About Chapman University

Chapman University is a private university established in 1861. The main campus resides in Orange, California. Currently, 8,542 students are enrolled in 110 areas of study. The average student to faculty ration is 13:1.

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About the Department of Theatre

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As theatre majors at Chapman, students participate in a strong professional theatre curriculum with high quality productions while enjoying the benefits of a small university. While earning their B.A. in theatre, students gain real-world experience from working onstage and backstage with professional organizations such as Shakespeare Orange County.

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The Department of Theatre faculty and staff are dedicated to providing an education with strong professional ethics that empower students to pursue career paths appropriate to their abilities. The theatre department strives for excellence in a professional work environment that is instilled with mutual respect.

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The BA Theatre, Technology Area of Study is for students interested in technology and design, and provides specialized training in skills such as drafting, stagecraft, design and advanced technology courses. The Technology emphasis provides skills and hands-on experiences to students that will serve them well in a career behind the scenes in theatre and media, or as preparation for more advanced training in technology and design in graduate programs.

Chapman’s Entertainment Technology Center is home to the CoPA Production Department. At the Entertainment Technology Center, students have the opportunity to take classes in the Entertainment Technology field and are given the opportunity to build the scenic and costume elements for all of Dance, Theatre, and Opera productions.

The Waltmar Theatre is home to many Theatre and Dance performances.  It is also used as a classroom space to allow students the opportunity to hone their skills as professional artists.  Located at the corner of Palm and Center, Waltmar Theatre was built in 1976 and seats 240.

The O.L. Halsell Foundation Studio Theatre is a flexible space used for both classes and performances.  This intimate venue can seat up to 50 patrons.

Covering 88,000 breathtaking square feet, Musco Center for the Arts provides a state-of-the-art venue for College of Performing Arts students to hone their talents, discover their voices and visions, and prepare for rich and rewarding lives in the arts. The Center’s façade spans the entire block at the northwest corner of campus, staking out a highly visible arts identity within the community.

Designed by renowned architects Pfeiffer Partners, with acoustics by world‑renowned Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics, Musco Center boasts an intimate seating chamber with 1,044 seats on three levels and a full-scale stagehouse capable of grand spectacle or lush symphonic sound with its unique orchestral shell in place.  Opened in March 2016, Musco Center serves as a dynamic focal point for campus life and the broader community, giving notice that world-class arts education and artistic achievement has found a new home in Southern California.