WMU Theatre | About the Department

REPUTATION

The Department of Theatre is one of the top undergraduate training programs in the U.S. With nationally renowned faculty and staff, the department is proud to offer one-on-one interaction in all aspects of production, which leads to award-winning results. In 2005, our production of Othello was a national-winner in the American College Theatre Festival and was performed at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. The 2002 student designed production of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN took top honors in region III of the American College Theater Festival. Western's program has been selected for regional competition five times, which is more than any other university in Michigan. The Department has also had three actors selected for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition Finals at the Kennedy Center as part of the American College Theatre Festival and three designers selected to attend the National Festival. In August of 2004, the Department was honored to perform its production of Women of Troy, Women of War at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

OPPORTUNITIES

There are many opportunities to become involved in theatre at Western. Students can work on the mainstage or Footlights productions, become involved in theatre outreach, perform in the touring companies, CROSS COLORS and GREAT SEXPECTATIONS, or be cast in directing class scenes or any number of student-produced shows. Students can multiply their experiences and abilities in all areas of theatre by joining organizations such as the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT), and Theta Alpha Phi National Honorary Drama Fraternity. Participation by majors in the production program each year is expected.

ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIPS

The Department of Theatre is one of 132 academic theatre units accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). We were granted full accreditation in 1990 and reaccredited in 1996 and 2006. This association sets standards for curriculum and production programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels for institutions of higher learning and is considered a prestigious accolade of the Department of Theatre.

The Department also holds organizational memberships in the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE); American College Theatre Festival (ACTF); Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo; Theatre Alliance of Michigan; Black Theatre Network; Theta Alpha Phi (Michigan Eta Chapter of the National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity); the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT); and Theatre Kalamazoo, a consortium of theatres in the Kalamazoo area.

STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD

The first and foremost duty of the Student Advisory Board is to act as a liaison between the students and the faculty. This entails calling and running periodic student meetings and attending periodic faculty meetings to make recommendations concerning such things as season selection, curriculum, policies, and procedures. Other duties include assisting with new student auditions, assisting at other Department of Theatre events, and serving as student representatives on the University Theatre Guild Board of Directors. The Student Advisory Board is comprised of representatives from the various classes and areas of the department who are chosen in an annual student election.