Bachelor of Arts
Acting & Directing
Transform your passion for theatre production into a professional career at Samford University, where you’ll gain practical experience in directing, design and technical production.
Is This Program for Me?
Do you want to deepen your skills as both performer and leader in theatre? Samford’s Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a concentration in Acting and Directing lets you tailor your training around your strengths and passions.
Whether you’re drawn to expressing characters onstage or shaping performances from behind the scenes, this program gives you the flexibility to focus on one area or both.
This program is a great fit for students who:
- Want customized training in acting, directing or both
- Seek a balanced mix of performance and leadership roles
- Thrive in collaborative learning environments
- Want hands-on experience in mainstage and student-directed productions
- Value mentorship from faculty in both acting and directing arenas
What Makes Us Different?
Samford’s BA in Theatre with a concentration in Acting and Directing combines creative exploration with practical application in a faith-informed environment. You'll receive rigorous training across all aspects of theatre production while honing your artistic voice.
Flexible Focus
Choose to specialize in acting, directing or both
Performance Opportunities
Audition for every mainstage production in the department’s season
Comprehensive Curriculum
Blend studio technique, theatre history, design, stagecraft and critical studies
Student-Led Productions
Lead or assist in student-directed Underground Season and workshop projects
Shape Your Academic Journey
Through a mix of classroom learning and practical experience, Acting and Directing students build a robust toolkit—from text analysis to performance execution.
Students Will
- Apply advanced acting techniques across diverse performance styles
- Analyze scripts and develop directorial concepts
- Manage rehearsals and work collaboratively with peers and faculty
- Integrate technical theatre knowledge—scenic, costume, lighting—for well-rounded storytelling
Prepare to Succeed
Graduates enter the field with real-world experience, a strong foundation in both performance and leadership, and the adaptability needed to thrive in a dynamic industry. Through rigorous training, faculty mentorship and hands-on stage opportunities, students leave confident in their ability to pursue careers in theatre, film, education or graduate study.
Career Preparation
- Mainstage casting and student-directed opportunities
- Internships with local and regional theatre companies (e.g. Flat Rock, Barter Theatre, Lexington Children’s Theatre)
- Festival showcases including Ten-Minute Play (fall) and One-Act Play (spring)
Career Opportunities
- Actor or Director in professional/regional theatre
- Assistant director or production leader
- Stage manager, designer or technician
- Theatre educator or coach
- Graduate study in MFA programs at schools like NYU, Columbia, LSU and UNC-Greensboro
Application Information
Freshman applications for next fall are open.Freshman Early Action applications close November 1st.The freshman first scholarship deadline is December 1st.Transfer applications for the spring semester close December 15th.Freshman FAFSA priority and scholarship deadlines are February 15th.Decision day is coming! Freshman applications for fall enrollment close May 1st.Transfer applications for fall enrollment close July 1st.Freshman applications for fall enrollment are closed. Applications for next year open August 1st.Transfer applications for fall enrollment are closed. Applications for next year open September 1st.
