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Fountain School of Performing Arts

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Acting

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The Acting Program at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is a dynamic and intensive professional actor training program. Offered as a four year BA with Honours, students audition for admission into the Acting Program. 

The training is progressive in nature and culminates in the students performing in four major productions. Classical and contemporary acting, voice and speech, dance and movement, devised theatre creation, audition technique and singing are among the subjects offered. 

Applicants who intend to pursue the Acting Program may audition out of High School prior to enrolling at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøfor their first year of study. Alternatively, a second opportunity to audition for the Acting Program occurs at the end of the first year for students who decide to pursue Acting while completing THEA 1802. Read about the auditions here.

Program structure

BA in Theatre with Honours (Acting)

This description is based on the , which is the official source for degree requirements and should be consulted for fuller details. If you began your degree before the current year, your requirements are based on those of the calendar of your first year, which may differ. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to

The following lists only the required classes for the Acting program. Students must also complete enough elective classes to fulfill Dalhousie's requirements for a BA Honours degree. Honours students must maintain at least a B+ average in all of their advanced Theatre classes.

Year 1

  • PERF 1000.03 (Writing About Perfomance)
  • PERF 1002.03 (Writing About Stage and Screen)
  • THEA 1801.03 and 1802.03 (Introduction to Acting and Performance) 

From first year onward, students must achieve a B in all Acting Program classes and must also be recommended by the Acting Faculty in order to advance to the next year's class of study. 

Year 2: The Discovery Year

The second year of the Acting Program introduces students to performance approaches that range from the classical to the contemporary. Students will also receive a foundation in devised theatre creation through exploration of central principles such as collaboration, style, and ensemble. Emphasis is placed on discipline, dedication to craft, and how to become an informed and vital contributor to the creative process.

  • THEA 2011.03 (Ancient and Medieval Theatre)
  • THEA 2012.03 (Early Modern Theatre)
  • THEA 2801.03 and 2802.03 (Acting 2)
  • THEA 2811.03 and 2812.03 (Voice and Speech 2)
  • THEA 2821.03 and 2822.03 (Dance and Movement 2)

Year 3: The Transformation Year

The third year of the Acting Program is structured to build on the knowledge acquired in the previous two years. Students learn how to integrate what they have discovered as they gain further understanding of skills, techniques and creative expression. Third-year students perform in one show of the Fountain School season and may be invited to perform in others, depending upon the needs of the plays chosen and the student's readiness for the performance situation as assessed by the faculty.

  • THEA 3801.03 and 3802.03 (Acting 3)
  • THEA 3811.03 and 3812.03 (Voice and Speech 3)
  • THEA 3821.03 and 3822.03 (Dance and Movement 3)
  • MUSC 1081.03 (Voice Clinic for Theatre)

Year 4: The Interpretation and Performance Year

In the final year of the Acting Program, students' studies are geared toward performance and entering the world of professional theatre. The company of fourth year Acting Program students will be cast in two Fountain School season shows. Classes are devoted to preparing the student actor for transition into the profession.

  • THEA 4801.03 and 4802.03 (Acting 4)
  • THEA 3503.03 (Modern Theatre)
  • One elective course in Theatre History
  • Two elective courses from the following list:
    • THEA 2901 – Dramaturgy: The Art of Developing Plays  
    • THEA 2902 – Play Analysis for Directing
    • THEA 3601 – The Playwright in the Theatre a (when offered)
    • THEA 3602 – The Playwright in the Theatre b (when offered)
    • PERF 3830.03 – Dance and Movement Composition
    • THEA 4250.03 – Artists as Entrepreneurs: From Concept to Creation
    • THEA 4925.03 – Puppets: Bringing Objects to Life
    • THEA 4101.03 – Short Theatre Apprenticeship (in consultation with Acting Program Faculty)
    • THEA 4102.03 – Long Theatre Apprenticeship a (in consultation with Acting Program faculty; must be taken with THEA 4104.03 Long Theatre Apprenticeship b)

Fourth year students complete the Honours Qualifying Project upon the satisfactory completion of a professional portfolio.


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