Theatre &Technical Theatre
Act, direct, design, and build. Trinidad State's Theatre Department trains performers and technicians side by side, on stage and backstage, in a newly renovated theatre in the heart of a working arts town.
Two Ways In
Choose Your Track
Both tracks share the same core theatre curriculum and both are guaranteed to transfer to public four-year institutions across Colorado. Where you specialize is up to you.
Theatre
Associate of Arts (A.A.) · Transfer Degree
Comprehensive study in acting, directing, playwriting, and stage design. Work with faculty in small classes to produce theatrical events every semester, including a full dramatic production each spring in the Massari Theatre.
Technical Theatre
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) · Career & Technical Education
Hands-on training in lighting design, sound engineering, set construction, and stage management. Learn on newly renovated, industry-standard equipment and build ties to local theatres and production companies along the way.
Program Cost
Where You Can Study
This program is offered at the following TSC campus locations.
Theater Transfer Major - Associate of Arts
Click any semester to see the full course list.
Semester One
English composition, math, and theatre appreciation, paired with technical theatre, acting, and a communication elective.
- ENG 1021 – English Composition I: GT-CO1 (3 credits)
- MAT 1240 – Mathematics for Liberal Arts: GT-MA1 (4 credits)
- THE 1005 * – Theatre Appreciation: GT-AH1 (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 1016 – Technical Theatre (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 1011 – Acting I (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Choose one: (3 credits)
- COM 1150 – Public Speaking
- COM 1250 – Interpersonal Communication: GT-SS3
Semester Two
English Composition II and theatre script analysis, paired with a lab-based science, a social science elective, and a hands-on theatre production course.
- ENG 1022 – English Composition II: GT-CO1 (3 credits)
- THE 1008 – Theatre Script Analysis: GT-AH1 (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Choose one: (3-4* credits — one of the two SC courses must be lab-based GT:SC1) (SC1, SC2*)
- AST 1110 – Planetary Astronomy with Lab: GT- SC1
- BIO 1005 – Science of Biology with Lab: GT-SC1
- ENV 1010 – Natural Disasters: GT-SC2
- ENV 1111 – Environmental Science with Lab: GT-SC1
- GEY 1111 – Physical Geology with Lab: GT-SC1
- SCI 1105 – Science in Society: GT-SC2
Choose one: (3 credits) (SS1, SS2, SS3 — additional GT courses available)
- ECO 2001 – Principles of Macroeconomics: GT-SS1
- ECO 2002 – Principles of Microeconomics: GT-SS1
- SOC 1001 – Intro to Sociology: SS3
- PSC 1011 – American Government: GT-SS1
- GEO 1005 – World Regional Geography: GT-SS2
- PSY 1001 – General Psychology I: GT-SS3
Choose one: (3 credits) (Core Theatre)
- THE 1031 – Theatre Production I
- THE 1032 – Theatre Production II
- THE 2031 – Theatre Production III
- THE 2032 – Theatre Production IV
Semester Three
Theatre history from ancient Greece through the Renaissance, a history elective, a social science elective, and a science elective to round out the degree.
- THE 2011 – Development of Theatre 1: Greek to Renaissance: GT-AH1 (3 credits) (fall only) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Choose one: (3 credits) (HI1 — additional GT courses available)
- HIS 1310 – Western Civilization:Antiquity-1650: GT-HI1
- HIS 1320 – Western Civilization: 1650-Present: GT-HI1
- HIS 1110 – The World: Antiquity-1500: GT-HI1
- HIS 1120 – The World: 1500-Present: GT-HI1
- HIS 1210 – US History to Reconstruction: GT- HI1
- HIS 1220 – US History since the Civil War:GT-HI1
Choose one: (3 credits) (SS1, SS2, SS3 — additional GT courses available)
- ECO 2001 – Principles of Macroeconomics: GT-SS1
- PSC 1011 – American Government: GT-SS1
- GEO 1005 – World Regional Geography: GT-SS2
- PSY 1001 – General Psychology I: GT-SS3
- PSY 2222 – Psychology of Death and Dying: GT-SS3
- SOC 1001 – Introduction to Sociology I : GT-SS3
Choose one: (5-6 credits) (Elective *)
- BIO 1005 – Science of Biology with Lab: GT-SC1
- BIO 1111 – General College Biology I with Lab: GT-SC1
- BIO 1112 – General College Biology II with Lab: GT-SC1
- CHE 1011 – Introduction to Chemistry I with Lab: GT-SC1
- BIO 2104 – Microbiology w/lab: SC1
- BIO 1004 – Biology: A Human Approach: SC1
Semester Four
Theatre history from the Restoration to the modern era and playwriting, paired with a lab-based science and two arts and humanities electives.
- THE 2012 – Development of Theatre II: Restoration to Modern: GT-AH1 (3 credits) (spring only) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 2015 – Playwriting: GT-AH1 (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Choose one: (4* credits — lab-based GT:SC1) (SC1*)
- AST 1110 – Planetary Astronomy with Lab: GT- SC1
- BIO 1005 – Science of Biology with Lab: GT-SC1
- ENV 1111 – Environmental Science with Lab: GT-SC1
- BIO 1004 – Biology: A Human Approach: GT-SC1
- GEY 1111 – Physical Geology with Lab: GT-SC1
- BIO 2104 – Microbiology w/lab: SC1
Choose one: (3 credits) (Elective *)
- ART 1110 – Art Appreciation: GT-AH1
- COM 1250 – Interpersonal Communication: GT-SS3
- MUS 1020 – Music Appreciation: GT-AH1
- MUS 1021 – Music History Medieval thru Classical: GT-AH1
- LIT 2001 – World Literature to 1600: GT-AH2
- LIT 2002 – World Literature After 1600: GT-AH2
Choose one: (3 credits) (Elective *)
- ART 1111 Art History Ancient to Medieval GT-AH1
- MUS 1022 Music History Early Romantic Period to the Present: GT-AH1
- MUS 1025 History of Jazz: GT-AH1
- LIT 2011 American Literature to Civil War: GT-AH2
- LIT 2012 American Literature After Civil War: GT-AH2
- PHI 1011 Intro to Philosophy: GT-AH3
Technical Theatre Associate of Applied Science
Click any semester to see the full course list.
