Theater Major & Minor

Would you like to manage a stage, design a set or make your debut as an actor? As a theater major at Goshen College, you’ll earn your fair share of time in the spotlight and backstage. You’ll participate in full-length mainstage shows, one act plays and musical theater performances—all hands-on opportunities to apply technical and artistic skills learned during class. And by the time you graduate, you’ll have created your own senior show!

As a theater major, you’ll explore acting, design, literature, playwriting, voice and movement, in addition to studying the history and philosophy of theater. GC’s theater program emphasizes the liberal arts, so you can augment your thespian knowledge with courses in art, music, communication, English and foreign languages. After college, you can expect to do what GC alumni are doing now—working coast to coast in theaters, touring companies, education and video/film production.

Interested in studying Theater at Goshen College?

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An Inside Look

from students in the theater department

News & Events

Eurydice Nov. 14-16, 22-23

September 1, 2014

Eurydice Nov. 14-16, 22-23, Fall Mainstage directed by Michelle Milne, M.F.A.

2016 Peace Play winner, ‘Party Favors,’ takes the stage Oct. 7-9

September 21, 2016

The Goshen College Theater Department will perform “Party Favors,” the winning play in the 2016 Goshen College Peace Play Contest, during Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m., Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. and Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. in the college’s Umble Center.

Ben Friesen '05 unfolds a career with origami

August 11, 2016

There are very few people in the world who are paid to fold origami, but Goshen College alumnus Ben Friesen ’05, of Oakland, California, is one of them.

Elizabeth (Hershberger) Gray '04 nominated for EMMY for production design - Variety

August 4, 2016

Production designer Elizabeth H. Gray '04 received a 2016 Emmy nomination, and joined Variety‘s David Cohen to reveal how she makes her show look so stunning with fewer resources than most prestige cable dramas.

Musical theater camp Friday Night Revue

June 20, 2016

Participants in the Goshen College Musical Theater Camp will perform scenes and solos during the Friday Night Revue in Umble Center on June 24 at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Stats

^$77,714

average salary of GC graduates 10 years out

80^%

of Goshen College students study abroad

100^%

of alumni agree that theater professors are genuinely interested in their students

95^%

of job-seeking graduates from the GC class of 2015 were employed within one year after graduation

93^%

of 2015 GC seniors who said their overall educational experience was good or excellent

^#2

Ranking in the percentage of graduates going on to earn doctorates among all Indiana institutions

Students & Alumni

Nathan Vader '13

English Writing Major

Nathan Vader graduated in 2013 with an English writing major and a theater and Bible, religion and philosophy minor. On the side, he edited for the campus newspaper, The Record, authored a book, acted and directed plays. Read more

Jesse Bontreger '17

Theater and communication double major

A senior from Goshen, Jesse didn’t have to go far from home to find a college he loved. A double major in theater and communication, Jesse gets plenty of opportunities to show his passion by performing in plays and musicals. Read more

Ben Friesen '05

Theater major

Ben Friesen ’05, of Oakland, California, uses his theater background to teach Origami. Read more

Sarah Elizabeth Miller '05

Theater Major

Sarah Miller graduated from GC in 2005 with a theater degree. Today, she is a professional make-up artist who has competed on SyFy Network's "Face Off," a popular reality show that features special-effects makeup artists. Read more

Bruce Hostetler '88

Stage Director for the Portland Revels

Hostetler is currently resident stage director for the Portland Revels, artistic director of CompassWorks, and a freelance theatre/opera director, producer and playwright. Read more

Jacob Landis-Eigsti '12

Communication and Theater Double Major

Jacob Landis-Eigsti, a 2012 communication and theater graduate, came to Goshen College to study filmmaking. While a student, he was also an actor, a writer and a peacemaker. Read more

Martin Flowers '16