Students enjoy a wide range of performance opportunities in the theatre arts department, highlighted by several main stage productions throughout the year in Kline Theatre, studio productions in Stevens Theatre, student-written and -staged one-act plays, and other productions.
- Students from all academic disciplines are invited to participate in theatrical productions. You do not need to be a Theatre Arts major or minor to participate in a production.
- Under the direction, supervision and guidance of the theatre faculty, students act, stage manage, build, light, write, sew, and even direct as they translate each play “from page to stage.”
Theatre students can also take advantage of off-campus opportunities, including internships and study abroad.
Owl and Nightingale Players
O&N, the second-oldest student organization on campus, works in conjunction with the department to advance and promote the arts on campus. The club sponsors a wide variety of events, including special performances, trips and more. Anyone can join the Owl and Nightingale Players! Other student theatre groups include Shots in the Dark, the comedy improvisational club.
Internships
Theatre Arts students have the opportunity to pursue an internship through the Center for Career Engagement. This can include a full-time summer internship or a part-time position during the semester. As an example, several Gettysburg students have had theatre internships while studying abroad in Bath, England at the Theatre Royal -- one of the oldest English-speaking theatres in the world!
- An internship is a great way to “test out” and gain experience in a specific career field, including theatre-based and other venues.
- An internship can also lead to networking and/or employment opportunities for both current students and new graduates.
Internships specific to theatre arts might include work with children's theatre, set design, casting, publicity and more. Information on thousands of these and other types of internships (located in both the United States and abroad) can be found in the Center for Career Engagement.
Students should start looking for an internship well in advance - particularly if seeking a position in a coveted theatre setting. For example: exploration of a summer internship should begin the previous fall semester.
Senior Capstones
Capstone projects are presented by graduating seniors at the end of each semester. Past projects have included one (or a combination) of the following:
- A staged reading of an original play
- Design of a main stage show
- Performance of a one-person show
- Research thesis
- Collaborative piece by several seniors
- Direction of a full-length play in Stevens Laboratory Theatre
Study Abroad
Oversees programs are a wonderful way to learn about Theatre Arts beyond U.S. borders. In fact, 50% of the department's majors and minors study abroad! Students can experience a variety of international theatre arts opportunities in such places as Bath, Lancaster, and London, United Kingdom; Italy; Australia; Argentina; Spain; France; Germany, and Japan.
- There are Gettysburg-affiliated programs specifically geared toward performance in England, Australia, Italy, and Argentina. Students don’t necessarily need to be fluent in the language; often, courses are taught in English.
- Students who go to Bath study with Oxford University professors and take side trips during their courses through a program called ASE (Advanced Studies in England).
- Students who study at Lancaster University can also spend a month studying in London beforehand with a Gettysburg College professor, prior to the Lancaster Study Abroad program.
- Other students have studied acting and commedia dell 'arte in Italy; set design and construction in Australia; acting and lighting design in Argentina, and puppetry in Japan.
Students interested in studying abroad can contact the Center for Global Education for more information.
Online Resources
The Theatre Department maintains subscriptions to Artsearch, offstagejobs.com and Playbill.com to be used as a resource for its majors and minors. Many of our students are able to find internships as well as paid positions through these online resources gaining experience and advancing their careers in the theatre.