the School of Theatre has evolved into an energetic place that values the notion of “the new conservatory.” From that idea, several core School of Theatre values emerge:
- We believe in the artistic possibilities of collaboration that involve faculty, students, alumni, and guest artists in potent explorations of the art form that encourage working together as the best means for achieving artistic growth.
- We believe that an artist must be provided with a rigorous curriculum that allows mastery of the skills of their particular area of interest, be it in acting, directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, design, or production.
- We believe that every member of our community is a part of the artistic home that we create together. In that home, we nurture an appreciation of challenge, a conviction for the value of everyone’s potential, and a belief in the need for intellectual growth as a core part of developing artistic growth.
- We believe that the School can serve the profession by interacting with it and providing a laboratory for the development of new work or new approaches to existing work. Like our colleagues in the sciences, our role as stewards within an excellent research institution is to be on the forefront of exploring new possibilities for the theatre.
Our academic programs and several special initiatives have developed over the last decade, enabling us to put these core values into practice. I hope this overview of the School, its values and its programs will pique your interest. If it does, we look forward to talking with you and giving you even more insight into who we are, what we believe, and how you might find us the right place to embark on your professional education as a theatre artist.
Best regards,
Jim Petosa
Director