I’d like to find a Liberal Arts College with a BA in Theatre (in the Midwest) with an option to focus on MT. I believe I would also like to avoid colleges that have BFA/MFA programs because it seems those students would absorb all of the performance opportunities. Am I wrong?
Thanks for your help!
Kenyon in OH is a well respected program
Where in the Midwest? “near” may be different depending on where you are located. What radius from home are you are willing to look? How large of a study body? Do you have a preference for rural, urban, suburban?
I do not think you will find many liberal arts colleges that have an MFA degree (although I can think of a few), but you you may find this combination slightly more with the BFA degree. At some schools BAs and BFAs are able to take the safe classes, and are given equal opportunity in productions, at others this is not the case.
What is you GPA, test scores?
This information will help posters suggest the greatest range of schools that may meet your preferred criteria. 
Location is not quite as important. Originally, I believed BFA was my first choice but I feel a liberal arts degree will allow me to continue to study theatre and performance as well as take classes outside of the requirements of the conservatory-type curriculum. Most important, will finding a program/college that awards need based financial aid.
My GPA is 3.8 of 4.0 and SATs scores to date are 620 Reading, 600 Math, 590 Writing.
I have been advised that BA students have very few performing opportunities if a BFA degree is offered in the same program. I’d love to learn of colleges that provide equal opportunities.
Thanks for your help!
My daughter chose a BA program over a BFA acceptance and it was the best decision for her. She was cast in a MainStage show as a freshman and has been cast each year since. She has also fallen in love with Stage Managing and the skills she has learned backstage will afford her more options to work in theatre than a straight acting degree. She will probably have her equity card shortly after graduation due to this. So choosing a BA is a very viable option and performance opportunities have been plenty for her because there is no BFA or MFA at her school.
Muhlenberg? It’s not in the midwest, but it’s “near”.
Not a LAC, but the BA Theatre program at Indiana University is strong. It would be good to ask if BA students are able to participate in musicals now that they have a BFA MT program, and if the BAs are cast in productions often even though there are MFA students.
Wittenberg has a theatre program, a music minor, and musical theare opportunities. I know someone who graduated from there years ago and loved it. I do not have much info about the current program.
Not in Midwest, but University of Mary Washington in VA has a solid BA program with musical theatre opportunities. So does Emory and Henry also in VA.
Oberlin has a very good theater program, but I’m not sure they have MT.
College of Wooster is also excellent and known for good merit/talent aid.
Ashland University in Ohio has BA in Theatre with MT option.