<p>A BA in Theater is extremely viable. I know many talented kids who have the ability to get into a BFA but who have chosen a BA path which is another way to enter this field. Also, one can do a BA and eventually get an MFA and your son could keep that in mind. </p>
<p>You know, to enter a BA, he is not really declaring a major and so there is no need to emphasize that aspect with his dad. Once he is in school, and if he opts to major in Theater, whether or not he minors or double majors in anything else, his dad may come around. So, I would de-emphasize the major at this point with his dad as there is no commitment to it upon enrolling. Hopefully, once in college and he is an adult, this decision of his academic focus will be his to make. Remember that a theater major can go into any career field or graduate school, like many other liberal arts majors eventually do. Remember that your son will need a balanced list of schools in terms of his academic odds of admission. Find schools strong in theater (I named several but these are not the only ones) and then have him apply and see what he wants to do when he gets there and his dad may come around once he is happily engaged in a fine college and pursuing his interests. It is still a liberal arts educuation and he’ll earn a college degree.</p>