Mission Statement
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.
