Theatre at Saint Michael’s College serves the liberal arts by providing a rigorous aesthetic, intellectual, and practical opportunity to explore the frontiers of learning and the formation of collaborative communities. The primary mode of study is the practice of theatre, involving theoretical, historical, aesthetic and technical elements.

The theatre program makes its home in the McCarthy Arts Center, which houses 2 theatres, a recital hall, an art gallery, rehearsal spaces, classrooms, and faculty offices. The theatre, an intimate but broad house which seats 360, boasts a proscenium stage complete with hydraulic lift, trap room, substantial wing and fly space, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment. The cozy “Trap Door Theatre” was recently added for smaller or alternative productions. Costume and scenery studios are located in the building and storage facilities are convenient to the theatre.

The department sponsors two faculty-directed Mainstage productions, with additional performance and design opportunities available through the Directing class, Independent Studies and Senior Capstone Projects. All students are given an opportunity to direct, design, perform in, manage, research and respond to theatre in production and performance. The department is also closely allied with a very active student-run Drama Club; Saint Michael’s Playhouse, a professional Equity Summer Theatre; and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Scholarship opportunities are available to incoming and returning students through the Fairbanks-Paulin and McCarthy Scholarship programs.