Fordham University Theatre

Fordham University's Theatre program traces its roots to the university's founding commitment to the performing arts, with theatrical productions on campus dating back to the early twentieth century. The program is housed at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus in the heart of Manhattan, directly adjacent to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex — home to the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, the Juilliard School, and Lincoln Center Theater. Fordham established its formal theatre major within the College at Lincoln Center, offering a BA in Theatre rather than a BFA, which reflects the university's Jesuit educational philosophy of combining rigorous arts training with a broad liberal arts foundation. The program's most famous alumnus is Denzel Washington, who graduated from Fordham in 1977 and has credited the university with shaping his artistic development, along with other notable graduates including Lana Parilla, Alan Alda, and Patricia Clarkson. Over the decades, Fordham Theatre has evolved from a traditional liberal arts drama program into a competitive, professionally oriented training ground that leverages its extraordinary Manhattan location to provide students with unparalleled access to the professional theater world. The program's Lincoln Center location is not merely a geographic convenience — it is a defining feature that shapes every aspect of the student experience and distinguishes Fordham from virtually every other undergraduate theater program in the country.

In 2025, Fordham's Theatre program operates as a BA degree within the university's College at Lincoln Center, combining intensive studio training in acting with the breadth of a Jesuit liberal arts education that includes philosophy, theology, literature, and history. The program offers concentrations in Performance and in Design and Production, with the Performance track providing conservatory-caliber training in acting, voice, movement, and directing within the context of a four-year undergraduate degree. What makes Fordham genuinely unique among undergraduate theater programs is the depth of its New York City integration — students attend professional theater regularly as part of their coursework, intern at major theater companies, and build industry connections that would be impossible at programs located outside Manhattan. The university's partnership with the Alvin Ailey School provides dance training from one of the world's premier modern dance institutions, adding a physical dimension to the acting training that few programs can match. Fordham Theatre produces a full season of plays and musicals each year in its on-campus performance spaces, with productions that regularly feature professional guest directors and designers. The program attracts increasingly competitive applicants who recognize that the combination of serious acting training, a respected university degree, and daily immersion in New York City's arts ecosystem creates opportunities that extend far beyond what most undergraduate programs can offer.

Admission to Fordham's Theatre program requires a standard university application through the Common Application, with an audition or portfolio review for students seeking the Performance concentration. Applicants to the Performance track prepare two contrasting monologues and may be asked to participate in callbacks that include cold readings and interviews with faculty. Fordham's overall acceptance rate is approximately 54%, but the Theatre Performance concentration is more selective due to limited class sizes and the audition requirement. The program seeks students who demonstrate genuine talent, intellectual curiosity, and the potential to thrive in both the studio and the classroom — reflecting the BA program's dual commitment to artistic and academic excellence. Academic credentials including GPA, test scores, and the quality of the application essay carry real weight alongside the audition, as Fordham values students who will engage meaningfully with the liberal arts curriculum. Transfer students are welcome and the program accepts students from community colleges and other four-year institutions who demonstrate both academic preparation and artistic promise. Early Decision and Early Action options are available for students who have identified Fordham as their top choice.

The four-year BA curriculum balances studio training with liberal arts coursework, progressing from foundational acting and theater history courses through advanced performance, directing, and specialized electives. Acting training covers multiple methodologies including Stanislavski-based technique, Meisner work, and viewpoints, with voice and speech training that addresses projection, dialect acquisition, and vocal health for performers. The partnership with Alvin Ailey provides movement and dance training at a level far beyond what most theater programs offer, giving students physical expressiveness and discipline that enhances their acting work. Students perform in departmental productions throughout their four years, with opportunities ranging from main-stage shows to student-directed work and experimental pieces. The New York City location enables unique curricular experiences including attending professional theater as part of coursework, interning at major companies like Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company, and Lincoln Center Theater, and engaging with visiting professional artists who teach masterclasses and workshops. Upper-level students may pursue independent study projects, direct their own work, and take advantage of the university's study-abroad programs, including a London program that provides international theater exposure. The program also offers on-camera training that prepares students for the film and television industry alongside their theater education.

