The Theatre Arts department offers concentrated pre-professional training in Theatre. Training is Stanislavsky based and incorporates self-use techniques to guide students toward greater self-awareness and knowledge of the potentials of their own resources. The program is geared toward the serious student of theatre. It affords students the opportunity to experience disciplined training as exemplified in conservatory theatre training programs on the college level. After studying at the Arts Academy students are better able to make advanced higher education choices because of their understanding of the work and the requirements of the craft of theatre. Individual college/conservatory counseling and exposure to the Unified College Auditions are offered to assist students in advanced training decision making.

Programs of study are written for each student individually and are geared toward personal interests and training as assessed by the faculty based on auditions at the beginning of each year. Classes do not necessarily follow a sequential order and students may be placed in a particular course several times as deemed necessary by the faculty.

Students are asked to declare an area of concentration at the time of admission or in their junior year. Three options for concentration are available: acting, theatrical design and technical production, and musical theatre. Concentrated study begins with consent of the faculty, usually in the junior year. Younger students may have enrollment opportunities in related arts disciplines to enhance their area of concentration (i.e., visual arts and music).

Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to place emphasis on academic study. It is the belief of the Theatre Arts faculty that academic pursuit is essential to the students' training in the arts. Therefore, all Theatre Arts students are encouraged to reach high levels of academic achievement, maintain good grades and be motivated both academically and artistically.