Our Program

Drama courses and course descriptions are listed in our online catalog.

Philosophy & Goals

To offer the highest level of instruction in a comprehensive curriculum, which serves the non-major, the exploratory, or serious drama student. For the latter, we recommend an interdisciplinary course of study, strongly based in the humanities, leading to an A.A.S. degree with emphasis in drama.

• A balanced curriculum.
• Instructionally linked performance opportunities for drama and other majors.
• Equipment for support of productions.
• Staff of faculty, classified staff and students.
• Counseling/guidance for students interested in pursuing an education or career in the theatre.

"Theatrical representation is finite and leaves behind it, behind its actual presence, no trace, no object to carry off. It is neither a book nor a work, but an energy, and in this sense it is the only art of life."

-Jacques Derrida

Program History

Carlson Theater, a thrust stage which seats up to 350.

Bud Carlson founded the BCC Drama Department in 1968. When Carlson died in 1969, Bonnie Wallace-Hoffman assumed leadership. Carlson Theater was built in 1973 and opened in 1975. Up until that time, plays were produced in a lecture hall nick-named the "StopGap."The StopGap Theatre still remains as a studio space used for classroom activities as well as for the StageFright Drama Club.

In 1978, Rob Jackson was hired as faculty and Manager of the Carlson Theatre to provide full time, in-house tech support for plays as well as balance curriculum offerings in the department.

In 1987, the department changed directions to concentrate on full student participation in productions, instituting its studio theater (StopGap) and colloquium classes, melding academic work with productions. Over the years, BCC Drama has maintained a constant commitment to producing contemporary dramatic works as well as re-interpreting the classics.