More Than a Major: How DU's Theatre Program Shapes Artists and Professionals Alike

Meet Rhianna DeVries, a 2019 alum of the University of Denver, who double-majored in theatre with a minor in leadership studies and business administration (marketing) with a minor in international studies. DeVries is currently working full time as an actor, director, producer, designer and teaching artist across theatre, film and video games. 

Interestingly, theatre wasn't DeVries' original plan. They arrived at DU intending to double major in English and business with the goal of becoming a writer, until a campus tour led them through the theatre spaces. "Something clicked," DeVries said, "and I knew that if I didn't change my major to theatre, I would regret it." 

What set the DU theatre program apart, DeVries explains, is its commitment to developing the whole artist. Students are pushed to explore every dimension of the craft, including design, technical production, management and business, not just performance. DeVries came in as an actor and graduated with a distinction in acting, but along the way discovered a passion for directing, producing and sound design they never anticipated. A required sound design course became a highlight of their education: each week, students designed original soundscapes for different plays, crafting auditory worlds that articulated the meaning of each piece and presenting them to one another in what DeVries describes as "a really fun atmosphere." 

Since graduating, DeVries has built a thriving professional creative career and co-founded the Denver Theatre Ensemble, where they serve as artistic director. They credit DU with giving them the grit and resourcefulness that sustain that work today, the result of being consistently challenged to push beyond their own perceived limits.