Students on stage performing play.

Acting

Immerse yourself in the professional theatre world as a performance specialist.

Why Study Acting?

As a theatre major specializing in acting, you will master the craft of acting through proven performance techniques. Here, you will grow personally and creatively as you prepare for a professional acting career. Through our program, you'll take classes and participate in extracurricular activities that challenge you and introduce you to new opportunities. With classes like Directing, Movement Specialties (Combat), Auditioning, Voice Dynamics and Acting, this specialization provides you with an enriching exploration of acting that will help you launch your career in theatre and the arts.

Embrace your creativity and follow your passion by studying acting at USD.                                                                    

Degrees & Offerings

Theatre: Acting (BFA)

Bachelor’s
  Vermillion Main Campus

Prepare yourself to be a performer in the professional theatre world with an acting specialization. You may be admitted into this specialization with permission of the theatre faculty after completing an interview and audition or portfolio presentation.

Learn more about the theatre program

Program Details

Undergraduate

College

Department

Contact

Admissions

Departments & Facilities

Explore the departments, facilities and centers that contribute to your education.
An overhead shot of main campus during the sunset.

Black Hills Playhouse

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. 

USD Theatre Production

Theatre

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.

Faculty & Staff

Get to know the faculty and staff in the Department of Theatre. Our faculty are experts in their field, contributing research and fostering student engagement and leadership.
Bio Image for Faculty Member Raimondo Genna

Raimondo Genna

Chair-Theatre

Specialty

Theatre History, Critical Theory and Analysis, Performance Studies
Bio Image for Faculty Member Sabrina Egeland

Sabrina Egeland

Assist Professor of Practice-Costume Tech & Mgnt

Specialty

Costume Technology, Costume Shop Management
Bio Image for Faculty Member Scott Mollman

Scott Mollman

Professor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Matthew Nesmith

Matthew Nesmith

Associate Professor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Victor Shonk

Victor Shonk

Associate Professor
Student prepares theatre makeup in front of mirror.

Chase Your Dream Career

Leading artists, artisans and technicians serve as guest artists for USD’s Department of Theatre. From Tony Award-winning choreographers to master puppeteers to cutting-edge automation, we celebrate the amazing wealth of knowledge our fellow artists from across the country and around the world bring to Vermillion and our students.

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