THEATRE AND DANCE
Bachelor's Degree Programs
In the UW-Whitewater Theatre and Dance program, everyone has a chance to learn everything from the front of the house to behind the scenes. We’re a highly hands-on, collaborative program offering an array of major, minor and degree options.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
Staging an opera
"The UW-Whitewater Department of Theatre performed two one-act operas — "The Harpies” and “Signor Deluso” — in the Barnett Theatre. In the run-up to the performances, theatre faculty and students talk about what it takes to stage a musical production and the goings-on behind the scenes before the curtain finally rises on opening night.
Living their passion
100% of Theatre majors were employed in their field or in graduate school after graduation. (2018-2019)
Onstage and backstage opportunities
Interested in auditioning for a production or learning more about getting involved backstage?
Why study Theatre and Dance at UW-Whitewater?
At UW-Whitewater’s Theatre and Dance program, we’re:
- Large enough to offer a five-production season while being small enough to offer hands-on learning-by-doing experience.
- Inclusive: Anyone can declare a major or minor in our programs, and anyone can audition for a show.
- Active in the local community: for example, we offer matinee performances for area high school students and an annual Arts Immersion Day for area talented and gifted middle school students.
- Experienced: Our faculty members come from near and far, and many are well-situated in our regional theatre community.
We also offer about $40,000 of scholarships to Theatre majors and Dance minors each year.
Scholarship includes Incoming Freshman Scholarships.
What our Theatre and Dance students do
Stage five major productions each school year
Attend the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival annually
Earn credit for roles in productions
“Every professor wants every student to succeed.”
Bryce Giammo is pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance with a minor in Dance. The moment the curtain closed on his high school musical experience, he knew this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.
“I want to teach theatre and inspire the next generation.”
Dyamond Jackson is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree with a major in Theatre Education and a minor in English Education. Fun fact - Dyamond created her own majorette hip hop dance organization, the first in the entire UW System, named The Warlettes. Her experience is a prime example of how individualized the student experience can be at UW-Whitewater.
Theatre and Dance: Major areas
Whether you’re looking to major in theatre arts to pursue a career in a performance, education, production or a related area, you’ll be able to choose a path of study that fits your goals at UW-Whitewater. Here’s a brief overview of our degrees in theatre:
Theatre major: Get a broad education
Designed to give you a broad theatre education, the Bachelor of Arts option also allows you the flexibility to add a minor or even declare a second major.
BFA Theatre programs: Specialize your studies
Our BFAs are professional theatre programs that allow you to specialize in one of three areas:
- performance
- design/technology
- stage management
These programs are in-depth, interdisciplinary and highly customizable based on your interests. For example, the management and promotion program offers courses from marketing, communications and business; and the performance major includes electives from broadcast journalism, English and dance.
Theatre Education major: Teach future teachers
UW-Whitewater provides a broad-based theatre education program that prepares our future high school theatre educators, often with a minor in English.
Dance minor: Add some movement to your major
This liberal arts program will expose you to several areas of dance, including ballet, contemporary dance, dance composition, choreography and dance history/criticism. "“As an actor, I always recommend dance classes to colleagues. It provides a person with a strong sense of spacial awareness and a strong understanding of blocking for the stage. I rarely need to be told how to block scenes and I attribute that to my involvement in the dance program.” - Alumnus Tyler King
Learn more about our majors, minors and degree requirements, below.
Student productions and practicum credit
With five productions each year, Theatre and Dance majors will have plenty of behind-the-scenes and performance opportunities. Our season line-ups might include:
- Musical theatre
- Plays
- Dance concerts
- Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) performances
You’ll also have the chance to earn official course credit when you participate in various roles in student productions: acting, make-up, directing, sound, costuming, stagecraft, scenery, management/publicity, lighting and more.
Additional hands-on experiences
Regional festivals and beyond
We actively participate regionally in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and the American College Dance Association Festival. In fact, when we compete in dance competitions, other schools are always surprised to learn UW-Whitewater has “only” a minor.
