Interested in Theater?
Not sure you picked the right major? Did you participate in plays or musicals in high school or in your community? Want to express your artistic side?
Choosing a major in Theater can lead you to a creative career. Perhaps your creativity is part of your identity, but you want to major in another field. Choosing a minor in Theater or a related specialty area can help you stay connected to creative projects while you study across the university.
Don’t want to fully commit? That’s fine too. Many Theater courses are available to all George Mason students and can still count toward your degree.
Change Your Major
Current George Mason students can apply to add a second major or change their major to Theater. To be considered for the Theater major:
- Students must have a GPA of 2.5
- pass an audition, portfolio review, and/or interview by the posted deadlines to be considered for the Theater major.
Please contact Sara Simanski with questions about major requirements, the process to change your major, or to schedule an appointment.
Declare a Minor
We have 5 Minor programs to choose from:
- The Audio Production Minor is open to all George Mason undergraduate students with any declared major. Offers coursework to students with an interest in Sound Engineering and Sound Design and production for the performing arts. No portfolio review required. The Audio Production minor requires 18 credits of coursework.
- The Event Technical Production Minor is an interdisciplinary minor open to all George Mason undergraduate students with any declared major. Offers students the opportunity to study event technologies, installations, and special event management. No portfolio review required. The Event Technical Production minor requires 18 credits of coursework.
- The Design and Technical Theater Minor is open to all George Mason undergraduate students with any declared major. Offers coursework to students with and interest in the areas of technical theater and theatrical design. No audition or portfolio review required. The Design and Technical Theater minor requires 18 credits of coursework.
- The Theater minor is open to all George Mason undergraduate students with any declared major. Gives students with an interest in Theater the chance to explore several areas of Theater. No audition or portfolio review required. The Theater minor requires 18 credits of coursework.
- The Theater Performance Minor is open to all George Mason undergraduate students with any declared Major. Offers students with and interest in Acting and Directing the opportunity to explore coursework in these areas. No audition or portfolio review required. The Theater Performance minor requires 18 credits of coursework.
For more information, please contact Sara Simanski to schedule an appointment to declare the minor of your choice.
Take Courses Open to All Majors
The following courses welcome non-Theater majors. Talk to your Academic Advisor to see how these courses might fit in your program.
THR 101: Theater Appreciation (Mason Core Arts)
An introduction to theater throughout history and the world. Enhances an understanding of the nature of theater in society.
THR 150: Global Theater Histories I (Mason Core Arts)
This course considers readings in dramatic literature and theater history examples of global theater practices and developments from pre-history to roughly 1700 CE. This course focuses on diverse world views and functions of theatrical performance as seen in various cultures and historical periods. Areas of study include the occasions, social contexts, styles, and locations of theatrical performances; oral or written texts utilized during dramatic performance; methods of production; and critical perspectives. The course is designed for students with or without prior theater experience.
THR 151: Global Theater Histories II (Mason Core Arts)
This course considers readings in dramatic literature and theater history examples of global theater practices and developments from roughly 1700 CE to the present. This course focuses on diverse world views and functions of theatrical performance as seen in various cultures and historical periods. Areas of study include the occasions, social contexts, styles, and locations of theatrical performances; oral or written texts utilized during dramatic performance; methods of production; and critical perspectives. The course is designed for students with or without prior theater experience.
THR 210: Acting I (Mason Core Arts)
Students practice contemporary acting techniques individually and in a group. Promotes and develops performance and practical communication skills. Attend theatrical productions, and respond to those experiences.
THR 230: Fundamentals of Production (Mason Core Arts)
Students explore current production practices in scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound through classroom and hands on experience. Concepts and skills acquired in this class may be applied in theater, film, dance, game design, art, corporate events, and architecture. Lab hours include work on live performances.
THR 313: Event Technical Production
A theoretical and practical study of event technology and production. The course will include specifications, layout installation techniques and operation of sound systems, lighting systems, video systems, and staging processes for the event industry sector.
See the catalog.
THR 314: Lighting Stagecraft
Practical and theoretical instruction on becoming theatrical electrician. Includes ideas on workplace safety, basic electrical procedures, theatrical electrical production, integrating with other theater professionals, and professionalism.
See the catalog.
THR 315: Sound Engineering
Practical and theoretical study of audio engineering for theater and the entertainment industry. The course will cover the foundational principles of audio, as well as sound system components and operation.
THR 316: Scene Painting
Students experience the art and craft of scene painting with the goal of translating design elevations into paint on muslin. Students learn fundamental scene painting techniques and how to use them in combinations to create portraits, murals, landscapes, and textures.
THR 332: History of Fashion and Dress
This course examines the evolution of Western dress from its origins to the present. It examines the changing aspects of dress from one era to another, discussing how psychology, conflict, economy, government, religion, cross-cultural ties, media and other factors contribute to as well as affect the ever-shifting styles.
THR 351: Dramatic Theory and Criticism (Mason Core Writing Intensive)
Students explore aesthetically and culturally diverse examples of dramatic theory, performance criticism, theater essays, and/or dramatic texts. They also learn to do several kinds of theater writing, including essays, interviews, feature articles, and reviews of theater performance or film.
THR 359: World Stages (Mason Core Global Context)
Celebrates global-majority centered storytelling and invites students to explore cultural frameworks and current events through the lens of theater. Engages topics like interdependence, justice, and equity through studies of people that use theater to respond to issues and vision just societies.
THR 380: Playwriting Workshop
Explores, through practice and example, principles of dramatic writing, including character, plot, dramatic structure, dialogue, exposition, setting, and creating theatrical images. Students will be expected to write and share their writing in class. Writing for a variety of venues will be covered.
THR 411: Great Film Directors (Mason Core Arts)
Students view and analyze films in order to explore important film genres and examine influential directors.
THR 412: Great Film Performances (Mason Core Arts)
Students view and analyze films in order to examine the development and evolution of film acting.
Opportunities for Non-Theater Majors
Are you interested in Theater but don’t want to change your major or declare a minor? That’s ok! We have other options to get involved!
You can:
- Audition for our Productions
- Sign up to be a member of our Production Crew (link coming soon)
- Attend any of our productions or events
- Get free student tickets to our productions and events.
Header image: Performers in Mason Cabaret 2025, Broadway’s Prince: The Musicals of Hal Prince