The University of Toledo Department of Theatre and Film offers undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Arts and minors) in theatre and film. As an undergraduate liberal arts department, we actively engage students in creative practice, critical thinking and writing, and cross cultural/global exchange through the study and practice of live productions and cinema. We empower students to be thoughtful and productive scholars, artists, professionals and individuals, helping to expand their social, cultural and artistic understanding throughout the public realm.

Our students participate in all aspects of live theatre productions, create their own films and videos, produce scholarly work, travel for arts programs in Study Abroad (Costa Rica, Hungary, Wales to name a few), participate in special master classes with guest artists, land internships with organizations such as Disney, Viacom and others. In addition guest artists from all over the world work with students as designers, directors, filmmakers and performers through our international connections.

The Department of Theatre and Film strongly endorses a policy of individual and collective respect for each member of our diverse community. Our department strives to provide a safe and supportive educational environment that both nurtures all components of human experience and functions as a crucible for creative expression.

The University of Toledo is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

Did you know that UToledo was represented this year during the 2024 NBA All Star Game Halftime Show with Jennifer Hudson and All Star Weekend? Stephen Sakowski, associate professor of lighting for the UToledo Theatre and Film Department, was the lighting director for the festivities.

Stephen says, "The entire event is incredibly rewarding. The scale, the collaborators, and the international platform all make it one of the biggest events of the year. The new elements [LED floor] added into the weekend this year were a great challenge to incorporate. It involved an entirely separate venue as well as technology that is itself a light source that cannot be ignored."

UToledo Department of Theatre and Film students collaborated with Professor Holly Hey and guest filmmaker Simon Huber to shoot this music video during Huber’s residency in October 2023. The song, "The Botanist," was written by theatre major Karson Palmer as part of his original stage musical production, "The Spoon River Bridge."  Adapted from his musical, the music video is performed by theatre majors Tevy Dembski, Aaron Smith, and Karson Palmer with additional vocals provided by Breeanne Stouffer.

Professor Hey enlisted film/video majors from her cinematography and coloring grading class, as well as students from the Departments of Art and Communication to help produce the work. The students included Imogen Brown, Michael Budich, Scott Cooper, Chad Coulter, Ozzie Hall, Daniel Hastings, Dennis Knight, Casey McKeiver, Anna Roges, Brooklynn Russell, Sooraj Sivadev, Snejana Durst-Slandcheva, and Emma Tripp. The weekends' events culminated in a real-life production experience, giving the students involved a hands-on filmmaking experience. Students taking Professor Hey's methods for the professional editor class are currently editing their own unique versions of the music video. The version shown here was edited by Professor Holly Hey.