Hundreds of plays have been produced since the first one-acts in 1906. Playwrights and plays representing every genre of theatre have been presented on Western's stages: improvisational and traditional children's theatre, new works, and representative classics from throughout the important periods of theatre history are all part of Western's theatre heritage.

1906. The program's strength and vitality was sparked in 1906 when Mary Master of the Speech Department began the annual one-act productions. In 1911, Elva Forncrook became Speech Department head. In 1915, Miss Forncrook inaugurated the Western State Normal Dramatic Association, an organization of student performers and technicians who were the core of the theatre program. In 1917, Losene Rousseau succeeded Miss Forncrook as Speech Department head.

1918. The old Eames Mill became Western's first home for Theatre. Plays were not presented there, however, as the building was condemned at the time the Speech Department moved in. Theatre classes, rehearsals and set construction took place in the High School, and the "new" Civic Auditorium. That same year, a young speech teacher from Ohio, Laura V. Shaw, joined the faculty.

1921. Miss Shaw took over as Speech Department head, running the department with a skeletal staff for nearly 20 years. With the aid of only a few other faculty members designing the sets and costumes, Miss Shaw built the theatre program into a vital, important campus activity. In 1941, an alumnus of Western fresh out of Yale Drama School, Zack L. York, joined the staff. In 1942, Western constructed its first theatre facility, the Oakland Theatre, housing offices and shops as well as a 350-seat auditorium and proscenium stage.

1953. Miss Shaw retired, following 35 years of devoted service to Western. York was named Speech Department head. During the '50s and '60s, the department experienced rapid growth in both students and staff. York hired Robert L. Smith as Director of Theatre in 1964, just before stepping down as head of the Speech Department.

1968. A new theatre facility was built and named the Laura V. Shaw Theatre. It was one of several liberal arts buildings constructed on the southern end of the west campus. Joining the Shaw Theatre were Brown Hall, Sprau Tower and Miller Auditorium. Shaw offered a comfortable 571 seat proscenium theatre, large scene and costume shops, and a 40' by 40' black box theatre.

1975. Smith stepped down and York was appointed Director of Theatre by then chair of the Communications Arts and Sciences Department, Charles Brown. The following year, Western's Board of Trustees approved a request from the Theatre area to leave the Department of Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences to become the Department of Theatre in the College of Fine Arts.

York was appointed chairperson of the newly-formed Department of Theatre, a position he held until his retirement in June, 1978. Upon York's retirement, the black box theatre, known as the Arena Theatre, was officially designated by the Board of Trustees as the Zack L. York Arena Theatre.

1978. Former Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Robert H. Luscombe, was appointed chairperson. Within the next two years the Department expanded its development of curriculum, guest artist residences, audience support, relationships with professional companies, scholarships, and recruitment.

1980. When Mr. Luscombe became Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Dr. Daniel Fleischhacker became acting chairperson while the department undertook a search for a permanent chairperson. In January of 1982, Dr. D. Terry Williams was appointed chairperson and Professor of Theatre, after 20 years at the University of Northern Iowa where he served as Director of Theatre.

1988. The department was honored by having one of its productions, Quilters, selected to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., as part of the American College Theatre Festival. We have also been selected for five regional festivals. In 1990, the Multi-Cultural Theatre Program was initiated.

1994. A $5.4 million educational theatre wing was added to the existing theatre. The new complex is named the Irving S. Gilmore Theatre Complex and is a state-of-the-art facility with an innovative Multiform Theatre space at its center.

1997. First Chicago Showcase featuring graduating seniors choosing to move to Chicago.

2000. First New York Showcase for graduating seniors from BFA Music Theatre Performance program. Repeat performance for theatre alumni in NY area.

2001. Initiation of Undergraduate Entrepreneurial Program (2001-2003) . Funded by the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, this program assisted juniors and seniors in attending workshops, developing web sites and portfolios.

2002. Start of MFA in Performing Arts Administration program.

2003. Added a full-time Director of Voice and Speech faculty member.

From one faculty member and a handful of students, the Theatre Department at Western has grown to 190 majors which participate in a fully staff-supported, quality program.