Department of Theatre Arts Celebrates 40 years!

The Department of Theatre Arts was founded in 1982 under the guidance of Attilio "Buck" Favorini. Dr. Favorini joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in 1969. In his third year at the University of Pittsburgh he was named Head of the Theatre Arts Division, which became officially recognized as the Department of Theatre Arts in 1982. Dr. Favorini served a total of twenty-seven years as the Department Chair.

The Department of Theatre Arts is a part of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Arts and Sciences and offers BA, MFA and PhD degrees in theatre arts. All of our faculty members are active in both teaching and artistic or research activities.

The mission of the Department of Theatre Arts is congruent with the generally recognized mission of the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences in the University of Pittsburgh, which supports our collaborative efforts in building a community of learners that actively engage in interdisciplinary research, teaching, and creative practice. The department makes every effort to support diversity and inclusion by bringing together faculty, staff, and students who have a broad range of viewpoints, practices, and interests in the performing arts and its practices. These encompass our BA, MFA, and PhD programs, faculty teaching and course development, research, and scholarship. We seek to provide the widest possible spectrum of practical and educational opportunities to the theatre artists and scholars of the future.

We pursue our mission through rigorous coursework combined with direct practical experience in theatre research, performance, design, and production, as well as occasions for self-development and artistic challenge. We expect our faculty to enrich human knowledge through disciplinary and cross-disciplinary research and creative activity, including scholarly and artistic projects accessible to the campus and the Pittsburgh community of citizens and scholars.

The University of Pittsburgh Theatre Arts Department promotes diversity and inclusion in our curriculum, classrooms, and departmental productions.  We embrace equal opportunity for all who research, study, and work on departmental shows. We support these choices within our curriculum to ensure each Theatre Arts major graduates with well-rounded academic experiences and perspectives. 

We are proud to celebrate this milestone. 40 Years Strong!