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What Sets Our Theatre Degree Apart
A Russell Sage theatre degree will give you unbeatable opportunities on stage and behind the scenes.
In small classes guided by Broadway-veteran faculty, arts leaders, and working actors, students explore all areas of theatre, from advanced performance to costume and set design, while building critical business skills and mind-body wellness. With a robust production schedule and a coming-soon capstone NYC senior showcase, graduates gain the resilient mindset and industry connections needed for lasting success, while enjoying the city of Troy’s historic, welcoming, and quirky-creative community.
Acting, Stagecraft and Technical Production
Theatre majors at Russell Sage College gain professional experience with the college’s resident theatre company and with companies throughout upstate New York and western Massachusetts. Because our program centers on an intensive acting curriculum, you will build an on-stage resume backed by adjacent opportunities in directing, stagecraft, and technical production.
Investing in the Arts
While Russell Sage is widely recognized for our broad catalog of healthcare programs, we believe a comprehensive education embraces the spectrum of human talent. That is why we are heavily investing in the future of the creative workforce.
Modern performance and practice spaces
Students learn in a range of professional spaces, including two theaters, a dance studio, a scene shop and a costume shop, with the college preparing to invest millions of dollars to expand performing arts spaces in coming years.
Fully Renovated Dance Studio in the Robison athletic and recreation center
We are investing several million dollars to transform our performing arts facilities, including a new dance studio coming fall 2026.
The Schacht Fine Arts Center Auditorium
includes a proscenium stage for large-scale productions, concerts, and performances. Schacht has 700 seats, plus rehearsal, classroom, and music practice spaces.
James L. Meader Little Theater
is an intimate, 130-seat theater with flexible black box staging configurations for smaller productions and experimental work.
Inspiration All Around You
Artists need to work in inspired places, and the vibrant city surrounding Russell Sage’s Troy campus is the perfect setting.
Hit up one of the many charming coffee shops for a morning boost after a hard night of rehearsals. Catch a show in Troy Music Hall down the street or grab a poke bowl around the corner with friends. People watch at the nationally recognized farmers’ market every Saturday morning. And you’re just a free Russell Sage shuttle ride away from the vibrant capital city of Albany, with even more to explore.
Students are also learning in a region that serves as a location for film and television production, including HBO’s The Gilded Age, which films on and around Russell Sage’s Troy campus.
Perform Your Way to a Theatre Degree
With five to seven shows a year, you’ll have more opportunities to perform here than at many larger Theatre degree programs.
Personalized performance training
Small classes, close mentorship, and individualized attention help students build skills and confidence across acting, voice, and dance.
Consistent performance opportunities
Performing arts majors at Russell Sage College gain professional experience through the college’s resident theatre company and find even more opportunities thanks to the program’s connections with performing arts companies throughout upstate New York and western Massachusetts.
Lucas Aurelio ’18 “My four years at Sage were amazing. We did five shows a season. I was essentially a working actor.”
Bridgerton, The Witcher
Performance and Professional Experiences
Theatre Institute at Russell Sage
The Theatre Institute at Russell Sage is a professional theatre company on Sage’s Troy campus that brings performances and educational programming to New York’s Capital Region, while giving Russell Sage students experience as performers, technicians, and teaching artists.
Looking for upcoming performances, showtimes, or box office tickets? Visit the Theatre Institute at Russell Sage.
Partnerships with nearby theatre companies
A partnership with Playhouse Stage Company includes a shared scene shop steps from campus that offers students additional opportunities in set fabrication and technical theatre production.
Connections across the region’s theatre scene
New York’s Capital Region is alive with professional and community theatre groups, filmmakers, and performance venues. As one grad said, “You can go from Acting I and Acting II with Professor of Theatre David Baecker on a Tuesday and Thursday and work on the weekend with another theatre company. What a great way to spend your college years, doing as much art as possible!”