Fordham Theatre attracts intellectually curious actors who want serious professional training combined with the breadth and depth of a liberal arts education at a respected university. The program's alumni include some of the most acclaimed actors in the profession, led by Denzel Washington, whose two Academy Awards and Tony Award demonstrate the heights that Fordham-trained actors can reach, alongside Lana Parilla (Once Upon a Time), Alan Alda (M*A*S*H), and Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects). The student body reflects the diversity of New York City itself, drawing students from across the country and internationally who are attracted by the combination of Manhattan location, Jesuit educational values, and professional training. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who see themselves as artists and intellectuals — students who want to understand dramatic literature, theater history, and critical theory alongside practical craft training. The BA rather than BFA structure means graduates leave with a well-rounded education that serves them whether they pursue acting full-time or move into related fields like directing, arts administration, education, or graduate study. The Lincoln Center campus community is intimate and collaborative, with small class sizes that allow faculty to provide individualized mentorship within the resources of a major university.

Tuition at Fordham University for the 2025-2026 academic year is approximately $67,452, with the total cost of attendance including housing, meals, and personal expenses pushing the annual figure to approximately $89,000-$92,000 for students living on campus in Manhattan. However, Fordham is committed to meeting a significant portion of demonstrated financial need, and approximately 90% of students receive some form of financial aid. The average financial aid package is approximately $40,000-$45,000, which can include a combination of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Merit scholarships ranging from partial to full tuition are available for academically and artistically exceptional students, and the Fordham Theatre program may recommend students for additional talent-based awards. The high sticker price reflects Manhattan real estate and operating costs, but the actual net cost for many students is substantially lower than the published rate. Compared to NYU Tisch, which has a total cost of attendance exceeding $104,000 with less generous aid, Fordham can be a more affordable path to training in New York City. Students should file the FAFSA and CSS Profile early and communicate directly with Fordham's financial aid office to maximize their aid package.

Fordham Theatre is the ideal choice for intellectually curious actors who want serious professional training embedded within a broad liberal arts education at the cultural epicenter of American theater. If you value the combination of rigorous studio work with academic depth, and you want to spend your undergraduate years immersed in the professional theater world of New York City rather than watching it from a distance, Fordham offers an experience that is genuinely difficult to replicate. The program is particularly well-suited for actors who see themselves pursuing diverse career paths within the arts — the BA provides flexibility that a narrowly focused BFA does not. Actors who want the most intensive possible conservatory training with maximum studio hours should consider dedicated BFA programs like Carnegie Mellon, UNCSA, or Juilliard instead. If you want to be in New York but prefer a BFA structure, NYU Tisch or Pace offer alternatives with different training philosophies. For students who want the liberal arts approach but at a lower cost, public university BA programs in theater offer similar breadth at a fraction of the price.

Take full advantage of Fordham's Lincoln Center location by attending professional theater regularly — seeing world-class work up close is one of the most valuable aspects of training in Manhattan, and it will shape your artistic standards and ambitions. Pursue internships at major theater companies early in your college career, as the relationships you build through hands-on professional experience are often more valuable than classroom connections. Embrace the Alvin Ailey partnership fully, even if you do not consider yourself a dancer — physical expressiveness and body awareness will enhance your acting in ways you may not initially expect. Build relationships with your fellow Theatre students and with students across the university, as the Fordham network extends into law, business, media, and other fields that intersect with the entertainment industry. Apply for financial aid aggressively and communicate directly with the financial aid office — the gap between sticker price and actual cost can be substantial, and persistence in the financial aid process often pays off. Use the BA structure to your advantage by taking courses in literature, history, psychology, and philosophy that deepen your understanding of human experience and make you a more insightful, empathetic performer.