An interdisciplinary approach and an emphasis on “doing” are the hallmarks of the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts. In addition to their programs of study, students will have opportunities for work with artists-in-residence and professional touring companies. You may qualify for subsidized travel to Washington, D.C., New York, London or the National Storytelling Festival. You may also qualify for subsidized travel to regional conferences and audition/portfolio presentation venues like the Southeast Theatre Conference, the University/Resident Theatre Association, and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology.
| ~ Theatre |
Whether you see yourself as an actor or someone who works behind the scenes, you can be involved with our main stage or studio productions as soon as you enter the program. Working with faculty who bring a breadth of experience from the worlds of professional, community and educational theatre, you will deepen your intellectual understanding of theatre and hone your skills as an artist through coursework in acting, directing, theatre history, theatrical design and educational theatre as you prepare for employment and graduate school. To complement your study, you will have the opportunity to participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and Southeastern Theatre Conference. In 2007, FSU was the only school in Region II to have two shows represented in the KC/ACTF. You can spend your summer as a member of the resident company of our long-standing Town & Gown Players, the oldest community theatre in North Central West Virginia, or strike out on your own. Our students have recently interned at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Georgia Shakespeare, Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and West Virginia Public Theater. Recent graduates are working at Actors Theatre of Louisville and on film and television production crews. Others are attending graduate school in acting and technical direction. While honing your craft, you can build friendships and make a difference in your community as a member of Masquers, the student theatre organization. You can also work toward membership in the Alpha Cast of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theatre honorary. Fairmont State, the birthplace of the International Thespian Society, is a place where tradition and creativity meet.
Program of Study: Bachelor of Arts in Theatre or a minor in theatre
| ~ Communication |
Theory and practice come together in this program with its emphasis on performance. Employers in all fields seek people with good communication skills. In the program you will learn how to craft logical arguments, a skill essential to professions such as law, politics and sales. You can hone your research, thinking and speaking skills with practical experiences through participation in collegiate debate, the public speaking team or an internship in a local business or organization. Your study of human communication behavior will prepare you to attend graduate school in fields that require interpersonal communication skills including counseling, the ministry or public administration. Recent graduates have gone on to work in human resources, pharmaceutical sales and education.
Program of Study: Bachelor of Arts in Communication or a minor in communication
| ~ Oral Communication Education |
Program of Study: Bachelor of Arts in Education with Oral Communication as a teaching specialization
| ~ Theatre Education |
Educational theatre is the use of theatrical concepts to enhance the lives of children and adults. Coursework in acting, directing, creative drama and puppetry will give you the opportunity to study theatre not only as an art but also as a tool for personal and artistic development. Students in this program will work in the community arts program, and in local schools in preparation for a K-12 teaching certificate or for work in educational outreach in a theatre company, arts organization or cultural institution. As a teaching artist you will use your acting, directing and designing skills to create performances with and for children. You will guide children and adults in improvisations that build stories from literature and you will use the power of theatre to bring issues of social justice to life. Educational theatre is an appropriate path for students who are interested in further study in drama therapy, applied theatre and arts administration.
Program of Study: Bachelor of Arts in Education with Theatre as a teaching specialization
Student Organizations
~ Alpha Psi Omega
This honorary organization is the first national collegiate drama fraternity to be founded in the East, and was organized at Fairmont State College in 1925 with Dr. Paul Opp as its founder. Now with over 550 chapters, Alpha Psi Omega is the largest national honor society in America. The Alpha Chapter is active in community service and educational outreach.
~ Masquers
Theatre production has a celebrated history at Fairmont State. The first theatrical organization, “The Drama Club,” was founded in 1921 by a group of students inspired by a love of theatre and headed by George H. Turley. In 1923, with Dr. Paul F. Opp as advisor, the students changed the name of the group to Masquers, and elected Lawrence A. Wallman as the organization’s first president. Today, the students in Masquers work on the four main stage productions in the academic season as actors, technicians, and designers under the supervision of the faculty from the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts. They also use their talents to serve the community through projects such as the Halloween Food Drive and the Christmas Hat and Glove Tree. In addition, Masquers sponsors the annual awards ceremony dubbed “The Pappy’s” in honor of its first president and long time Fairmont State faculty member Lawrence “Pappy” Wallman. Part Oscars, part comedy roast, The Pappy’s is a fun-filled evening that celebrates theatre on the Fairmont State campus.
| ~ Pi Kappa Delta |
This national forensics honor society supports the development of articulate citizens through a commitment to and promotion of ethical, humane and inclusive communication. ~ Special Events and Opportunities
| ~ Special Events and Opportunities |
~~ Mountain State Storytelling Institute
~~ FSU High School Invitational Forensics and Debate Tournament
