Drama Program: Program Overview

Although ours is not a conservatory program, Drama majors and minors often use their Tufts experience as a springboard into professional training and careers. Noteworthy alumni include Hank Azaria, Peter Gallagher, William Hurt, Kristen Lee Kelly, James Nicola, and Oliver Platt. In recent years, seniors have gained admission to prestigious graduate programs at the Yale School of Drama, Columbia University, the Juilliard School, NYU's Tisch School for the Arts, Northwestern University, and the Webber-Douglas Academy (London), among others. About two-thirds of our alumni have successful careers in some aspect of theatre, film or television. Still others have made productive transitions to law, business, advertising, and many other fields.

Live performance is central to the Drama program at Tufts. We stage three faculty-directed productions each year in the Balch Arena Theater, and students can receive course credit for performance or production work in any of them. There also are a number of student-directed shows each semester. Presented as part of the directing curriculum or under the auspices of student theater groups (Pen, Paint and Pretzels and Torn Ticket II), they involve both majors and non-majors.

Study-abroad and off-campus programs are available for one or two semesters during the junior year. Popular choices include the British American Dramatic Academy (full-time training in acting or directing), the London College of Fashion Design (costume design), and the National Theatre Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Center (acting, directing, design).

Our department is close-knit, with students knowing faculty well (and on a first-name basis). Compared with most liberal arts universities, we offer the unique combination of a full range of excellently-taught courses and exciting faculty-directed productions side by side with several very active student organizations which continuously produce performances. Students have the opportunity to pursue multiple interests in our program and can be involved in a number of ways: as actors, directors, designers, technicians, and/or producers. They do not have to limit themselves to any one area of expertise and value the flexibility they find here.

The application process does not require an audition or interview; tapes and portfolios are not accepted. On a visit to the campus, you are welcome to observe Drama and Dance classes and meet with a faculty member. Arrangements should be made in advance through the Department Office, by calling (617) 627-3524, or you can email the Department Administrator.