About the Program

Welcome to Theater and Performance Studies (TAPS) at Stanford, where we view performance as a laboratory for understanding culture, history, and identity. Our program blends artistic practice with rigorous scholarly inquiry, inviting you to both make art and think critically about it. Whether you want to act, direct, design, write, or dance, TAPS offers an inclusive, highly collaborative community.

What You'll Study

In the Theater and Performance Studies program, you will explore the intersection of creative practice and academic inquiry through a flexible curriculum tailored to your unique artistic goals:

• Specialized Concentrations: Focus your studies in a specific area of interest by pursuing Acting or Theater-Making in the major, or Dance orTheater and Performance Studies in the minor. 

• The Intersection of Theory and Practice: Balance practical studio work and hands-on creation with the critical study of the history, theory, and literature of performance.

• Production Experience: Gain hands-on experience by participating in department productions, dance concerts, and student-led workshops as an actor, dancer, director, designer, playwright, or technician.

• Capstone Experience: Showcase your growth through a culminating senior project that represents an original contribution, such as directing a play, writing a script, designing a set, or acting in a significant role, among several potential creative project options.