Explore acting, design, technology, musical theatre and more on your journey to the bright lights of the stage.
As a theatre major at USD, you will learn to think creatively and collaborate effectively so you can develop your artistic skills. Here, you will find a variety of real-life learning opportunities, ranging from live events and musicals to plays and the NYC Showcase. Our program provides you with rich experiences in and beyond the classroom so you can pursue your career on stage or behind the scenes.
Become a leader on set and cultivate your artistic skills to create life-changing performances as a theatre major.
A minor in theatre will help you develop teamwork and leadership skills that will serve you in any career. This program is a great complement to a variety of majors.
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The New York Senior Showcase is a culminating experience for senior musical theatre and acting majors at USD. At the showcase, students perform before industry professionals during an exciting and intense week of auditions and workshops. Through the connections we've made over the years, we've been able to bring several top New York artists to campus for workshops with our students.
Many of our graduates have used the showcase as a springboard to jumpstart their careers, including:
Do you have your sights set on Washington, D.C.? Italy? Turkey? New Zealand? Russia? The USD Department of Theatre can help you get there. Our students have participated in musicals, plays and faculty-led courses around the world.
You'll find the mentorship and facilities at USD that you need to develop your artistic talents. Take advantage of all we have to offer in the College of Fine Arts from a newly renovated theatre to a fully equipped dance studio.
The Black Hills Playhouse (BHP) is a non-profit, professional summer stock theatre located in Custer State Park near Center Lake. Each summer, theatre professionals, professors and students from across the nation gather to create theatre in this unique environment. The playhouse produces four to five shows each season, including musicals, comedies, dramas and classics, in a 327-seat theater. The BHP was founded in 1946 by Warren M. Lee, a former professor of theatre and dean of fine arts at the University of South Dakota.
The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival (SDSF) brings to life high-quality, professional Shakespeare performance and arts education events across the state. Our students can apply to and audition for the SDSF for employment or internship opportunities.
Many students audition or interview for employment or internship opportunities at regional conferences, including:
USD offers a range of scholarships for students, including scholarships specifically for theatre majors. The Department of Theatre strives to recognize and reward outstanding students for their accomplishments and potential through scholarships and travel funding.
The Black Hills Playhouse, a division of the University of South Dakota College of Fine Arts, is a regional theatre located in Custer State Park.
Whether you are interested in a career in acting, musical theatre, design technology or a related field, the real-world experiences and connections you find in the Department of Theatre will help you get there.
The Student Theatre Cooperative is an independent organization that produces original and cutting-edge theatre that typically would not get produced in our main stage season. STC provides opportunities for students to develop leadership and management skills, while also refining their craft through theatre production. At weekly meetings, students will:
STC also engages in service activities with a variety of local organizations like the food pantry, the senior citizens' center and SESDAC, a center providing support for persons with disabilities. STC also hosts an annual awards party and dinner each spring.
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SD Residents, SD Advantage* & Child of Alumni
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Out-of-State
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Tuition (30 cr.)
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9432
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12942
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Fees (30 cr.)
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1659
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1659
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Books (estimate)
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1200
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1200
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Housing
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4890
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4890
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Food Service
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4194
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4194
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Total
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* SD Advantage: The in-state rate is available to new undergraduate students who are residents of South Dakota, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (starting Summer 2024), Minnesota (starting Summer 2024), Missouri (starting Summer 2024), Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming and children of alumni of USD.
This is an estimated annual cost. Other factors may change the cost of tuition.
Learn more about tuition and fees for undergraduate students and see how your out-of-pocket costs at USD compare to those at other colleges and universities.
Navigating options for how to pay for college can be challenging, but you are not alone. The Office of Financial Aid will work with you and your family to explore how you can make your college education even more affordable.
USD awards nearly $9.5 million in scholarships each year. View our scholarships to see which ones you may qualify for and how you can apply.
The theatre department became my family away from home. It was thrilling and exciting to work on productions all year, either as a castmember of a technical person. I spent summers at the Black Hills Playhouse (BHP) where I started as an actress and eventually, after five years, became business manager. I have been supported by that faculty and those friends my entire career.
Janet Louise Brown
M.P.A. Public Administration '04
B.F.A. Theatre '73
