Department of Theatre and Media Arts

The TMA Department has several facilities and resources available to support student instruction. The Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC) houses three theatres used for student productions and instruction. To schedule one of the theatres listed below or a room in the HFAC, call the HFAC Scheduling Office at 801-422-3002.

The Pardoe Theatre is essentially a laboratory for the application of production theory, and provides the venue for the Pardoe Series of productions. Virtually any type of production is technically feasible on its large stage with a proscenium opening of 19 by 55 feet. It seats 500 people. The largest of the three theatres, the Pardoe Theatre is named for T. Earl and Kathryn Pardoe; a husband-wife team who contributed immeasurably to speech and dramatic arts. T. Earl Pardoe was chairman of the Speech Department at BYU from 1919 to 1928, and again from 1931 to 1952, when he retired. He and his wife Kathryn taught thousands of BYU drama students during their years here, and left a valuable and lasting legacy.

The Margetts Theatre is a black box theatre, designed to allow flexibility of audience seating and staging. It is home to the Margetts Series of productions each theatre season, and provides a venue for experimental and original scripts. Measuring 30 by 50 feet, the Margetts Theatre seats approximately 125 people. The Margetts Theatre was named for Philip N. Margetts, a leading figure in Utah theatre during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Philip Margetts was a cast member in the first play produced in the Old Bowery in 1851 and organized the first stock company in Utah. His success in organizing the Mechanics Dramatic Association so impressed President Brigham Young that he made immediate plans for the construction of the Salt Lake Theatre. Margetts performed in leading roles for over fifty years.

The Nelke Experimental Theatre is designed primarily as a laboratory for the practicum activities of the acting and directing students, and is home to the student-directed weekly Mask Club productions during the school year. It features an elevator stage, sharply raked auditorium seating, and seats 280 people. Miriam Nelke, for whom the Nelke Theatre was named, was one of the first teachers of dramatic arts at Brigham Young Academy. Her students so appreciated her tutelage that they later formed the Nelke Reading Club in her honor, a Provo organization that existed for decades.

Music Dance Theatre (MDT) classes, show production rehearsal halls, and production offices for MDT are located at the south west side of campus in the Richards Building (RB). For scheduling in this building call (801) 422-2563.

The Media Arts lab has two editing facilities and two labs where Media Arts students can reserve and check out basic and advanced film, video, and sound recording equipment. To access Media Arts lab hours, student directory, or equipment reservations, please visit the Media Arts Production Web site.