Theatre & Dance
Theatre & Dance Majors & Minors
Reach your full potential.
Dance majors and minors gain technical and performance experience in the genres of ballet, jazz, modern, and tap dance, explored in both concert and commercial dance forms.
As a theatre major or minor you will prepare to work professionally across artistic boundaries in the quickly evolving world of theatre where you will be creating your own opportunities, leading the collaborative process, and training to be the next generation of artists.
If you are contemplating a life on stage, or in front of the camera, consider a major in the B.F.A. in Acting. With the B.F.A. in Acting you'll take over 20 hours of acting classes. You'll also have a chance to study topics such as stage makeup, directing, dance, theatre for young audiences, design, stage management, and technical theatre.
If musical theatre performance is your passion, consider the B.F.A. in Performing Arts: Musical Theatre, combining training in acting, singing, and dancing.
Theatre Design & Technology program prepares students to encounter the challenges and artistic opportunities that make a successful career in theatre design and technology.
Does the business side of the arts interest you? Are you thinking of opening a dance studio, working in the development office of a theatre company, or starting a youth theatre program? The Minor in Arts Administration is an introduction to field.
Our B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Theatre is a traditional Liberal Arts degree, designed to provide a solid foundation in all aspects of theatre while leaving some flexibility to pursue your own particular interests. You will need to combine it with a minor, or even a second major. Our B.A. in Theatre does not require an audition.
Our B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) is a pre-professional degree. It involves rigorous, conservatory-style training intended to hone your skills for entry into the professional world of the performing arts. Our B.F.A. involves both a broad introduction to all aspects of theatre and concentrated training in either Acting, Musical Theatre, or Theatre Design & Technology.
Our scholarships can be stacked on top of other WKU First-Year Freshmen Scholarships you might receive, up to the cost of attendance. We encourage everyone considering a major in our department to audition or interview for a scholarship.
1st Year Freshman Scholarships
*An audition is required for all scholarship applicants. Students wishing to major in Dance must also participate in the department’s initial dance placement audition process.
Our scholarships can be stacked on top of other WKU First-Year Freshmen Scholarships you might receive, up to the cost of attendance. We encourage everyone considering a major in our department to audition or interview for a scholarship.
1st Year Freshman Scholarships
Auditions*
*An audition is required for all scholarship applicants. Some theatre programs require audition for admission. Check the audition page for audition information.
We are committed to helping our students prepare for life after college. Meet Our Alumni!
- 4 Mainstage Theatre productions, including at least one musical
- 2 Mainstage dance concerts
- 3 Student-choreographed dance concerts
- A Theatre for Young Audience Series of 2 or 3 productions
- A Next Stage Series of student created works
- A Rising Artist Series of showcases and works in progress
We are determined to be a department where you can reach your full potential. All of our degree programs are designed to balance theory and practice. We've brought together a remarkable faculty, an exciting production season, and exceptional facilities so that every component is in place for your success.
Our faculty will challenge you, we'll collaborate with you, and we'll care about you.
The Costume Shop
The costume shop for the WKU Department of Theatre & Dance is a fun and vibrant place where students have the chance to become involved with all aspects of the costuming process, from design to production. Creative opportunities include designing costumes for departmental productions. You will learn draping dyeing, fabric modification, mask making, millinery work, and other costume craft techniques.
The Scene
The Scene Shop is located below the Russell Miller Theatre. The main part of the shop measures just under 1000 sq. ft. in size and utilizes a 1-ton lift to move scenery pieces on stage. This room houses all bench and power tools as well as the paints work area.
The Theatre & Dance department at Western Kentucky University utilizes facilities in three separate buildings; the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center (FAC), Gordon Wilson Hall (GWH), and Van Meter Auditorium (VM).
The Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center houses the technical classrooms and shops, technical faculty offices, individual music practice rooms, and the Russell Miller Theatre.
Gordon Wilson Hall houses the Theatre & Dance department office, the dance studios, dance faculty offices, departmental library, theatre faculty offices, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and the Gordon Wilson Lab Theatre.
In the WKU Department of Theatre & Dance we encourage all of our students to venture out into the world and learn more about arts and culture worldwide. Our faculty have led past trips to New York to study dance and New York and London to study theatre. Our majors have used the opportunities provided through WKU Global Learning to travel and study in places like Israel, Ghana, Belgium, China, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Guatemala, India, and more.
Students collaborate closely with department faculty in many ways:
- Production: Production students are collaborators on our faculty directed mainstage shows not only as actors and crew but as designers, stage managers, dramaturgs, and assistant directors.
- FUSE (Faculty-Undergraduate Student Engagement) Grant Projects: FUSE grants support undergraduate students' intellectual development by fostering active engagement in the areas of research, creative and scholarly activities, and/or artistic performances.
- Honors Sections / Capstones: Our capstone course allows students to demonstrate their
expertise in their area of study. Check out these recent examples:
• Cut Song Cabaret
• Claire's Process
• "Listening Back"
• Maddie's Process
• Tap for the Times
• Women on the Floor: A Study of Feminism in Modern Dance History
We want to help you find your passion and make that passion a reality.
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