The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. ~ Mark Twain
The BFA in Theatre Management is designed for students pursuing professional careers as stage and production managers for theatres, concert venues, theme parks, and other related fields. BFA Management students take rigorous courses in stage management, production management, and events management, as well as related coursework in civic and community engagement, public relations, and business for the arts. As with all Auburn University Theatre degree tracks, students pursuing the BFA Management degree receive hands-on experience as house managers, production assistants, events managers, assistant stage managers, and production stage managers for main stage season productions and events in the Auburn-Opelika community. Committed to offering BFA management students an authentic liberal arts experience, each student is mentored by our professional management staff and faculty.
Special Opportunities
In addition to participation in our production program, BFA Management students have opportunities to work with the numerous guest artists and professionals who visit our department each year and to compete for significant student staff positions that allow for an in-depth experience in the management of our departmental season. Our BFA Management faculty is committed to providing professional opportunities for employment, as well as connecting each student with industry contacts through a senior year professional internship. Many management students attend professional conferences such as USITT (the United States Institute for Theatre Technology) and SETC (Southeastern Theatre Conference) as well as work professionally during the summers at venues such as Texas Shakespeare Festival and Vermont’s Weston Playhouse.
Curriculum and Requirements
- A minimum of 120 credit hours of course work must be completed to receive the BFA degree.
- All BFA Management students are expected to participate in the production program every academic year.
- Student progress is carefully monitored by faculty and professional staff through semester reviews and evaluations.
- Continuation in the program is dependent on the content and quality of work, both academically and in the production program; continuance is also predicated on the maintenance of a strong academic record.
- Students are advised to complete a professional internship in the senior year as well as deliver a presentation of their experience and growth to peers and faculty.
- See a complete overview of the BFA in Theatre Management curriculum in the AU Bulletin.
Admission Process
Students interested in the BFA in Theatre Management enter the program as BA students and may apply for acceptance through a portfolio review in the spring of their sophomore year. During the Freshman and Sophomore years, students aspiring to the BFA are required to accept assignments as house managers, production assistants, and backstage crew for individual productions. The basis for the portfolio review will be based upon faculty reviews from each production, as well as material from supporting coursework in technical theatre classes.
What can you do with a BFA in Theatre Management?
- Stage Manager
- Events Manager
- Artistic Director
- Production Manager
- Facilities Coordinator
- Museum Administrator
- Booking Agent
- Location Scout
- Radio Producer
- Community Development Professional
- … and so much more!
