Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance

At Mars Hill University, Theatre Arts is more than a major—it is a launchpad for performers, creators, and collaborative artists. Rooted in a personalized liberal arts education and energized by a bold new focus on performance-based training, our program is designed for students who want to be actively creating from day one.

Here, students do not wait until their senior year to step into meaningful artistic work. From their first semester, they are performing, rehearsing, collaborating, and building the professional skills needed for careers in acting, musical theatre, directing, performance creation, and related creative industries.

With individualized mentorship, hands-on production experience, and close faculty collaboration, students develop the confidence, versatility, and professionalism necessary to thrive both onstage and beyond.

Acting Track or Musical Theatre Track | 120 Credit Hours

The BFA in Theatre Performance is an immersive program built for students who are serious about performance. Through intensive training and consistent stage experience, students grow as expressive, disciplined, and adaptable artists. See the BFA in Theatre Performance’s two-track curriculum here.

What Sets Us Apart

Performance from Day One
Students participate in productions, showcases, workshops, and collaborative performance opportunities throughout their academic career.
Individualized Attention
Small class sizes allow faculty to mentor students personally and artistically.
Professional-Level Experience
Students work on fully produced plays, musicals, cabarets, devised works, and outreach performances in a collaborative environment.
Versatile Performance Training
Coursework emphasizes acting, voice, movement, musical theatre performance, ensemble collaboration, audition technique, and professional preparation.
Industry-Relevant Learning
Guest artists, alumni mentors, and theatre professionals regularly work with students to strengthen real-world application and career readiness.

Student Success & Professional Visibility

Mars Hill University Theatre Arts students are actively building careers and professional connections while still in school.

Industry-Focused Training & Guest Artists

The Theatre Arts program intentionally integrates guest artists, alumni, and working professionals into the curriculum to provide students with current industry practices and meaningful professional mentorship.

Recent collaborations have included:

Theatrical intimacy direction and consent-based choreography
Hand-to-hand stage combat training
Broadway and regional theatre coaching
Movement efficiency and sustainable performance practices
Podcast and educational theatre development
Children’s theatre and community outreach
Production management and technical collaboration
Shakespeare performance and directing mentorship

These experiences connect classroom learning to professional application while reinforcing:

Industry standards and expectations
Safety, communication, and collaboration
Networking and career awareness
Applied learning through production work

Our guest artists bring experience from Broadway, regional theatre, educational theatre, and international performance settings, ensuring students engage with a wide range of artistic perspectives and contemporary practices.

Scholarships & Auditions

Mars Hill University offers performance-based scholarships for talented and motivated students pursuing either the Acting or Musical Theatre track. For more information, please contact Professor Chelsey Gaddy at chelsey_gaddy@mhu.edu.

Audition Requirements

Musical Theatre Candidates

Two contrasting songs
Two contrasting monologues
Two contrasting dances

Acting Candidates

Two contrasting monologues

Auditions are supportive, welcoming, and designed to help students succeed. Virtual submissions are available for students unable to travel to campus.

Why Mars Hill University Theatre Arts?

You will perform.

Our students gain extensive stage experience through productions, showcases, cabarets, tours, and collaborative projects.

You will be known.

Faculty invest deeply in each student’s artistic and personal growth through individualized mentorship and close collaboration.

You will be prepared.

Graduates leave with the training, experience, and confidence to pursue professional theatre, graduate study, educational theatre, and creative careers.