Theatre, BA

Theatre BA Overview

Together, we’ll explore every element of the theatre to understand it completely. We dig into every facet of the theatre to better understand ourselves. We challenge each other in every corner of the theatre to better understand each other.

In doing this, every story we tell, every character we play, every set we build, every light we shine, and every world we create elevates us. We rise up and never look back. If we achieve greatness, then we raise the bar, because in challenging ourselves, we learn even more.

Welcome to the ensemble. We say ensemble because that’s at the heart of how our Theatre BA program operates. No one member of the group is greater or more important than the other. It’s our work together, and the support of the company, that makes a New England College theatre production rise to the level of excellence that we expect. Join NEC Theatre. Where work and play are the same thing.

Explore Our Theatre

Launch Theatre

More details about out program can be found in the Theatre Department Handbook.

BA in Theatre Highlights

Why Earn Your Degree in Theatre?

Earning a BA in Theatre can prepare you for a career inside and outside the fine arts. The skills you can cultivate through an undergraduate curriculum translate to the theatre’s numerous creative and technical pursuits. At the same time, these competencies can be readily applied to other fields that rely on creative thinking for success, such as education and marketing. Additionally, a degree in theatre can deepen your ability for self-expression and communication, competencies that are essential for leadership roles, regardless of the profession.

BA in Theatre Learning Outcomes

In NEC’s BA in Theatre, students can benefit from:

• Involvement in theatre productions from their first semester on campus.
• Participation in the production of three annual shows: a major fall production, an important winter staged reading, and a spring production.
• Participation in the learning, using every technique and tool and applying them to the work at hand.
• Participation in an immersion program with our summer professional company, The Open Door Theatre, the summer after junior year.
• Creation of their own portfolio. Students focused on acting will create an audition package. Technical students will create a portfolio of their work.

What Can You Do with a Degree in Theatre?

A Theatre BA can lead you to a career that relates to theatrical productions in many ways. This includes the creative aspects, such as acting and directing, and the crucial behind-the-scenes work, such as artistic direction and sound design. The skills developed by an undergraduate theatre program are also transferrable to roles in other career paths, such as teaching, business, and community outreach.

Accomplished Alumni

Many NEC alumni have been recognized in the field of theatre and entertainment. Some of our prominent alumni include:

• Chris Flaherty ’97 serves as Lighting Director and Special Projects Team at WMUR TV. He has earned two Emmy Award nominations and an Emmy Award for Set Design and Construction, 2019 Boston Chapter.
• Cris Graves ’93 is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who has worked in film, television, and online. Her credits include The Amazing Race, Whale Wars, and Living Undocumented.
• Jayscott Crosley ’93 is a Program and Administrative Associate at Harvard University. As a stage manager and member of Actors’ Equity, he has worked in several Boston-area theatres. He was also the Founding President and Artistic Director of Black Rabbit Theatre Company in San Diego.
• Megan Euler ’90 is a theatre faculty member at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
• Adam Pagdon ’89 is a theatre and television artist in Brooklyn, NY, where he performed in the sold-out run of Want & Need. His other credits include The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway; Comedy Central’s Crank Yankers; Disney Channel’s Gaspard & Lisa; puppet wrangling for Nick Jr.’s Lazytown; live Muppet appearance on Martha Stewart, Live with Regis & Kathy Lee, and the Today show.
• Jay Kulick ’85 is a six-time Emmy Award-winning camera operator.
• Luc Nicknair ’83 worked on films including Batman.

Recognition and Rankings

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in the state, as acknowledged by Intelligent.com, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

NEC Ranked Leading College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in NH, as acknowledged by EduRank, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as one of the best colleges in New Hampshire, as acknowledged by Academic Influence, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.