Undergraduate Programs in Theatre and Film
Learn Artistry, Professionalism, and Critical Thinking
Discover Your Place Through Culturally Relevant Works
As students progress through their training in the Department of Theatre & Film, they are introduced to the many ways that creation, interpretation, performance, and production are related. They learn the breadth of expertise required to mount a fully realized film or theatre production and explore the broader cultural significance of theatre and film historically, in the present, and where it may be heading.
Areas of Study
Acting for Stage and Screen
Learn about the performance training offered in the department, including acting, voice, movement, and musical theatre performance. Many of the cohort-based performance courses are exclusive to the students in the competitive-entry Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Acting for Stage and Screen.
Design and Theatre Performance
Students interested in theatre design—primarily costume design, lighting, and scenic design—can pursue the competitive-entry Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with the emphasis in Design and Theatre Production. Students in the B.A. degree are also invited to focus on theatre design courses and projects.
Film Production
The B.F.A. in Film Production students create their own films beginning the first semester, which distinguishes us—the only intensive film production program in Mississippi and one of the few in this region of the country—from most top-tier film schools.
What Do Our B.A. Majors Study?
The answer is as varied as our students.
- Passionate about performance? Enroll in a multi-semester actor training sequence or classes in film acting, movement, voice, Shakespeare, stage combat, and dance.
- Want to be creative with design and technology? Train in stagecraft, costume, and lighting and take those roles in our performances.
- Dream of being part of motion picture industry? Pursue both academic and practical courses in cinema studies and production, including film history and theory, lighting for screen, directing, editing, and screenwriting.
- Can you run the show and take creative ownership? There are many opportunities to train and use the skills of director, stage manager, arts administrator, dramaturg, filmmaker, choreographer, teacher, or performing artist.
- Want to teach drama at high school or college level? You will find a comprehensive training in history, theory, and practice that prepares you for an education career and graduate school.
Our aim is to provide you with a firm understanding of performance's role in society, to help you articulate your goals within the artistic community, and to support you as your create the roadmap to your own personal success.
Stage Management
"I originally was planning to major in business management, but realized I was going to miss theater way too much to give it up forever. I started with a focus on performance, and along the way found a love for technical theater and stage management. I now am doing both technical and performance theater!"
On campus, Alyssa is a member of the UMPROV Troupe, Ghostlight Reparatory Theater, and is in Phi Mu Fraternity. She has performed in and participated as a sound tech, set designer, and backstage crewmember in many community theatre productions.
Alyssa Shephard
B.A. in Theatre Arts, minor in Digital Media Studies
Alumni Examples
Mary Goodson ('80)
Self-Employed Set Decorator
"[After graduation] I hitched my U-Haul to my new Ford Escort and drove out to California to make my way in the world. I had three friends out there, and one of them got me my first real crew job. I had done some extra work. I also worked at the Improv for a little while waiting tables because you got to make a living! So, it happened my friend Julie Kaye Fanton was sitting at the right lunch table one day, and a costume designer says, 'Oh my God, we need a costume production assistant tomorrow. Does anybody know someone that can come in?' And Julie says, 'My roommate does costumes! She did them at Ole Miss for the theater department.' And he goes, 'Great! She's hired!' I started there."
Mary 'Queen of Props' Goodson has worked in costumes design, production, and set decoration in the film and TV industry. Read the interview with her from FilmMississippi.org from the link below.
Gianna Schuetz-McKinnis ('21)
Company Manager and Human Resources Specialist, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
"I am from Huntsville, AL, where I was enriched by the very active community theaters there. But I saw many organizations go bankrupt. I decided to earn a double degree in theater and finance for my dream job as director of finance for a theater company."
Gianna earned the B.A. in Theatre Arts with a minor in Entrepreneurship and a B.B.A. in Managerial Finance. She held many financial leadership positions, including the Associated Student Body, Ghostlight Repertory Theatre, sorority, and many more. For theatre productions, Gianna was part of the lighting crew for many of the productions and was also a stage manager. She repeatedly interned in business roles with the Williamstown Theatre Festival, giving her key industry experience. Gianna also earned a Certificate in HR Management and Analytics from the Wharton School at U Penn after graduation.
Mike Edmonds ('84)
Retired Senior Vice President of Staff at Colorado College
"Ole Miss means so much to me and provided such a wealth of opportunity. I'm excited to be able to see those same opportunities being created for current students."
Mike Edmonds retired as Senior Vice President of Staff at Colorado College in spring 2023, following a 32-year career with the institution. He served as Acting Co-President for the 2020-2021 academic year and as Dean of Students/Vice President for Student Affairs from 1991-2020.
Dr. Edmonds is an executive in residence at Colorado College's Economics and Business Department where he teaches Business Communications. Highly engaged in community, he has served on more than 25 civic and nonprofit boards, committees, and commissions. He serves on the UM College of Liberal Arts Alumni Board.
