Expert Faculty
Our faculty aren’t just theatre professionals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. They are also masters at the craft of teaching.
With a low faculty-to-student ratio, you will get to know your teachers and receive personalized guidance and career planning from professionals who know your name.
Screen Acting Performance Opportunities
At Chapman, first-year students can audition for and perform in productions at Dodge College and the Department of Theatre, including lead roles in:
Undergraduate and graduate student film and television productions at Dodge College.- Four to five main-season theatre productions a year, usually including a musical, supported by professional directors and production designers.
- Student-led theatrical productions across campus.
You can also perform in local theatres and productions across Southern California; Orange County has a vibrant theatre scene, and Los Angeles is a short drive or train ride away.
We hope you can see a production for yourself! Visit our events calendar to view schedules and get tickets to upcoming theatre productions.
Learn and Perform in Professional-Grade Spaces
You’ll have the opportunity to perform in front of large and intimate audiences in our on-campus venues and teaching spaces:
- Marion Knott Studios: a 76,000-square-foot working production studio featuring sound stages, state-of-the-art classrooms, and computer labs with industry standard tools.
- Musco Center for the Arts: an 88,000 s.f., state-of-the-art venue to help foster your education in the arts. Musco Center boasts 1,044 seats on three levels and has been named one of the finest performance venues on the west coast.
- Waltmar Theatre: a 244-seat performance and classroom space for students to hone their skills as professional artists.
- O.L. Halsell Foundation Studio Theatre: a flexible, black box theatre used for both classes and performances that seats up to 50 patrons.
Student Clubs and Organizations
Chapman has hundreds of student clubs and organizations. These range from academic to spiritual to cultural to just having fun. Some clubs that are popular with Screen Acting and Theatre Performance majors include:
- C.A.S.T.: Coalition of Artistic Students of Theatre: C.A.S.T. is committed to igniting professionalism, unity and collaboration within the theatre community.
- Chapman on Broadway: Provides performance opportunities in fully staged musicals, plays, revue shows and cabaret nights. Chapman on Broadway provides these opportunities to all majors, especially those who have a lifelong passion for theatre but chose another path as their official major.
- Guerrilla Shakespeare: Members produce a full production of a Shakespeare play every fall and a selection of scenes for a scene review every spring. Members also participate in monthly play readings and events focused on expanding our knowledge of Shakespeare’s works and classical acting.
- Improv Incorporated: Chapman University's longest-running improvised comedy troupe, Improv Incorporated typically performs two live shows a month.
Where This Degree Will Take You
Most Screen Acting graduates pursue acting careers in film and television or theatrical productions.
In addition to acting, you can use the skills you develop in the program (including collaboration, time management and creative thinking) to go on to a variety of meaningful careers such as:
- Film director
- Producer
- Editor
- Screenwriter
- Casting director
- Theatre director
- Literary agent and manager
- Lawyer
- Business leader
Admission and Tours
With a cohort size of about 14 students, admission to Chapman's Screen Acting program is very competitive. You can find more details on our page about applying to the Screen Acting program or you can check out the curriculum on our catalog page.
Want to learn more about Chapman? We are always available for tours and information sessions. We’d love to meet you!
