Theater Concentration, Communications Media, BS

Major
On Campus, Day
Communications Media
Extremities play two female actresses and male actor in fireplace

In Short

The Theater concentration provides you the opportunity each semester to perform full-scale theatrical productions that are produced and directed by our theater faculty and students.

We've got you covered
Our students succeed
  • 8 year participation at the University Resident Theatre Auditions and the International Satellite Auditions in NYC
  • 100% callbacks - national and international from highly respected graduate schools, professional actor training programs, professional studios and/or professional theaters

Student Productions

One male and three female actors performing in front of the microphone on stage
It's a Wonderful Life Radio Play
Student production - The Diviners
The Diviners
Student production - Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
Student Production - The Peculiar Distraction
The Peculiar Distraction
Student Production - Fausted
Fausted

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Program Overview

Our theater professors are members of professional unions and they act and direct in Boston and New York City. Productions range from the Greeks to the contemporary repertoire. By the time our students graduate, after completing a required 12-credit professional internship, they will have acquired a wide range of skills and a repertoire of material that will support their goals of either pursuing further studies at the graduate level or directly entering the profession.

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Upcoming Production: Two Staged Readings 

  • April 10 at 6 p.m.
  • April 11 and 12 at 7 p.m.
  • April 13 at 2 p.m.

The Communications Media Department presents two staged readings of new plays by Peter Anderegg, “The Widow Juliet” and “When You’re a Star.” Directed by Denise Alexander. FREE admission at McKay Theater (McKay School, Entrance B, 2nd Floor).  

“The Widow Juliet” is a new comedic take on Shakespeare’s classic “Romeo & Juliet.” 

“When You’re a Star” is a comedy/satire. When a self-centered dandy preoccupied with attaining celebrity feels he’s been overlooked by a young woman trying to photograph fall foliage, he sets out to avenge her slight by filing a complaint that would force her to “see” him.

The Widow Juliet

  • FRIAR LAURENCE: Ryan Barker
  • CAPULET: David Gambone
  • LADY M: Alyssa Brayley
  • JULIET: Sophie Monis
  • FATE:  James Estes
  • ROMEO: Mateo Larralde
  • NURSE/FEMALE SWING:  Arianna Sarpee
  • MONTAGUE: Henry Beverly
  • PARIS: Jonathan Vazquez
  • ROSALINE: Emerson DiSalle
  • NARRATOR: Alex Febbrile

When You’re a Star

  • PERSIA PURRPUSS: Sophie Monis
  • GERALD LOCKSLEY: David Gambone
  • BLYTHE AUCLAIR: Emerson DiSalle
  • NARRATOR/SWING: Ryan Barker
  • GERALD UNDERSTUDY: Henry Beverly

Watch the video below to learn about Gabriel Mangrum's experience as a communications media major in the theater concentration. 


Theater Professor Kelly Morgan talks about the program at Fitchburg State.
He was the 2017 recipient of the Vincent J. Mara Excellence in Teaching Award.

Experiential Opportunities and a Look Inside the Courses

Three photos of a woman's face behind a sheer fabric

Visions

Each year students are given the opportunity to submit original work to be juried and possibly selected for our honors art exhibition, VISIONS. This is a showcase of the year's best student work. VISIONS involves a gallery exhibition and a film/video screening.
Read more about: Visions
The "Women of Lockerbie" cast posing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Every three years Fitchburg State’s theater students perform at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. This annual festival is the largest arts festival in the world. Performers travel from all over the globe to perform here. Fitchburg State has performed seven shows in the festival between 2000 and 2018. The Women of Lockerbie was presented by Fitchburg State at the 2018 festival. It was written by Deborah Brevoot and directed by Kelly Morgan.
Kennedy Center logo

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

Every year during the last week of January, Fitchburg State's theater students travel to the regional KCACTF Festival and compete in a variety of acting, directing, stage management, design/technical and theater criticism events and attend a variety of professional workshops that support their professional development. Fitchburg State has had full productions invited to the festival.
Read more about: The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
Group of students outside theater on a theater study abroad trip

Study Abroad

Faculty-led study abroad course opportunities increase student life-transforming experiences, as do student/faculty cooperative research projects.
Read more about: Study Abroad
Male students in Weston theater doing sword fighting

Theater Classes and Productions

From Acting for the Camera, Voice and Articulation to Stage Combat, students learn all aspects of theater and have numerous opportunities throughout the year to be in various productions.
Read more about: Theater Classes and Productions

Curriculum and Other Information

B.S. in Communications Media

  • Students should demonstrate proficiency in the core tools and skills of their discipline.
  • Students should be able to apply aesthetic principles to their work by developing and defending a portfolio that demonstrates craftship and meets professional standards for their discipline.
  • Students should be able to explain how their work fits in the historical and theoretical context of their discipline.
  • Students should apply core theoretical principles to the analysis and critique of media.
  • Students should recognize and apply ethical perspectives to their work.
  • Actor/Actress
  • Performance Center Manager
  • Spokesperson
  • Teacher/Educator