Anna Shields “I quickly realized there was a local film community in upstate New York, and I was so thrilled to collaborate with people and start making films of my own.”
who has written and starred in several independent films, including The North Witch, recommended by The New York Times
“I started to notice I was tapping into some of my theatre training off the stage. And once I realized that I was doing it, I kind of felt like I had a superpower that I should lean into.”
Brandon Hansen
Vice President of External Affairs at Baltimore Children & Youth Fund
Affordability, Admissions, and Transferring
A Personalized Admissions Process and an Affordable Theatre Degree
We understand that cost and value are top concerns when choosing a college. That’s why we work with every student as an individual in the admission process — whether they’re a transfer student or a student coming straight out of high school.
What to Know:
Don’t forget! You have to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid — or FAFSA — to receive a complete financial aid package from any college.
How to Apply
Still accepting applications for fall 2026
Contact Beth Carlin
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Enrollment Management
Admission
You’ll have to submit an application as part of the admission process.
Full application details and next steps are available through the Admissions Office.
What Can I Do with a Theatre Degree? –
Careers and Alumni Outcomes
Careers with a Theatre Degree
Performance Careers:
Work as an actor, director, or stage manager, for regional theatres, touring productions, arts organizations, and entertainment companies.
Why Russell Sage: You’ll have extensive on-stage and behind-the-scenes experience from the Theatre Institute at Sage and partner theatre companies.
Technical Theatre and Production Careers:
Work behind the scenes in stage management, lighting, sound, costume, scenic construction, and production coordination.
Why Russell Sage: Your required coursework in stagecraft and hands-on production hours with the Theatre Institute at Sage ensure you graduate with real-world, backstage resume credits.
Arts Administration:
Pursue leadership positions in arts education, nonprofit arts organizations, theatre administration, and community arts programming. Alumni have gone on to leadership roles in arts organizations including Baltimore Center Stage and Capital Repertory Theatre (Albany), where they apply their theatre training in new ways every day.
Why Russell Sage: You’ll build skills in collaboration, communication, and storytelling that translate beyond performance.
“I’ve been blessed to have an incredible career in theatre, with some TV and film work sprinkled in … I’m still going and growing in this profession I love!”
Original Broadway casts of Hairspray and Show Boat; touring productions of Parade and The Lion King, voice of Barbara Schternvart in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Hear from Bridgerton’s Lucas Aurelio ’18 on why you should join the Performing Arts programs at Russell Sage.
Learn from Our Experienced Faculty
Personal advising, experienced faculty
Our Theatre program faculty are professionals with years of experience. Small class sizes and a 10:1 student-to-professor ratio ensure that you always get one-on-one attention.
David A. Baecker, MFA
Professor of Theatre
A member of the Actors’ Equity Association, he’s directed with Theater Voices, Saratoga Shakespeare Company, the Santa Fe Theatre Festival, and at the New York Fringe Festival and collaborated in the UK with a disability activist on a new play, “Let Right Be Done.”
Michael A. Musial, M.M.
Edith McCrae Professor of Fine Arts, Professor of Music, Managing Director, Theatre Institute at Russell Sage
A talented pianist with music directing credits including Candide, Children of Eden, The Secret Garden, A Chorus Line, Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd, he’ll help you find your voice on stage.
Robin Lewis
Associate Professor of Musical Theatre
A 12-year Broadway veteran, director, and choreographer who leverages his elite industry connections to provide holistic mentorship – transitioning the next generation of talent to Broadway and national stages.
Sara Senecal
Instructor of Dance
A professional dancer and arts in education coordinator with the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, her choreographic work has been showcased at The Egg in Albany, The Poet’s Den Theater in Harlem, Byrdcliffe Theater in Woodstock, and Carrier Theater in Syracuse.
Todd Dellinger
Associate Professor of Arts and Entertainment Management
As an experienced arts leader and entrepreneur with a distinguished background that includes working with the legendary Martha Graham Dance Company & School, Dellinger ensures artists are prepared for the business of the business.
Frequently
Asked Questions –
Theatre at Russell Sage
Ready to break a leg?
Got questions or need a hand? We are happy to help you get started!