BWW Student Center's School in the Spotlight: Avila University

The Student Center also offers a show calendar of college and high-school productions where schools can upload photos, videos, cast lists, articles and other media content for each of their shows. BWW will be combing through all content regularly and will launch weekly feature stories highlighting productions locally and nationally that have provided us with this extra content.

Avila Theatre provides a pre-professional training program that allows choice. The BFA is for students wanting a specialized concentration in Acting (musical theatre is included), Directing/Producing, or Theatre Design and Technology. The BA is for those students wanting more broad-based training, those anticipating teaching, or those considering a double major. These choices, combined with a caring faculty, give majors personalized attention and guidance to obtain degrees that best fit their needs.

Avila is unique in that it offers specialized training an extensive list of upper-division courses from which to choose combined with a private liberal arts education. Small class sizes and personal attention are the standard at Avila. Specifically, the Theatre is a program that provides a sense of community and purpose. Avila Theatre prides itself on promoting a nurturing, yet challenging working environment for every student.

Often theatre students are labeled actor or techie and never have a chance to explore other areas. At Avila, students have the chance, if they wish, to work many jobs on both sides of the fence: acting and tech. With proper training, it is possible for a student to play the lead in one show and then design the set for the next. Theatre students often say that what they enjoy most about Avila is the student involvement a chance to explore many aspects of theater and see what hidden talents unfold.

A Theatre Education program is also offered in Speech/Theatre Education 9-12 certification, approved by the State of Missouri, is offered. Kansas Certification requirements may be completed concurrently. A middle school major with a concentration in drama is also available.
Certification is available with either a BA or A BFA.

To learn more about The Department of Theatre at Avila University, click here.