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Department of Communication, Film, and Theatre

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Story is everything and everything is story.

Storytelling is central to everything we do in the Department of Communication, Film, and Theatre. We hold the conviction that stories have the power to connect, inspire, and educate us. Whether it's crafting news segments in a TV studio, designing stage sets, embodying characters in a performance, or framing a visual narrative, storytelling is the unifying thread that ties together the concentrations within our major.

We place storytelling at the core of the Communication, Film, and Theatre curriculum, empowering students to create narratives across various mediums and platforms. From the outset of their educational journey in our program, students acquire the skills needed to excel in a wide array of career paths.

We believe that confidence is forged through experience. To that end, we prioritize hands-on learning through an extensive range of activities and projects. This practical approach not only enriches students' portfolios and resumes but also cultivates a proactive "I can" mindset.

Furthermore, we encourage Communication, Film, and Theatre students to venture into innovative storytelling by providing them with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Our faculty prepares students for post-graduation success through a host of employability initiatives and events. In doing so, we aim to equip our students with the necessary tools and experience to flourish in their future endeavors.

Department Chair
Alycia Bright-Holland
FAIC Rm. 223
(860) 465-5596
(860) 465-5073
brighthollanda@easternct.edu		 Secretary II
Jena Lopes
FAIC Rm. 244
(860) 465-5325
(860) 465-5073
lopesje@easternct.edu
Associate Department Chair
Andrew Utterback
FAIC Rm. 309
(860) 465-4836
(860) 465-5073
utterbacka@easternct.edu
student at news desk
students in control room
Students at BBC

Faculty Spotlights

Kristen Morgan

Professor and Chair - Design and Media Technology

"Get a liberal arts education; designers need to know about philosophy, history, literature, art, science, math, psychology and sociology, just to name a few. The larger your breadth of knowledge, the better equipped you are to analyze a script for design." Read More

Kristen Morgan

Brian Day

Assistant Professor - Directing and Film

“I came to Eastern to help develop filmmaking courses and a filmmaking program. I have found that there are many students at Eastern and in Connecticut who are interested in learning filmmaking and there wasn’t a clear program to address this.” Read More

Brian Day

In the News

Zoe Calhoun in front of the set of "No Exit"

Senior Zoe Calhoun rises through the ranks in theatre production

 November 19, 2025

Crowds gasped, laughed, and reflected during a sold-out, one-night performance of Jean-Paul Sartre’s “No Exit” this past October. The existential classic, reimagined and directed by senior theatre and performance media and communication major Zoe Calhoun, marked a significant milestone in her academic journey: her first time directing a full-length play.

Scenes from "No exit"

Student-directed play reimagines existentialist classic

November 05, 2025

The Department of Communication, Film, and Theatre delighted attendees with a one-night, sold-out performance of “No Exit," an existentialist play directed by senior communication and theatre major Zoe Calhoun, on Oct. 30 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center Delmonte Bernstein Studio Theatre.

Kelly Pompa '24

Kelly Pompa '24: From Eastern to Emmy

 October 28, 2025

Kelly Pompa ’24 was in her element: at work in the control room during NBC/Peacock's streaming broadcast of the 2024 Paris Olympics. This was her dream job, a moment she had worked toward throughout her time at Eastern.

Read more articles

Programs of Study

  • Eastern's Communication, Film, and Theatre major provides hands-on learning in state-of-the-art facilities like the Fine Arts Instructional Center and newly renovated Communication Building. Students gain practical experience through hands-on media and performance projects and professional internships. The major prepares students for careers in filmmaking, multimedia journalism, performance, and more, with concentrations in Design, Technology, and Performance Media; Film and Video Production; Multimedia Journalism: News and Sports; and Performance: Acting, Choreography, and Playwriting. The collaborative, interactive learning environment fosters creativity as faculty use professional examples to teach classes.

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  • Leadership Communication prepares students for careers in a variety of organizations. Students will demonstrate a professional level competency in verbal, nonverbal, written and digital communication skills common to institutional settings, including public speaking and presentation, conflict management and persuasive communication.

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  • Those who minor in Theatre gain earn performance, writing and technical skills in class, backstage and onstage as they learn theatre technology, management and design as well as directing, acting, dance and playwriting. Theatre majors work on stage and on-camera, as well as backstage and front-of-house. They explore the human condition, learn to express human emotions and reflect on man’s rich diversity.

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  • The interdisciplinary minor in Costume and Fashion Design helps students develop skills and abilities in costume and fashion design. Using hands-on and computer-aided design & illustration techniques, students accessories and learn the basics of textile design & production.

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  • The Cinema Studies minor complements majors in Communication, the Visual and Performing Arts, English, History and Modern Languages. Students are prepared for careers or further study in the areas of film and video techniques, history and criticism.

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