Historical Overview. In 1865, two years after Boston College opened, theater began at BC. It continued for many years as a student activity under the aegis of the Dramatics Society. In the early 1970s, the College of Arts and Sciences established a theater major as part of the Department of Speech, Communications and Theatre. The Robsham Theater Arts Center opened in 1981 as the center of theater production on campus. In 1993, the Theatre Department was established as an independent department. Since then, both the academic and production programs have grown steadily in terms of faculty staff, theater majors, course offerings, and the quality and quantity of productions.
Recent Highlights. Here are some of the events and activities that made the past academic year particularly successful and exciting.
Faculty Focus. Theatre Department faculty get involved in a wide range of interesting academic and scholarly activities, one of which is described here.
Production History. The Theatre Department, in conjunction with the Robsham Theater Arts Center, produces six plays a year, four directed by faculty and two by students. Starting with last year's season, here is a list of past productions going back a decade or more.
The Laughter of Discovery. In 2003, Professor Stuart J. Hecht directed a Theatre Department production of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. @BC, Boston College's electronic newsletter, created this video feature on the collaborative process that takes a play from page to stage.
Caught in the Act. In 2007, Professor Scott Cummings worked with an ensemble of seven student actors and a student dramaturg-stage manager to create an original theater piece called Ashley's Purpose. BC photographer Lee Pellegrini stopped by an early rehearsal to document some of the preliminary work and Dan Soyer interviewed members of the cast for this audio slideshow presented by @BC.
Employment Opportunities. For information regarding possible employment opportunities in the Theatre Department, contact the Department Chair, Dr. John Houchin.