<p>I was wondering what Brown’s theatre department is like.
I’m thinking of majoring in it, but I’m also interested in Brown’s extracurricular theater.
How are the classes, qualities of shows, quality of professors etc…</p>
<p>Also, which Ivy’s are considered to have strong theatre programs?</p>
<p>Hey! I’m not a student, just a lowly applicant, but I’m really into theatre too and, at the moment, trying to talk myself out of majoring it 
From what I’ve heard Brown has a pretty respectable theatre program - lots of groups on campus put on productions, and the dept itself is good. From the looks of it, the professors have good credentials covering a wide range of genres and disciplines. (You can view these on the “People” page of the Theatre Dept page) As far as the best Ivies for theatre I really don’t know, but I do know that Carnegie-Mellon has one of the top theatre programs and the university itself is very prestigious. Emerson and NYU are also amazing.</p>
<p>Ho boy, Extra-Curricular Theatre!</p>
<p>I’m assistant stage managing a play on the main stage this fall. It’s Leavittsburg, Ohio, written by Nate Sloan, who just graduated from Brown in the spring. It’s being produced by the Brown Brokers.</p>
<p>Brown Brokers = Production board that is 1/2 faculty/administration, 1/2 students. They make shows on the main stage, 2 a year or so. Their shows are not typically student-written, though I have to say that having read the script, Leavittsburg, OH is of professional caliber.</p>
<p>Production Workshop (PW) = Another theater organization here, these guys have their own theater. Two, actually. One is a 1-story black box that can be gotten through a lottery at the beginning of the year. It can be used by directors who need a place to stage a play, by artists who would like to install a show, or pretty much any Brown student who needs an artistic showplace. Their other theater is a two-story black box that is literally just a black box. The set is built to suit, and there is no set stage. At PW, students do everything: choose which shows to fund, organize and operate all equipment, build sets, design everything, act, direct, manage. It is a venue for all sorts of programs, including some pretty experimental stuff.</p>
<p>Rites and Reason = Sponsored by the Africana Studies department, this one uses the research-to-performance method. Pretty unique in that regard.</p>
<p>Shakespeare on the Green = What the name says. A play by Shakespeare. Performed on the main green. This semester they’re doing Romeo and Juliet.</p>
<p>Brown University Gilbert & Sullivan (BUGS) = Performs and operetta by the composing duo Gilbert & Sullivan each semester. This year is going “The Gondolier.” Wholly student-run, like PW.</p>
<p>Brown Opera Productions (BOP) = Performs an opera each semester. Also wholly student-run.</p>
<p>Musical Forum = Puts on a student-written musical every two years. Wholly student-run.</p>
<p>In conclusion…
If you want to do theater at Brown, you will ultimately be so overwhelmed by the sheer availability of opportunities that you will instead decide to join the Investment Club.</p>