Semester One
English composition, math, and theatre appreciation, paired with technical theatre and an introduction to the entertainment industry.
- ENG 1021 – English Composition I: GT-CO1 (3 credits)
- MAT 1240 – Mathematics for Liberal Arts: GT-MA1 (4 credits)
- THE 1005 – Theatre Appreciation: AH1 (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 1016 – Technical Theatre (3 credits)
- THE 1029 – Intro-Entertainment Industry (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Semester Two
Costume construction, script analysis, and production stage management, paired with hands-on theatre production experience.
- THE 1004 – Basic Costume and Apparel Construction (3 credits)
- THE 1008 – Theater Script Analysis: AH1 (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 1031 – Theatre Production I (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 1052 – Production Stage Management I (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Semester Three
General psychology, theatre production, lighting and design, and set design, rounded out by a theatre history elective.
- PSY 1001 – General Psychology I: GT-SS3 (3 credits)
- THE 1032 – Theatre Production II (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 2016 – Theatre Lighting and Design (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 2021 – Set Design for Film and Theatre (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Choose one: (3 credits)
- THE 2011 – THE 2011 Development of Theatre Greek-Renaissance: GT-AH1 (fall only) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 2012 – THE 2012 Development of Theatre Restoration to Modern: GT-AH1 (spring only) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Semester Four
Playwriting, rendering and modeling techniques, stage properties, and practical theatre technologies, alongside continued production experience and advanced stage management.
- THE 2015 – Playwriting: AH1 (3 credits)
- THE 2000 – Paint, Draw, Render, Model Techs (3 credits)
- THE 2031 – Theatre Production III (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 2041 – Stage Properties (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 2050 – Practical Theatre Technologies (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
- THE 2062 – Production Stage Management (3 credits) (Open Education Resource — textbook purchase not required.)
Technical Theatre
Train on Industry-Standard Equipment
Sound
Digital sound system including a Yamaha TF3 mixing board, QSC amplifiers, and Shure microphones.
Lighting
Digital lighting system including ETC lighting fixtures and an ETC @5 GIO lighting control board.
Stage
New curtains and industry-standard stage machinery throughout the Massari Theatre.
Where You'll Work
Facilities & Performance Venues
You'll train on campus and perform across a working theatre town.
On Campus
Massari Theatre
A newly renovated 200-seat facility on the Trinidad campus, with modern lighting and sound systems.
On Campus
Massari Studio
Located on the lower level of the Massari Theatre and available for student use.
Around Trinidad
Fox West Theatre
A historic 1,150-seat facility built in 1908, located on Main Street, Trinidad. Renovation status should be confirmed before publishing.
Around Trinidad
Tri Peak Theaters & Event Center
A multidisciplinary entertainment venue on South Main Street, Trinidad, renovated in 2021.
Around Trinidad
Main Street LIVE!
A nonprofit local live theatre repertory group based on Main Street, Trinidad.
Raton, NM
El Raton Theater
A historic 500-seat movie theater located in nearby Raton, New Mexico.
Get Involved
Theatre Department Events
- Student/Faculty Talent Show, each semester
- Weekly Open Music Jams for students in the Massari Studio
- Spring Fling productions
- Spring Theatre production
- Thursday Night Concert Series, featuring local and regional musicians
Watch
Featured Student Production
May 2021 · Trinidad State Theatre Department
Beyond the Door
A fleeing murderer takes refuge in a house inhabited by two elderly ladies, who offer to shelter him from the police if he will consent to marry their younger sister, Lucy, who seems to reside just offstage in a little room beyond a locked door. Questions develop which cause the murderer to grow uneasy: are the ladies insane, is there really a Lucy, and why didn't her first wedding take place? He discovers the answers when the door is finally unlocked and he must choose between a wedding and the waiting police outside.
- By
- Douglas Farr
- Starring
- Sierra Romero, Jayden Walton, Dustin Hyman, Brandon Graves, Amen Fink
- Directed by
- Joe Reorda II
- Produced by
- Trinidad State Theater and DunForFun Productions
Where You'll Go
Real job market data for the careers our graduates pursue, powered by Lightcast.
Beyond Trinidad State
Degree Transferability
A.A. in Theatre graduates may enter as a junior majoring in Theatre at these four-year institutions:
- Adams State University
- Colorado State University—Fort Collins
- Fort Lewis College
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
- Western State Colorado University
Theatre Scholarships Available
Full-tuition awards for students enrolled in the Theatre Program. Students must enroll in at least 15 credit hours per semester and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to continue eligibility.
Contact Us
Have questions about this program? Reach out to a faculty or staff member.
- TitleDivision Chair
- DepartmentArts and Humanities, Assessment Coordinator, Theatre Manager
- LocationTrinidad, Colorado • 210 Berg
- Emaildesi.maxwell@trinidadstate.edu