On-campus employment
We offer work-study positions in our scene shop, our costume shop and our department office. This gives our students a chance to learn more about various aspects of theatre production and programming while working part-time and earning money.
Student organizations
Theatre, dance and other performance-related groups on campus include:
- Theta Alpha Phi
- Forensics Team
Setting the scene: Our facilities
UW-Whitewater’s Theatre and Dance program uses a variety of learning, rehearsal and performance spaces; most are located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts, a place always bustling with music, theatre and dance majors. Here’s a look at a few spaces:
Young Auditorium: This 1,300-seat venue holds dozens of national and university events each year, from concerts and comedy to theater and dance.
Barnett Theatre: With a fully trapped stage — including an orchestra pit — this 380-seat theatre hosts many of our major productions.
Hicklin Studio Theatre: Our versatile black box theatre can be reconfigured to fit a variety of productions, and it is also used as a classroom and rehearsal space.
Kachel Studio: This multipurpose space is home to tap and other dance classes.
Dance Studio: This 4,000-square-foot facility has a sprung Marley floor, warm-up spaces, locker rooms; and it is home to most of our dance classes.
Design Lab: Also a classroom space for our theatre tech students, the lab features drafting tables, a lighting lab and workstations with the latest production and design software.
Scene Shop:In this fully equipped woodshop , you’ll find a paint room, a tool room and a storage area with a large collection of props and furniture.
Costume Shop: The shop is home to an extensive costume collection plus all the tools you’d need to costume a show: sewing machines, sergers, cutting tables, a spray booth, and dye facilities.
What our graduates do
Professional actors, dancers and musicians
Theatre educators
Stage designers and creative crew professionals
“Focus on what you can control.”
Rasell Holt graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and an emphasis in Performance. Originally from Milwaukee, WI he is very proud to be a working actor. In the Summer of 2022 you can catch him in the American Players Theatre line up in “Raisin in the Sun” and “The Brothers Size.”
"It's okay to change your major."
Grace Rusch graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Technology and Design with an emphasis in Costumes, but originally wanted to be onstage. She now is working as a Wig Assistant on Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway.
"Don't stop learning."
Tyler King graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and an emphasis in performance and a minor in dance. He now works regularly as a Performance/Motion Capture actor and stuntman in video games and movies. "Don't stop learning" is the advice he would give his future self.
Dance and Theatre jobs: Career success
Our Theatre majors and Dance minors are well-rounded, well-prepared practitioners who find work across the country, from New York to California, in theatre, entertainment and education.
You’ll find our graduates in regional theatres, national touring companies, various Shakespeare festivals, dance studios and production companies -- as well as teaching at schools and colleges. Here are just a few organizations:
- American Players Theatre (Spring Green)
- Milwaukee Repertory Theatre (or Milwaukee Rep)
- Asolo Repertory Theatre (Sarasota, Florida)
- Fireside Theatre (Fort Atkinson)
- Goodman Theatre (Chicago)
- Melk Music (New Berlin)
- Universal Studios (University City, California)
- Walt Disney World (Orlando , Florida)
- Kenosha Unified School District
Many Theatre majors and Dance minors also pursue MFA (Master of Fine Arts) programs after graduation.
Our Theatre and Dance faculty
Performers. Directors. Stage Designers. Choreographers. Our Theatre and Dance faculty is cast with an array of professionals, many of whom are still active in the non-academic theatre world.
Department Chair, Associate Professor Eric Appleton
Eric Appleton is the associate professor of scenic and lighting design in the Theatre/Dance Department and typically designs the scenery for three to four department productions each year. He mentors student lighting and scenic designers on departmental productions, and oversees student props managers (as well as acting as prop manager on occasion).
Professor Barbara Grubel
Originally from Land O’Lakes, WI, Barbara has an extensive professional career dancing choreographing and teaching on four continents. During her 16 years in NYC she danced in the companies of Ralph Lemon, Douglas Dunn, Dan Wagoner, Bill Young, and David Dorfman.
