About the Program

Theatre and dance are living arts. Actors and dancers make art out of themselves, while directors, choreographers, designers, managers and technicians contribute in their own special ways to make that art possible. These arts and their artists are part of the human environment, continually responding to a living, changing world as they observe and explore our own humanity.

The Theatre/Dance Department in the College of Arts and Communication offers three degrees. The 78-credit Bachelor of Fine Arts offers intensive pre-professional study with an emphasis in performance, design/technology or management. All students take a theatre “core” followed by a self-designed course of study in their emphasis. No minor is required.

The Bachelor of Arts is a 42-credit liberal arts degree plus a minor, which offers a broad course of study in theatre with some opportunity to elect courses directed toward a specific interest. The Bachelor of Science in Education is designed to prepare students to teach. A second major, often English, is recommended to complement this degree. Students can also minor in dance performance, dance education, theatre education or arts management.

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Accreditation

The College of Arts and Communication is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Theatre/Dance Department is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

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Career Opportunities

Career opportunities for Theatre/Dance
include:

• Working as a professional actor, dancer, designer, choreographer, technician or manager in regional and summer stock theatres, dinner theatres, community theatres, film, television and on/off Broadway theatre
• Working in theatre/arts administration
• Teaching at the elementary or secondary school level
• Writing for the stage or other media
• Teaching in dance studios
• Working in related fields requiring a liberal arts degree

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Facilities

Students have the opportunity to study in one of the finest and most functional arts centers in the Midwest. The College is housed in the specially designed Center of the Arts. Theatre facilities include the fullyequipped 410-seat Barnett Theatre, the flexible "black box" Hicklin Studio Theatre and a full array of shops, labs, classrooms, studios and other support facilities.

In addition, the award-winning 1,300- seat Irvin L. Young Auditorium is located adjacent to the Center of the Arts.

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Faculty

Students are taught exclusively by faculty and guest artists/instructors. There are no teaching assistants.

Through the guest artist program, the Theatre/Dance Department brings professional artists to campus to work in residence on a production. Recent guests artists include:

In addition, the department and the college bring three to six professional theatre and dance artists to campus each year for workshops and presentations.

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High School Preparation

Students planning to enroll in theatre or dance programs at UW-Whitewater are encouraged to complete high school coursework in English composition, math and public speaking and to take advantage of opportunities to participate in school and community theatre and dance productions.

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Opportunities

The Theatre/Dance Department is committed to a hands-on, learn-by-doing approach to learning. Guided by faculty advisors, students can take advantage of numerous opportunities to perform, design, direct, choreograph and work as technicians and managers. The academic-year season consists of four main stage plays, a main stage dance concert and a children’s play that tours throughout the region. In addition, students produce numerous oneact plays and other production projects. During the summer, students have the opportunity to participate in the three-play Summeround season as well.

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Placement

Faculty and guest artists provide intensive job counseling to Theatre/Dance students. The department subscribes to three major employment bulletins serving the arts, and the university provides placement services through Career Services. UW-Whitewater graduates have found employment in a wide range of theatre, dance and teaching positions, both in the region and throughout the country, as well as obtaining admission to excellent graduate programs for further study and training.

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Student Organizations

The Theatre/Dance Department has two student organizations for majors and minors, the University Players and Theta Alpha Phi.

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Suggested Course of Study

First semester courses for theatre

• Introduction to Theatre
• Introduction to Acting
• Stage Make-up
• Proficiency
• General Studies/Core

Second semester

• Introduction to Technical Theatre
• Script Analysis
• Movement for the Actor or Vocal Production
• Proficiency
• General Studies/Core

Sample dance courses

• Contemporary Dance Technique
• Ballet, Tap
• Composition and Improvisation

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