The Department of Drama offers conservatory-style training at a major American university, combined with a level of integration with a professional theater company that is unparalleled among undergraduate programs.
10:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
– With conservatory-style training
1
Partnership with a professional theater company
– Syracuse Stage
Chair’s Welcome
On behalf of the entire faculty, I encourage you to consider the ways in which Syracuse University and the Department of Drama can help prepare you for a life in the arts, no matter what medium you choose to work in. We are committed to a learning environment that builds on a rich past and expands into a new era—encouraging excellence, imagination, artistry, and leadership as we empower our students to create the theater of the future. If you are committed to excellence in a career in theater and entertainment and want to learn in a professional environment, we welcome your application to the Department of Drama.We invite you to visit our online gallery, to explore our programs of study, and to learn more about the unique opportunities we provide.
Ralph Zito
Professor and Chair, Department of Drama
Professional Experience
The Department of Drama has a unique affiliation with Syracuse Stage, Central New York’s premier professional theater. Both share more than just their physical home: they share a commitment to great storytelling and to the great things that happen when established and emerging artists join forces. Students in all programs of study have the opportunity to study with—and often to work side-by-side with—nationally renowned professionals. Over the course of four years, students also have the opportunity to participate in 160+ shows and gain hands-on, professional work experience crucial to getting started in the industry.
Become Immersed in Theater
Named for its founder, drama alumna and Tony Award-winning producer Arielle Tepper ’94, the Tepper Semester provides the opportunity to work closely with an accomplished faculty of professional artists in New York City. In addition to participating in a full semester of specialized programming, students attend workshops and master classes conducted by industry professionals, see as many as 30 Broadway and off-Broadway productions, visit a wide variety of cultural institutions, and gain an understanding of the business skills essential for a successful career in the industry.
Hit the Studios Running
Supported by drama alumnus and Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winning writer and producer Aaron Sorkin ’83, H’12, the Sorkin in LA Learning Practicum provides a select group of seniors with a week-long, “hit-the-studios-running” immersion into the heart of America’s film and television industries. Students meet and learn from alumni and industry insiders through a series of seminars workshops, master classes, and more.
For a longer-term introduction to Los Angeles, you may choose to take advantage of Summer in LA, a six-week, two-course experience that includes a professional internship, classes in on-camera acting and audition technique, and a series of workshops and master classes— all taught by leading professionals in the entertainment industry.
International Study: London, Florence, and More
Thanks to the global reach of Syracuse University, students in all programs of study the Department of Drama have a variety of long and short-term opportunities to study abroad. These range from semesters in Florence or London (where performance majors work in partnership with Shakespeare’s Globe) to performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
An Engaged Community
All Star C.A.S.T. (Community Actors and Students’ Theater) provides the opportunity for students in the Department of Drama, under faculty guidance, to facilitate weekly theater workshops for members of the Syracuse community with special needs. All Star C.A.S.T. provides a safe, non-judgmental space for community actors and drama students to come together to explore their creativity, to encourage communication, and to re-awaken a sense of “play” and joy in acting.
Undergraduate Majors
- Acting B.F.A.
- Drama B.S.
- Musical Theater B.F.A.
- Stage Management B.F.A.
- Theater Design and Technology B.F.A.
Recent Department of Drama News
![Kiiran Carper]()
Faculty News
Kiira Schmidt Carper, assistant professor of musical theater in the Department of Drama, was a guest performer in the multi-disciplinary performance event Linzer Klanwolke ("Odyssey: A Journey Through Worlds") in Linz, Austria, which was part of the internationally celebrated music festival, Brucknerfest. She recently recreated the
...![Headshots of Gregg Barron, Harry Castle, Richard Dent IV, Rachel Dubrofsky, Jason Eppink, Tamika Galanis, Alex Jainchill, SeWoong Kim, Kira Marshall-McKelvey, Sandy Siquier, Christina Sisson, Hannah Tabrizi, David Tarleton, Guinevere Turner, Ekaterina Vanovskaya, and Andrew Zhou]()
Faculty News
College of Visual and Performing Arts Welcomes New Full-Time Faculty
Sixteen new full-time faculty joined the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) in August for the 2023-24 academic year. Two of the faculty members are also new department chairs in the college.
Read More...![Exterior signage on theater complex]()
Featured News
Department of Drama Announces 2023-24 Season
The Department of Drama is pleased to announce the 2023/2024 season, consisting of six productions: “Guys and Dolls” (Oct. 6 - 15), “Ghost Ship” (Nov. 10 - 18), “A Christmas Carol” (Nov. 24 - Dec. 31 and co-produced with Syracuse Stage), “Head Over Heels” (March 1 - 9), “Randy’s Dandy Coaster Castle” (March 29 - April 14) and “The Droll (Or, a Stage-Play About The End of Theatre)” (April 19 - 28). Read More...
