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The Acting Program At...

The Department of Theatre and Dance is a community of professional artists, scholars, and educators who value and practice the most collaborative art forms—art forms that explore the human condition, stimulate and engage our audience, and connect to a global, diverse community. Our standard of excellence demands the celebration of individuality within the collaborative process, empowering the student to begin a lifelong career of artistic risk-taking and self-discovery. These commitments are reflected in the curriculum and the multitude of opportunities we provide for students to develop skills and apply their craft in the crucible of production.

The Department of Theatre and Dance offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in theatre, including the B.A. in Theatre, the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre, the M.F.A. in Acting, M.F.A. in Directing and M.F.A. in Design. The department also offers minors in Dance and in Theatre.

Western is highly regarded for its ambitious production program offering a vast array of performance and production opportunities. University Theatre and University Dance Theatre produce six mainstage theatre productions and the FacultyWorks and Spring Gala Dance Concerts every season. Additional opportunities to perform and/or work behind the scenes designing, building and staffing productions are available through the very active studio production season. The studio season, which includes productions directed by M.F.A. Directing students, faculty and undergraduates, presents from 10 to 12 shows a season. In dance there are other informal concerts and performance opportunities during the academic year.

Summer Music Theatre produces three musicals each summer with professional and student actors, designers, and directors. The Regional Touring Theatre Company creates children’s theatre productions and tours throughout the region in the fall and spring semesters.

The department has gained recognition for its students at the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival and the American College Dance Festival. There is a strong legacy of Stage Combat at Western. Most recently, faculty and students have been performing “unrehearsed Shakespeare” in projects like Bard at the Barn.