Theatre
The BFA in Theatre is geared for those students focused on future careers as performers, technicians, designers.
The BA in Theatre promotes a broad array of coursework with a flexible approach to specialization for a more comprehensive and well-rounded education in theatre studies. The BA is particularly appropriate for young directors, stage managers, and dramaturgs. This degree plan balances analysis and creativity with the awareness of theatre’s importance to society.
Download Degree Plans or Visit the University Catalogue
The University of Southern Mississippi in an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre.
6 Shows produced each year.
3 Theatres for public performances
4 Showings of National Theatre Live!
What you will learn in Theatre at Southern Miss.
In a production-oriented environment, students take courses in:
- Directing
- Acting
- Design & Technology, including Lighting and Sound, Costuming, and Scenery
- Theatre History
- Professional Preparation
- A selection of additional coursework tailored to individual student interest.
Scholarships and Awards //
- Scholarships: The theatre program offers scholarship consideration to students who complete their online registration, attend “Curtain Up Welcome Day”, and complete a successful audition/interview. Service awardees must complete 15 hours of service for the program each semester by working the High School Drama Festival and other activities.
- Special Scholarships: The highly exclusive and competitive scholarships are awarded by the theatre faculty for talented and needy students. These awards range from $100-$8,000.
- USM Foundation Awards: The USM Foundation administers a variety of scholarships for eligible students through a scholarship application system that has many useful online features and benefits. Students can easily search, review requirements, apply and accept awards for available scholarship opportunities. Interested students can apply for all scholarships administered by the USM Foundation using this online application. Students are required to complete the application only once each academic year. Students will be considered for one of these scholarships after successful completion of their freshman year. Apply for scholarships
Study Abroad //
- Travel and exposure to the broader world of theatre are critical to the development of actors. Southern Miss is an active participant in our ten-state region in both the Southeastern Theatre Conference and the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
- The Study Abroad programs Southern Miss rank among the best in the country, and its five-week British Studies program features internationally renowned guest artists in musical theatre, Shakespeare and contemporary drama. Two-week programs in London Theatre and in the Performing Arts at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland have been offered as well. All of these credit programs are eligible for financial aid. Noncredit travel is also available: the New York Theatre Tour and the London Theatre Tour delight students and community members during spring break. Southern Miss theatre students who take advantage of these extraordinary learning opportunities may be better prepared to enter the professional world.
The Big Show //
Are you a sophomore, junior or senior interested in majoring in theatre after high school? The Big Show, is your opportunity to see what theatre at Southern Miss can offer you for FREE! New dates to be set for 20-21.
How to Audition //
To apply for acceptance into the undergraduate BFA program in dance at Southern Miss, you must apply to the University AND audition as part of the application process.
The School of Performing and Visual Arts hosts a “The Big Show,” for prospective students to perform their audition and interview.
New dates to be set for 20-21:
- Introduction to the program
- Guided tours to prospective students and their families
- Individual meetings with department faculty to learn more about programs of study
- In groups, students will audition and/or interview.
For this aspect of the day:
- Actors should prepare a 1-minute monologue entirely of their choosing, from any genre, style or period.
- Actors may follow their monologue with 16 bars of a song of their choosing (a cappella only please), but singing is not required for audition.
- Designers, directors, dramaturgs and stage managers should provide their portfolios for a portfolio review and interview with departmental faculty.
**All participants are encouraged to provide resumes and other supporting documents that best represent their work.
Video Audition Guidelines
As a precaution in response to the COVID-19, our USM Dance program in the School of Performing and Visual Arts is currently only accepting online audition materials and video submissions, as an option for students.
Introduction: Let’s get to know you! Look at the camera and state the following information to begin your audition video :
- Name
- Where you are from
- Your goals as a dance major
- Why you would like to attend The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Performing and Visual Arts to major in dance
Dance Performance: This section may include combinations from dance classes, a performed dance piece, improvised movement, etc. Movement can be in any dance style, a variety of dance styles, and be self or instructor choreographed (or a combination of both).
Length: Please note that the video should not exceed ten minutes in length.
Attire: Applicants must wear well-fitted dance attire where the body is fully visible; Your video must be taped in a theatre or dance studio with good lighting and the recording must be in focus; and incomplete or poor-quality videos may result in the student’s submission not being considered.
Deadline: All videos must be received no later stated University deadlines for undergraduate admissions.
Format: Your audition video may be submitted via video form by either uploading an MP4 file.
Thank you for following the instructions above. This will assist us in evaluating everyone on similar work and make the video audition close to what students are asked to do during the in‐person auditions. We can’t wait to review your submission!
Recent Alumni //
Entertainment Tech lead/lighting designer at King's Dominion; graduate student at Texas State University.
Freelance actor in Los Angeles; member of SAG/AFTRA.
Stage manager at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre; company management intern at Hanger Theatre.
Mailing Address //
118 College Dr. #5033
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Physical Address //
201E Theatre and Dance Building
Hattiesburg Campus
Phone //