BA in Directing

Program Description

It is our mission to train our future colleagues to become visionaries, creators and leaders in the next generation of American professional theatre.

Webster University’s directing program is designed to educate student directors in the craft and art of storytelling. The program is also designed to immerse young directors in the world of the designer, actor, and stage manager as well. Directing students take classes in directing, acting, and fundamentals of design, stage management, text analysis, crew management visual history, lighting design, voice and movement.

Learning Outcomes

The student will demonstrate an effective directing process that integrates:

• A practical understanding and demonstrations of skills for each artistic discipline that makes up the team effort of theatre production including acting, stage management, and design
• A comprehensive approach to analyzing a play, through a thorough understanding of the given circumstances, character relationships and objectives and themes and metaphors of the script
• Strong research skills encompassing theatrical style, historical context, biographical relevance and theatrical metaphor
• Critical and creative thinking through coursework, individual production work and apprenticeship experiences with professionals at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• An understanding of cultural and historical forces that form the background for dramatic literature, culminating in a semester of study in London in their senior year

Special Requirements

Courses completed with a grade of D do not count toward fulfilling the specific course requirements of the major.

Auditions/interviews are required for all students planning major in theatre at Webster University. Auditions/interviews are held each year during the spring semester for entrance into the following fall session. Both on-campus and off-campus audition sites are available to prospective theatre students. No video auditions are accepted.

Degree Requirements

72 required credit hours
27 general education credit hours
29 elective credit hours

Required Courses

Suggested General Education Courses

• ANTH 2300 Culture and Communication [CUL]
• MUSC 1050 Music Appreciation
• PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology [SCI]
• SOCI 1100 Introduction to Sociology [VAL]
• MATH 1360 Business Mathematics [MTH]
• PHIL 1100 Introduction to Philosophy [CRI]
• MEDC 1010 Introduction to Mass Communications [COM]

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