MBU Theatre is a Christ-centered program that challenges our students to view their work through a Biblical vantage point. We believe that all truth is God’s truth, and therefore all great and truthful works of theatre carry within them glimmers of God’s redemptive plan.
Because of this foundation, we believe that storytelling through theatre is a calling worthy of intensive training. When you graduate from our theatre program you will not only have knowledge of theatre history, acting methods of Stanislavsky, Chekhov, Meisner, Strasburg, and many others, but also directing technique and wide variety of theater construction, design and production areas as well.
We purposefully want your education to be broad, but deep – giving you the opportunity to thrive in a transient job market that requires theatre students to work in a variety of positions.
Additionally, we give you ample opportunity to practice these skills. We produce six shows every season (plus a variety of recitals, showcases and capstones), allowing our students to choose design, tech or performance. This lets you tailor your education to your needs and goals.
In accordance with the mission statement of Missouri Baptist University, the academic program and the speech and theatre disciplines, this major focuses on preparing students for careers in speech and theatre education with a program leading to secondary certification (grades 9-12) by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A concentration in Speech/Theatre is also available as part of the Middle Childhood Education major for those interested in teaching at the middle school level (grades 5-9).
All candidates for Missouri State Teacher Certification must be formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program at Missouri Baptist University. No student will be allowed to student teach unless he or she has been formally admitted into the Teacher Education program prior to applying to student teach.
Auditions & Scholarships
Students pursuing a degree in Speech/Theatre have the option (but are not required) to audition for a talent scholarship. Email finearts@mobap.edu or call 314-744-5364 to sign up for an audition.
Performing Arts Scholarship Audition Form
Auditionees are eligible for talent and ensemble scholarships. Auditions take place in the Pillsbury Chapel & Dale Williams Fine Arts Center. Anyone who is unable to attend in-person auditions may request to submit a video audition.
Performance Groups
Explore our many PERFORMANCE GROUPS to find something that fits your talents and interests! Any student, regardless of major, can audition for our ensembles. Most groups offer scholarships that can be combined with other academic offers and financial assistance.
MBU Theatre Experience
High School Juniors & Seniors/Transfers
Come spend the day with us, asking questions of our theatre faculty over coffee, workshopping your audition monologues and songs and touring the facility that you could make your home.
The MBU Theatre Experience is recommended for Theatre, Musical Theatre and Speech/Theatre majors, as well as Theatre and Dance minors. More than anything, we hope that by being on campus you will see what we see in our program: a thriving community of artists devoted to their craft and to each other.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Speech/Theatre Major Requirements
Required Theatre courses: 30 hours
THEA 113 – Acting I
THEA 213 – Stage Make-Up
THEA 223 – Acting II
THEA 233 – Stagecraft
THEA 313 – History of Theatre I (MOTR THEA 104)
THEA 323 – History of Theatre II (MOTR THEA 105)
THEA 333 – Directing
THEA 423 – Theatrical Costuming
THEA 433 – Stage Management
3 credit hours from the following:
MUCS 110/111/310/311 – Theatre Production
MUTS 130/131/330/331 – Musical Theatre Production
THEP 110/111/310/311 – Theatre Production
Required Communications courses: 15 hours
COMM 203 Understanding Human Communications
COMM 223 Introduction to Mass Media*
COMM 233 Introudction to Cross Cultural Communications*
COST 333 Argument and Debate
COST 403 Oral Interpretation of Literature
Required Speech/Theatre Education: 3 hours
EDST 473/573 Methods of Teaching Speech and Theatre for Middle/Secondary: Seminar and Field Experience
Total hours for Major in Speech/Theatre: 48
*Also satisfies general education requirement
Dance/Stage Management Minors
DANCE MINOR
Required Theatre and Dance courses: 15 hours
THDA 101 – Fundamentals of Dance
THEA 131 – Ballet I
THEA 141 – Jazz I
THEA 331 – Ballet II
THEA 341 – Jazz II
THEA 351 – Tap I
THEA 361 – Musical Theatre Styled Dance
THDA 303 – Dance Composition
THMU 353 – Musical Theatre History (MOTR THEA 100C)
THEP 110/111/310/311 – Theatre Production (Three semesters required)
THDA 111 – Dance Lesson (Two semesters required)
Total hours for Dance Minor: 18
STAGE MANAGEMENT MINOR
Required Theatre courses: 13 hours
THEA 123 – Script Analysis
THEA 333 – Directing
THEA 433 – Stage Management
THEP 110/111/310/311 – Theatre Production (4 semesters)
Required courses in other programs: 6 hours
MGMT 303 Management Concepts and Practices
PHED 133 First Aid and Emergency Care
Total hours for Stage Management minor: 19
MBU Theatre Diversity Statement
MBU Theatre firmly stands against racism and white supremacy and squarely stands in the words of Jesus, who tells us to “Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Matthew 22:39) and who has promised us that one day every tribe, tongue, people, and language will be worshipping together (Revelation 7:9). We believe that in theatre we have the opportunity to reflect and celebrate the beautiful diversity which God has created.
We know that there have been times in the past when we have failed our black and brown brothers and sisters and we also know that we will do so in the future. As we look forward in this time of reckoning with our collective past, we know it is important to pledge all the intangible and tangible ways we will move forward toward a more diverse and inclusive culture.
Intangible
• We strive to create an environment in which all students know that their concerns can and should be heard and voiced.
• We promise to care for and educate our students without condition.
• We promise to serve our students, casts, crews, and production teams as modeled by Jesus. Elevating them and their needs above our own.
• We expect faculty and students to admit mistakes when they are realized and work to reconcile according to the standards laid out in Matthew 18:15-17.
Tangible
• We promise to ensure that a BIPOC is represented as a director, masterclass instructor, or designer at least once each school year, with the understanding that as our department grows these opportunities will grow as well.
• We promise that no BIPOC will ever be asked to wear a costume or microphone that reflects the white skin tone and they will never be asked to purchase pieces when white pieces are in stock.
• We promise to make our audition process completely accessible to people of all socio-economic statuses by providing opportunities to audition via video or by sending a faculty delegate to their location. If you cannot afford an accompanist we will provide one or allow the use of tracks.
• We are calling on current students, alumni, and community members of faith to volunteer to comprise a “Race & Representation Council,” which will review our execution of these tangible and intangible commitments once per year, decide on goals for the following year, and release a report via our social media accounts. This council will also assist in auditions and season selection as they are able. This report will be released May of each year.
We hope that as we move forward MBU Theatre can be a true reflection of how good and pleasant it is when we dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1).
Kasey Cox
Director of Theatre and Dance
OTHER INFO AND SOCIAL MEDIA