Department of Theatre

We encourage our students to seek internships during their college careers so they benefit from practical learning and career training. The department assists students in identifying appropriate internship opportunities, preparing application materials and assessing assigned academic materials for credit hours.

USD offers a large number of scholarships awarded for academic excellence, to recognize and encourage development in a particular field. The Department of Theatre has scholarships specifically for students who are pursuing theatre, and we strive to recognize and reward outstanding students for their accomplishments and potential through scholarships and travel funding.

Explore Theatre Scholarships

USD is home to more than 170 student organizations, including several that are housed in the Department of Theatre. The Student Theatre Cooperative (STC) 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 the weekly meetings, students will:

• Select a season of plays and musicals
• Assign production teams and plan productions
• Participate in a Spontaneous Combustion event, where student playwrights, directors and actors write and produce original 10-minute plays in a 24-hour period

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.

Get Involved

STC meets weekly at 5:15 p.m. on Thursdays in the Arena Theatre. All students enrolled at USD, as well as faculty and staff, may attend. Email theatre@usd.edu with questions.

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Black Hills Playhouse: Professional Theatre in Custer State Park

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 USD.

South Dakota Shakespeare Festival

The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival (SDSF) brings to life high-quality, professional Shakespeare performances and arts education events across the state.

Our students can apply to or audition for the SDSF for employment or internship opportunities.

Additional Employment Opportunities

National and Regional

Many students audition or interview for employment or internship opportunities at regional conferences, including:

• Midwest Theatre Auditions (St. Louis)
• New England Theatre Conference (Boston)
• Straw Hat Auditions (New York City)
• Twin Cities Unified Theatre Auditions (Minneapolis)
• Unified Professional Theatre Auditions (Memphis)
• United States Institute of Theatre Technology (location varies)