Careers & Alumni
- President and Founder, Magnolia Hill Productions
- Professional Actor, Writer, and Producer – Douglas Taurel
- Costume Designer – Caroline Ann Rea
- Self-Employed Actress
- Stage Crew, Gertrude Ford Center for the Performing Arts
- Technical Crew, Gertrude Ford Center for the Performing Arts
- Actor and Voiceover Artist
- Actress and Owner, Canoco Publishing Company
- Casting Director
- Arts Columnist, Violinist/Broadcaster, University Symphony Orchestra and CAST Theatre
- Actress, Bathhouse Theatre Company
- Producer, Burt and Kurt Show
- Self-Employed Photographer
- Freelance Photographer, Askew's Custom Photography
- Owner, Taylor's Design
- Self-Employed Set Designer
- Self-Employed Costume Designer
- Playwright, Screenwriter
- Box office Manager, Virginia Opera
- Founder and Owner, Kids Shine Performing Arts Center
- Actress/Musician, Deanna Dozier
- Senior Manager of Venue Sales and Events, Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
- Set Decorator, JL Productions
- Wardrobe Supervisor on Broadway
- Senior Category Associate, Warner Bros. Entertainment
- Carpenter, The Arundel Barn Playhouse
- Hair and Makeup Assistant Supervisor, American Ballet Theatre
- Actress, Griffin Theatre
- Self-employed Wardrobe Stylist
- Audio Engineer, Florda Reparatory Theatre
- Co-Founder, Deer Run Media
- Administrative Manager, Atlanta Voiceover Studio
- Accounting Associate and Benefits Coordinator, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
- Owner, Silver Gnarwhal Studios
- Cast Member/Actor, Tecumseh Outdoor Drama and Concert Venue
- Teaching Artist, Emerald City Theatre
- Actor, Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival
- Assistant Concert Manager, City Winery
- Program Development, Steeltown Entertainment Project
- Cast Member, Walt Disney World
- Teaching Artist, The MAX – Mississippi's Arts + Entertainment Experience
- Owner, Ross Creative Group
- Executive Producer, Ewert TV Productions
- Morning Show Host, Clear Channel Radio
- Morning News Anchor, Houston News
- Department Head, CBS
- Senior Staff Editor, New York Times
- Associate Producer, PBS Nightly Business Report
- Radio Broadcaster, Hall Communications
- News Technical Director, KVII-TV
- Videographer/Editor, Mississippi Public Broadcasting
- Financial Relationship Specialist, Regions Bank
- Tax Associate, KPMG
- Operating Engineer, United Missouri Bank
- Insurance Agent, Farm Bureau
- Partner, Whitten Farms
- VP of Human Resources, LIMRA International
- VP of Finance, Dan Drummond Realty
- Owner and Broker, Butterfield Properties
- Owner, D'Agostino Properties
- Owner and President, Dynamic Training Solutions
- Manager of Flight Crew, Fed Ex
- Assistant Manager of Makeup Stylist, Amy Head Cosmetics
- President, Mainsale Group, LLC
- Founder and CEO, If Unique Hearts; Actress and Model
- Program Host, QVC
- Senior Commercial Sales Rep, South Cypress
- Office Manager, Tenor Capital Management Co
- VP of Business Development, Freeman Company
- Scheduler, Enterprise Products
- Owner, Drummond Builders Limited
- Partner, Gillespie Import Service
- Sportswriter, Cardinal Sports
- Event Manager, Waterside Plaza
- Boarding Agent, Caribe Nautical Services, Inc
- Rescue Guide, Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park
- Sales Rep, American Systems
- CEO, Guycom
- Fleet Response Specialist, Genesis10
- Software Engineer, Corelogic
- Accountant, Oxbow Corp
- Supervisor, Lockhead Martin
- Marketing and Events Coordinator, Radians Inc
- Founder and CEO, Unsatisfied Fashion House
- Store Manager, University Sporting Goods
K-12 Education
Our alumni are teachers at the following schools unless otherwise noted.
- Tunica Schools
- Prince George School
- Greenwood Middle School
- McIntosh High School
- South Panola School District
- Whitfield County Schools
- Walnut High School
- Barton-Lexa School District
- Margolin Hebrew Academy
- Beaumont Independent School District
- Brookewood High School
- Medway High School
- Lusher Charter School
- Christ Methodist Day School
- Canton High School
- International Leadership of Texas
- Rankin County School District
- Pleasant Grove Indept School District
- Jamestown Middle School
- Computer Repair Technician, Oak Park USD
- Retired Fundraiser, Saint Andrew's Episcopal School
- Speech Pathologist, West Lincoln Attendance Center
Higher Education
- Humanities Faculty, University of Mississippi
- Program Director, Texas Tech University
- Sponsored Programs Coordinator, University of Mississippi
- retired as Senior Vice President of Staff at Colorado College
- Instructor of Communication, Mississippi State University
- Design Professor, LSU
- Theatre Professor, Fort Lewis College
- Managing Director, New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Instructor, Northeast Mississippi Community College
- Performance Faculty, Savannah College of Art and Design
- Honors Program Academic Advisor, Oklahoma State University
- Director of Events, D'Youville College
- Director of Development, University of Texas, Austin
- Costume Shop Assistant, University of Mississippi
- Instructor of Communication, Mississippi State University
- Assistant Attorney General, State of Mississippi
- Immigration Judge, US Department of Justice
- Staff, Department of Veteran Affairs
- Staff, City of Oxford
- Planning Commission, Silver Spring Township
- Hydrologic Tech, US Dept of Agriculture
- Counselor and Motivational Speaker, Exodus Transitional Community
- Day Treatment Program supervisor, Family Service and Mental Health
- Minister, First United Methodist Church
- Director of Programs, Friends of the Family
- Regional Support Coordinator, Military OneSource
- Southeast Director, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America
- Program Services Coordinator, Project Return
- Director of Family Resources, Youth Services
- Forensic Chemist, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office
- research Assistant, Delta Autumn Consulting
- Speech Pathologist, Allenbrooke Health Care Center
- Pharmacy Technician, US Army
- Manager, US Navy Memorial Store
- Officer, Air Force
- Attorney, US Army Missile Command
- Berlandi Nussbaum & Reitzas LLP
- Lawrence L. Little & Associates Inc
- Butler Snow LLP
- Gardere & Wynne
- Nick Kalcounos Esq
- Holcolm Dunbar
- Plauché Maselli Parkerson
- Clerk, Lafayette County Justice Court
- Bailiff, Madison County
- Forensic Document Examination and Expert Witness Testimony, Rile & Hicks