Boston University Summer Theatre Institute

The Boston University Summer Theatre Institute is a four-week pre-college experience designed to mirror the first year BFA Core within the School of Theatre at Boston University. The Institute encourages students to test their interests and abilities while in a professional training environment. Students earn 4.0 college credits for their coursework in Acting, Design, a variety of immersive Workshops, and the creation of an Original Theatre Peice.  

BUSTI annually admits high school students who are passionate about their training in Performance and/or Design.  We celebrate students who are driven to collaborate, and who are curious to unleash the possibilities of the theatrical form.  We accept applications from rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school.  

Throughout the summer, students rotate through several Technique Classes that provide the development of core skills for theatre artists.  While subjects change from year to year, all students will take five Morning Technique classes.  Students will take classes that sample our Performance Core or Design, Production & Management courses.  In Acting classes, students learn to warm up, follow impulses, pursue specific objectives, and develop a character.  In Design classes, students hone techniques in production, design, and presentation.  All students participate in our Workshop Series, which explores immersive elements of theatrical artistry.  And this wide investigation informs the Collaborative Theatre Ensemble devised work, shared in our Final Performances.

Students graduate from BUSTI having honed their craft, depth of intellectual and artistic questioning, playfulness in collaboration, and ability to tell a dynamic story through the theatrical medium.