Acting, B.F.A.
B.F.A. in Acting
Move. Play. Discover. Shine. Own the scene.
Acting is your passion, and a B.F.A in Acting from Penn State can jumpstart your career and prepare you for your most important roles. If your dreams are set on center stage, our uniquely qualified faculty is eager to help you get there. Each day, you’ll learn from industry leaders the skills to command the performance while discovering your individuality and realizing your potential.
Earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at Penn State
Are you ready to step into the spotlight? We’re excited to see you there.
Working toward a B.F.A. in Acting is a journey to find your artistic voice. Your four-year training sequence will begin with impulse, play and moment-to-moment discovery. The course work moves through creation of original pieces and various devising processes into scene work, monologue work and Shakespeare.
Our faculty applies various approaches including Meisner-based work, Michael Chekhov and Jacques Lecoq techniques, Fitzmaurice work, Bartinieff and Laban efforts, Euro Danztheatre, hip hop theatre, singing training, acting in musical theatre training, devised Theatre work and more.
During the spring semester of your third year, the journey will take you to London, England where you will train with British faculty at Theatre Academy London. The transformative experience, set in one of the richest theatre cultures in the world, will offer you an opportunity to study original theatre-making, Shakespeare, physical approaches and scene study.
Throughout your time at Penn State, you will have extensive opportunities to grow as an artist while performing in productions, student films, faculty project productions, graduate student project productions and one acts. Your journey will culminate with your inclusion in a devised piece created for and with your class to serve as its showcase production.
Next Steps
See it in 360º
Welcome to our studios and performance spaces! Each of these 360º views is a portal of sorts into the learning and performance spaces in the School of Theatre!
You can click-and-drag to control the view in the frame, and there are embedded ‘links’ within the viewer that enable you to move among physical locations. By clicking the arrow icon at the footer of the viewer window, you can access the tour navigation menu, including the full screen (and you really should check these out full screen).
Is earning a B.F.A. in acting your next role?
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting degree program is one of the most revered in the entertainment industry and continuously produces highly skilled graduates ready to step onto the big stage.
The program’s holistic approach to producing well-rounded graduates will prepare you for a career in entertainment while educating you in a variety of subject areas.
Our faculty roster comprises working artists at the top of their game who have a deep understanding of the industry and what it takes to achieve success. They’re ready to help you get to where you want to go. Are you ready to take the first step?
Alumni Spotlight
alumni spotlight
Phillip Fazio
One week after graduation, Phillip started his new job as Artistic Director of the NorShor Theatre at The Duluth Playhouse. Located in downtown Duluth, Minnesota, the NorShor is a 600 seat performing arts complex with over one hundred years of history as a former movie palace and vaudeville theatre.
Considering the B.F.A. in Acting at Penn State? Consider this.
Program takes holistic approach to producing well-rounded actors.
- Faculty includes working artists at top of their game, with experience on Broadway and beyond.
- Program includes semester at Theatre Academy London, in one of the richest theatre cultures.
- Penn State and the surrounding community have a thriving theatre scene.
Faculty Spotlight
See all Faculty
faculty spotlight
John Simpkins
John Simpkins is head of Musical Theatre and the Nagle Family Endowed Chair at Penn State. He is also a professional director who recently directed the world premiere of Tony-nominated Joe Iconis’ Love in Hate Nation, which was commissioned by Penn State Musical Theatre as part of its New Musicals Initiative.
His recent new musical credits include the World Premiere of Legendale (music by Andrea Daly, words by Jeff Bienstock) at Fredericia Teater in Denmark and the subsequent American Premiere at Human Race Theatre Company. Recent new plays include the World Premieres of Raging Skillet (by Jacques Lamarre) at Theaterworks Hartford, The Bus (by Jim Lantz) at 59E59 Theaters and For Better, For Worse (by Reed Arnold). Regionally, he has directed at Sacramento Music Circus, Lyric Theatre Oklahoma, North Carolina Theatre, the Engeman Theatre, and Sharon Playhouse (where he also served as Artistic Director).