Louisiana State University Department of Theatre

Mission :

The study of theatre and performance at LSU has a long and rich history, dating back to the 1928 origin of the Department of Speech, which emerged as one of the finest programs of its kind in the South. While the LSU theatre program takes pride in the accomplishments of its past, the new century finds the Department of Theatre in a period of unprecedented vitality, evidenced by its faculty and graduates, and an affiliate professional company, Swine Palace.

The LSU program attempts to serve its students in a number of ways, providing rigorous training in performance practices, the history and literature of the stage, and in the development of the critical, conceptual and argumentative skills basic to a liberal arts education. The program aims to prepare its graduates for careers in both professional and educational theatre. The department also recognizes that theatre is no insular art but involves, reflects and participates in the wider cultural thought and practices of our time. The program thus encourages a global view of performance; training in production skills should foster an awareness of the intellectual and political life of the contemporary world. We hold that our endeavor in theatre--both in performance and in scholarship--can assume an active role in the cultural dialogue, offering not simply "entertainment" but insight and commentary regarding how we determine and pursue our social values and visions.

The Department of Theatre has a unique and significant place in the Louisiana State University and contributes in a visible way to the quality of life in both the state and region.