The Pomona College Department of Theatre serves as the theatre program for all five undergraduate Claremont Colleges. The curriculum includes the study of theatre history and dramatic literature, design and technology and performance.
Theatre students become proficient in devising creative solutions to complex problems. They also develop sensitivity to the interpersonal relationships inherent in the collaborative process. Thus, they are prepared for a wide variety of careers in organizations and enterprises that value these qualities. While encouraging such broad development, the department also prepares its students for further study on either the graduate and/or professional levels. Many department graduates have become successful members of the professional community as actors, dancers, designers and technicians, producers, writers, dramaturgs, teachers and administrators.
The department presents four major productions and a dance concert each year in the modern Seaver Theatre Complex. Students from all of the Claremont Colleges, majors and non-majors alike, serve as performers and production personnel. The department also co-sponsors a dynamic season of student-generated productions.
The Philbrick Fund, a bequest of distinguished theatre historian Norman Philbrick ’35, supports the Department’s Distinguished Visiting Artist/Lecturer Series. Past artist/lecturers have included author and director Luis Valdez, theatre scholar Martin Esslin, designers William and Jean Eckart, director/playwright George C. Wolfe ’76, actress/playwright Anna Deavere Smith, actor Karl Malden, director-writer Eugenio Barba, The Shanghai Beijing and Shanghai Kun Chinese Opera companies, The Martha Graham Dance Company, performance artist Rachel Rosenthal, director Peter Sellars, and residencies by Actors from the London stage. The Marion and Charles C. Holmes Fund provide additional support for department activities.
For information about the Theatre major, minor, and courses offered please refer to the Pomona College catalog.