Performance and Production Opportunities

Western is highly regarded for ambitious theatre and dance programs, offering a vast array of performance and production opportunities. University Theatre and University Dance Theatre produce six mainstage theatre productions and the Winter Faculty DanceWorks and Spring Gala Dance Concerts every season. Additional opportunities to perform and work behind the scenes designing, building and crewing productions are available through the very active studio production season, which presents 10-12 shows each year. There are also other performance opportunities in dance during the academic year.

Exciting Facts About Theatre and Dance at Western

• The curriculum offers multiple levels of acting, voice, movement, acting for the camera, costume, scenic and lighting design, theatre practice and a three-part survey of World Theatre History.
• Dance courses are offered in ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, composition, dance history, improvisation and musical theatre dance.
• There is a strong stage combat program at Western. Students can take numerous courses in combat and earn certification in armed and unarmed combat. We have one of the best theatre armories in the country.
• BYOP (Bring Your Own Play), Western?s own ten-minute playwriting festival. Numerous BYOP playwrights have gone on to win national awards and international productions.
• The department has gained national recognition for its students? performances and presentations at the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival and the American College Dance Festival.
• Students in the musical theatre BFA program receive singing training from teachers who are trained in both Classical and Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) vocal techniques, including specialists in belt voice and Somatic Voicework?, the Lovetri Method. The BFA musical theatre degree program is one of Western?s Signature Academic Programs.