Head of Acting Sara Griffin
Sara received her BFA in Performance at UW-Whitewater in 2007, before going on to get her MFA and pursuing her dream of professional acting. Teaching affords Sara the opportunity to facilitate her favorite thing about learning, the "lightbulb moment". It's a wonderful thing to see a student gain understanding of and excitement about something that was previously beyond them.
Assistant Professor Bruce Cohen
Professor Cohen holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from Adelphi University and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Directing for the Stage from The University of Alabama. His scholarly research interests are focused on the techniques and theories of immersive theater performance.
Technical Director Ruth Conrad-Proulx
Ruth Conrad-Proulx has been a professional theatre production manager and technical director producing in theatrical venues and in classrooms teachings for the past 20 year. She has worked alongside professionals and students alike meeting the ever-present challenges each production presents, finding new learning experiences along the way.
Lecturer Tracey Lyons
Tracey Lyons is a Costume Designer, Instructor, and Director. She has designed costumes and/or makeup for the Canadian Broadcast Company, Lincoln Theatre Guild, The Huron Playhouse, Madison Ballet, Madison Theatre Guild, American Folklore Theatre, and many other theatres. She toured internationally with Sesame Street Live.
Lecturer Piper Morgan Hayes-Werner
Piper Morgan Hayes-Werner has taught at several colleges throughout Wisconsin. Choreographically, her work is seen in the annual DanceScapes production, on campus Theatre/Dance Musical productions and local performances. In addition, she performs as a company member with Li Chiao-Ping Dance Company in Madison.
Lecturer Amy Slater
Amy Slater is a dance lecturer at UW-Whitewater. Amy previously taught in Texas at El Paso Community College Dance Department. Prior to teaching, she performed for seven years with the Christopher Watson Dance Company in Minneapolis.
Want to learn more about earning a Theatre and Dance degree?
262-472-1566 | thtrdnce@uww.edu |
In addition to UW-Whitewater’s general education requirements, Theatre and Dance students take a set of core courses and electives that will vary greatly depending upon major or emphasis. Select a program below to download the individual requirements.
UW-Whitewater offers the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts — Theatre | 4-year plan
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) — Theatre, Design/Technology emphasis | 4-year plan
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) — Theatre, Performance emphasis | 4-year plan
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) — Theatre, Stage Management emphasis | 4-year plan
- Bachelor of Science in Education — Theatre | 4-year plan
Minors:
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your interest in theatre and dance.
Don't forget that there are scholarship funds for Incoming Freshman, learn more here.
23/24 Productions
Wreckage by Sally Stubbs
Directed by Bruce Cohen
Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7, 8 at 2 p.m.
Oct. 12, 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.
Hicklin Studio Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Directed by Sara J. Griffin
Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11, 12 at 2 p.m.
Nov. 16, 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.
Barnett Theatre
Pal Joey
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Book by John O’Hara
Directed by Bruce Cohen
Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24, 25 at 2 p.m.
Feb. 29, March 1 at 7:30 p.m.
March 2 at 2 p.m.
Barnett Theatre
DanceScapes ‘24
Artistic Director: Barbara Grubel
March 16, 17 at 2 p.m.
March 19, 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Barnett Theatre
Sweet Science of Bruising by Joy Wilkinson
Directed by Sara J. Griffin
April 19 at 7:30 p.m.
April 20, 21 at 2 p.m.
April 25, 26, 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Hicklin Studio Theatre
Auditions
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Auditions for the 2023 fall production of Much Ado About Nothing will take place via video submission. Videos are due by noon on May 31. Please see the documents linked below for specific audition and production information.
Much Ado Audition Information »
Much Ado Audition Form »
Special note: This show will include live music. Performers with musical capabilities, especially with vocal and jazz experience, are encouraged to audition.
Email director Sara J. Griffin with questions, at griffins@uww.edu
