The Theatre and Performance Studies program at Tufts provides a strong liberal arts approach to the creative, historical, and aesthetic dimensions of theatre arts. It fosters critical thinking and imaginative challenges, whether through experiences with literature and history or participation in performance. 

The department is close-knit, with students knowing faculty well (and on a first-name basis). TPS offers a full range of expertly taught courses and exciting faculty-directed productions side-by-side with several active student organizations that continuously produce performances. Students have the opportunity to pursue multiple interests in our program and can be involved in a number of ways: as actors, directors, designers, technicians, and/or producers. They do not have to limit themselves to any one area of expertise and value the flexibility they find here.

Live performance is central to the TPS program at Tufts. We stage three faculty-directed productions each year in the Balch Arena Theater, and students can receive course credit for performance or production work in any of them. There also are a number of student-directed shows each semester. Presented as part of the directing curriculum or under the auspices of student theater groups (Pen, Paint and Pretzels and Torn Ticket II), they involve both majors and non-majors.

Study abroad and off-campus programs are available for one or two semesters during the junior year. Popular choices include the British American Dramatic Academy (full-time training in acting or directing), the London College of Fashion Design (costume design), and the National Theatre Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Center (acting, directing, design).

Although not graduating from a conservatory program, TPS majors and minors often use their Tufts experience as a springboard into professional training and careers. Noteworthy alumni include Hank Azaria, Peter Gallagher, William Hurt, Kristen Lee Kelly, James Nicola, and Oliver Platt. In recent years, seniors have gained admission to prestigious graduate programs in drama, and about two-thirds of our alumni have successful careers in some aspect of theatre, film, or television. Still others have made productive transitions to law, business, advertising, and many other fields.

Sample Classes:

• Foundations of Performance
• Designing with Automated Lights
• Puppets in Performance
• Critical Drag 
• In the Flesh: Race, Performance, Sex, and Skin

Photo credit: Alonso Nichols/Tufts University from Photoshelter