Theatre Arts

The arts of the theatre — acting, directing, playwriting,stagecraft, design, literature, costuming, makeup and lighting— enable students to explore the human condition throughtheatrical study and productions. At UW-Eau Claire you willenhance your ability to present the experience of humanbeings to audiences through practical experimentation andpractice that will entertain and enlighten.

Contact Info:Kelly Olson, Music + Theatre ArtsHaas Fine Arts Center 156121 Water Street715-836-4954 | olsonke@uwec.edu

Majors• Theatre Arts - Teaching• Theatre Arts - Liberal ArtsComprehensive majors (no minorrequired)• Theatre Arts - Liberal Arts• Theatre Arts - Musical Theatre

Minors• Theatre Arts - Teaching• Theatre Arts - Teaching, Middle

Childhood / Early Adolescence

Certificates• Fine Arts Administration• Dance Activities

Where you'll findour grads• Executive Director of the

Confluence Arts Center; Eau Claire,WI

• Actor, Showtime's "Homeland"• Actors, The Guthrie Theatre;

Minneapolis, MN• Headling Performer; Las Vegas, NV• Actor, National Touring Production

of Jersey Boys• Actor, Yale Repertory Theatre

Prepared forSuccessAs a theatre arts major you will receivetraining in various aspects of theatreincluding technical theatre, acting,directing, dance, dramatic literature,

playwriting and arts management.The department produces an activetheatre season that includes fourmain-stage productions, a Theatre forYoung Audiences touring production,student-directed Short Play Festivals,the New Playwrights Festival, and theDanceWorks Ensemble and studentchoreography showcase — allproduced in facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. Our comprehensivetheatre seasons expose students to afull range of styles, genres and periods,including comedy, tragedy andmusical theatre. Opportunities forinvolvement in productions are opento all UW-Eau Claire students.Every year, one of our main-stageproductions is either a musical or anopera. This collaboration betweendepartments allows music educationstudents a chance to get some hands-on experience in a differentperformance setting and studentswith varied passions to experiencetop-quality musical theatre.We offer a theatre education majorand minor toward Wisconsin statecertification, grades PK-12. We tour aTheatre for Young Audiencesproduction to elementary schoolsthroughout Western Wisconsin,serving about 3,000 children in grades1-5. Many UW-Eau Claire grads willeither go into acting or continue ontograduate school to pursue theirmaster of fine arts degree.Typical positions held by theatre artsgraduates include actor/actress intheatre, film or television; theatreteacher; scriptwriter; casting agent;costume designer; set, lighting or propdesigner; director; technical director;or stage manager.

Theatre Arts (continued)

Why UW-Eau ClaireHands-On ExperienceIn addition to course offerings,students actively participate inproduction work in areas such asacting, directing, designing, stagemanaging, playwriting, theatrepromotion and technical theatre.Practical experience is supported by adynamic faculty who work closely withstudents and are active in their fields.Student theatre technicians work intwo fully equipped scene shops and acostume shop and the departmentmaintains an extensive costumedesign collection.

Innovative FacilitiesStudents have access to outstandingtheatre facilities including theConfluence Arts Center, with a 400-seat Black Box performing space and a1,200-seat proscenium theatre;Riverside Theatre, a 200-seat thruststage; and Gantner Hall, a 600-seatconcert hall.

Course Work / Pre-ProfessionalCoursesStudy in the department advances thestudent’s development and practicalapplication of knowledge, theory andskills. Courses explore areas such as:• Stagecraft and play production• Stage lighting• Voice and diction• Theatre history• Stage makeup• Costume history and design• Acting and directing• Historical and modern drama and

theatre

Special AdmissionGuidelinesStudents planning to enroll in theatreprograms are encouraged to completecourses in English composition andpublic speaking during high school.They should also be involved in schoolor community theatre productions —on stage or behind the scenes.