“With BFA theatre programs popping up everywhere, are we training the next generation of artists—or just selling them a dream we know won’t come true?”

“Whether it’s a hilarious comedy, a poignant drama, a massive ensemble piece, or a small, character-driven gem, here are 10 musicals I’d love to see college programs embrace more often.”

“Theatre programs aren’t just electives — they’re cultural engines. And when accreditation becomes a political tool, the stage goes dark for too many of them.”

“You don’t get to market yourself as a place of discovery, growth, and personal development while simultaneously telling your artists they don’t matter.”

“I was recently made aware of a situation where a student has threatened legal action against their university’s theatre department. Their claim? That they were denied an equal education because they were never cast in a single production during their years in the program.”

“If we’re going to keep evolving how we teach the next generation of artists, we’ve got to think beyond just performance. We’ve got to prepare students for a world where storytelling, presence, and collaboration are needed everywhere — not just on stage.

“Majoring in theatre doesn’t guarantee a specific future—but it opens the door to a thousand possibilities. And often, the path you least expected becomes the one you love most.”

“Without further ado, here are our favorite embarrassing theatre stories:”

“If we agree that theatre is best learned by doing, then we have to protect the opportunity to do—to rehearse, to perform, to take risks on stage—for the students who have made theatre their primary academic pursuit.”

“When you’re auditioning for a BFA program, you’re performing for faculty who have seen everything. They don’t need to be shocked. They need to see your skills. They want to know that you understand text, can make strong choices, and—most importantly—have good instincts about what is and isn’t appropriate for this setting.”

“If you’re looking for a private, industry-connected theatre school with top-tier facilities and networking, Emerson College is a fantastic choice. If affordability is a key factor and you want a program with excellent faculty, strong diversity initiatives, and cross-college collaboration, UMass Amherst delivers incredible value.”

“I believe that balance is key to a truly great theatre education. We want to be pushed artistically, but we also want to be in a program where we feel safe to take risks, to experiment, and, most importantly, to still love what we do.”