“After auditioning and interviewing undergraduate students for many years at our MFA auditions, I am extremely impressed with the level of talent, preparedness, and professional behavior that I find in every student I audition from Western Michigan’s Theatre Program – amazing young students.”
- Ron Wilson, Director, Case Western Reserve University-Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program

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 that leads to award-winning results. Our production of Othello was a national winner in the American College Theater Festival and was performed at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. The student-designed production of Kiss of the Spider Woman took top honors in region III of the American College Theatre Festival. Western’s program has been selected for regional competition at the festival more than any other university in Michigan. The Department has also had four actors selected for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition Finals at the Kennedy Center as part of the American College Theater Festival as well as five designers selected to attend the National Festival.

The Department has been honored to perform two productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland: Women of Troy, Women of War and Good Death. Seven Passages: The Stories of Gay Christians, was invited to be performed at the worldwide conference of Anglican bishops in Canterbury, England. It is due in part to these celebrated honors and international performance opportunities that the Department of Theatre can produce confident, successful students who are ready to start their careers in the theatre with a competitive edge.

“This program is a superstar in undergraduate theatre education. I can say from personal experience that the acting, design, and technology students at Western Michigan University are consistently among the best in the United States. Western Michigan University is considered an elite program, with some of the highest quality students in the nation.”
- Brant Pope, Chair, Department of Drama and Dance, University of Texas-Austin

 “Actors coming out of the Western Michigan School of Theatre are certainly among the best and most sought-after students I have encountered during my 25 years of recruiting for three nationally ranked graduate programs. They are extremely talented, expertly trained, and fully prepared for the rigors of the next level of training. I am proud to say I have been fortunate enough to recruit them on numerous occasions.” 

- Jim Wise, Professor of Acting/MFA acting program, The Pennsylvania State University

“You have one of the finest undergraduate programs in the country, and your students are always among the strongest that we see at URTA.”
- Henson Keyes, Director, MFA acting program, University of Illinois

“Perfect Pre-professional Training is how I would describe the WMU actors I have worked with in MFA Professional Actor Training Programs. The students are curious and alert and ready to add to the arsenal of tools they have received during their undergraduate years. I, as well as fellows from peer institutions, always look forward to auditioning and interviewing the WMU actors seeking advanced training. Whatever WMU is doing to prepare their students for a future in the professional arena…it works!”
- Dale AJ Rose, Director of Performance Studies/MFA Acting Program
Associate Chair, Interim Artistic Director for Connecticut Repertory Theatre

“I must share with you that we really respond well to the actors from WMU. They are invariably well-prepared, personable, professional young men and women who are, without a doubt, ready for the rigors of graduate actor training. You and your colleagues can be proud indeed.”
- Jane Ridley, Head, Graduate Acting program, Penn State University

“There isn’t another school in the country that has this many people on our list for consideration. It’s a credit to your sharp eyes in recruiting and the strong challenges you provide these students with that so many stand so strong in the competitive market for MFA training.”
- Jack Young, Director, Graduate Acting & Directing, University of Houston MFA