Theater Arts at Chabot College focuses on the whole of playmaking for the serious theater artist as well as the general education student. Our objective is to help our students become better learners, stronger artists, and more prepared to bring playmaking and creativity into their futures. We also emphasize the development of new plays, work shopping and premiering student originals as well producing new plays by local playwrights. We are one of the only community colleges in California that focuses on the development of new voices for the American Theater.
We produce two "mainstage" shows a year--one of these shows is a contemporary, while the other is more "classical." We often produce musicals in these "mainstage" slots. These shows have professional directors and design teams. Our parallel season is called Emerging Work, and each term we produce two, four-student original plays or projects. These shows are performed during Theater Week at the end of each term. Often these shows are student directed and designed. We often have fund-raising theatrical events throughout the year, including successive comedy nights and/or special student projects.
We encourage participation in all areas of program by both serious theater artists and general education students. All shows and courses are open to all students of Chabot. Many theater courses satisfy general humanities requirements
All of our adjunct faculty work in the theater profession, and many students have gained employment and/or internships as a result of a teacher/student partnership. Collaborations include Berkeley Repertory Theater, Campo Santo and Word for Word.
Each production at Chabot has the opportunity to enter the American College Theater Festival, a nationwide competition for actors and production teams. Rachel LePell, lead instructor, is the Playwriting Awards Committee Vice Chair of this organization and regularly supports student playwrights around the Western Region of the US. All students have the opportunity to travel to the annual Festival, held regionally.
Each year students in theater courses have the opportunity to travel to this internationally recognized theater company and see shows and talk to company members. For a reasonable rate, students and faculty travel together each October.
Go to Theater Arts Productions
We hope to expand our technical theater offerings in the future, as well as our camera/electronic media connections.
All productions this term are in the Little Theater; a ¾ round thrust stage with 180 seats. We also rehearse in 1328, a rehearsal hall, a large empty room, equipped with a floor for marking scenery, a piano, chairs and other rehearsal furniture. It is located in the theater building, behind the performing areas. We also use a Callboard, in the lobby of building 1200, where we post all department notices and activities. For information on shows and/or classes, call Rachel LePell at (510) 723-6830.