Welcome to Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts Program – an opportunity to declare yourself a performer – both academically and on stage. We provide the instruction from leading professionals in the industry and you provide the talent. Now is the time to let your passion shine!
TheatreFest
Experience the journey of theatre as new student-written scripts are read in front of a live audience. Constructive feedback is provided by the audience and fellow participants to the author. With just a stool and a script, this bare bones reading is the initial step in a journey of writing a fully produced play.
Improv
Join TAP’s own Improv troupe – “The Pioneer Players” – for a make-it-up-as-we-go night of hilarious gags and games. Like the long-running hit TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway, the night consists of a series of games in which our student performers get themselves in funny situations live, as comedy ensues.
SUMMER THEATRE
Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts Program is proud to present its inaugural Summer Theatre. The Theatre Department at SHU has become known for its nurturing of student playwrights through the popular TheatreFest program during the academic year. Now, this new tradition continues throughout the Summer by inviting high school students from around the country, and upcoming Broadway artists, to submit new plays and musicals for a professional workshop experience at Sacred Heart University.
Summer Theatre Production
Avenue Q
Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart. The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that, although the residents seem nice, it’s clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates and their ever-elusive purpose in life. Filled with gut-busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention puppets, Avenue Q is a truly unique show that has quickly become a favorite for audiences everywhere. This show is Rated R for mature content. Parental discretion is advised.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Just Shine in TAP!
TAP Reflections
Welcome to Theatre Arts at SHU!
New Theatre Arts Major at Sacred Heart University
About the Program
Summary of Theatre Arts Major
The Theatre Arts major at Sacred Heart University combines both theory and practice courses to prepare students for a thriving career in the arts or in a variety of other fields. The flexible 36-credit course focuses on strong academics while ensuring students experience theatre in an interactive, hands-on way. SHU is conveniently located between New York City, the home of Broadway and world-class theatre, and Boston, a bustling city with a flourishing theatre community. The Theatre Arts major provides ample opportunities for students to perform in the six fully produced shows that are created each year. Professionals from the industry guide our students to guarantee they are learning high quality real world skills. With two tracks, Musical Theatre and Acting, Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts major is a fresh approach to the world of theatre.
Musical Theatre and Acting
The power of musical theatre and acting is its ability to create a seamless world between the characters on stage and the audience. It can take a heartfelt moment or the most mundane of thoughts and expound on its commonality through music, lyrics or dialogue. Students master song, acting and movement in this all-encompassing major. Our varied show choices, both straight plays and musicals, offer many opportunities for students to explore and grow. The Theatre Arts major is the perfect choice for a student who is passionate about continuing their theatre career in college, especially since the major is a perfect double major option!
WHY CHOOSE SHU
Academic Distinction
Study under industry professionals in both theory and in-practice courses designed to prepare for post graduation careers in a variety of fields.
Creative Freedom
Explore all elements of the theatre and partake in performance, playwriting, directing and so much more.
Individual Attention
Staff and faculty focus on your growth as performer and guide you during your academic career.
Emerging Technology
Learn to perform, direct and create at the brand new, state of the arts Frank and Marisa Martire Business and Communications Center; includes two large studios for television, video and film production, as well as industry-standard post-production facilities, screening venues and multimedia classrooms.
Industry Integration
Prepare for a flourishing career in the arts by taking advantage of relationships we have with theatres and related businesses. Past internships include the 5th Avenue Theatre, AKA NYC and Connecticut Children’s Theatre.
Dedicated Facilities
With use of the 776-seat Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, the 70-seat black box style Little Theatre, motion capture studio television studios, students will learn a myriad of performance styles.
TESTIMONIALS
Since my freshman year, I've had the opportunity to be a part of 5 main stage productions, 6 separate TheatreFest shows, and a spot in SHU's own Improv troupe, "The Awkward Handshakes!" The program gives students the remarkable ability to explore their interests and talents, whether that may be acting, backstage tech, directing, writing, or stage management. And if you have any questions, or want to see real life applications of such skills, the theatre program gives its members the extraordinary ability to meet and speak with experts in the field from around the country. I can't count the amount of memories this program has given me!
One of the best things is how many opportunities you get to showcase your skills in ways you may have never had the chance to in the past. Before I came to Sacred Heart, I kept my writing mostly to myself. When I heard about Theaterfest over the summer, I decided that I would write a play to submit to it. I did so, submitted it, casted it, and went to the read-through round. It didn't make it thorough, but it did give me a chance to showcase my skills to a larger audience. A lot of people reacted positively to the show, and I felt I had gained a sort of artistic respect that I hadn't achieved in any other parts of my life. It helped me feel more welcome among my peers, and I'm thankful for that.
I have had opportunities to be involved both backstage and onstage. My proudest accomplishment is just recently in being apart of such an incredibly talented cast for the show, The Fantasticks. I am so proud to be in this show and have improved and grown so much as an actress throughout the rehearsal process.
In addition to performing, I wanted to explore the "behind-the-scenes" action. Through this program, I have had the opportunity to work with professional stagehands on a variety of different events.I've learned so much in such a short amount of time that it sometimes seems unreal. In addition to great opportunities, both on stage and behind the scenes, the program is full of amazing people who are not only supportive and entertaining, but who will inspire you and push you to work harder.
Faculty, Staff and Guest Lecturers
Program DirectorJerry Goehring
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR | PROFESSORLeo Carusone
Marketing CoordinatorAvery Owens
Production ManagerChris D’Amato
Technical DirectorFrank Veres
Assistant DirectorAlison Roach
ChoreographerSimone DePaolo
PROFESSOR | GUEST LECTURERCraig Schulman
Let your passion shine!
For more information on the Theatre Arts Program
at Sacred Heart University please contact us.
Contact Us
5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825
Email: info@shutheatrearts.org
Phone: (203) 396-8496
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