Theatre and Dance, School of

Joan Herrington, Director

Jay Berkow
Jeremy Blair
Cheryl Bruey
Evan Carlson
Lofton L. Durham, III
Daniel Guyette
Monique Haley
Seyong Kim
Dwandra Lampkin
Mark Liermann
Whitney Moncrief
David Nofsinger
Kelsey Paschich
Carolyn Pavlik
Megan Slayter
Elizabeth Terrel
Kathryn Thomsen
Kathryn Wagner

Advising
Advisor: Thom Cooper
2003 Gilmore Theatre Complex
(269) 387-6171
thomas.cooper@wmich.edu

Mission
Western Michigan University School of Theatre and Dance is an intentionally inclusive learning community. Focusing on our students’ career goals, we provide exceptional learning experiences, preparing students to realize their artistic voice and personal aesthetic. In addition to individualized teaching and mentorship from professional faculty and staff, we expand students’ horizons through coursework, guest artists residencies, as well as performance and production opportunities.

Accreditations
Western Michigan University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASO).

Theatre
There are six primary programs in Theatre. We offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Acting, Music Theatre Performance, Stage Management and Theatre Design and Technical Production, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts administration; and a Certificate Program in Music Theatre Performance. These programs are offered are in an exceptional, undergraduate-only learning environment dedicated to providing our student artists with the skills necessary to succeed in the current industry and to lead the industry as it evolves. We mindfully create a community that includes passionate students, deeply committed faculty, and professional specialists. Together, we produce relevant work that enriches the lives of artists and audience alike. We are passionate about empowering a new generation of theatre, film, and media artists to shape a vibrant, inclusive, and innovative future for our art form.

Opportunities for participation in the production program begin with the freshman year. The Department presents seven faculty-directed productions in the season, all in the Irving S. Gilmore Theatre Complex. Additional student-directed plays are presented in the Footlights Series. All regularly enrolled students in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or above) are eligible to participate in these productions.

All theatre students are reviewed by the faculty in their respective majors during their fourth and six semesters of study within theatre majors. The purpose of the review is to assess the students’ progress toward completion of the major and to discuss upper-level coursework, fourth-year projects and post-graduate planning. Satisfactory review is required for continuation in the major. A grade of “C” or better is required in all courses within the major. If a student receives a grade lower than “C”, then the student is required to retake the class. If a second grade of lower than “C” is received, then the student will be reviewed by the faculty to determine continued enrollment in the major.

Dance
There are four primary programs in dance. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance; Bachelor of Arts in Dance; a Dance Minor; and an Online Undergraduate Certificate in Dance Studio Management. The B.F.A. major emphasizes training in performance, choreography, and the skills necessary to support an active career in dance and related fields at the professional level. The B.A. major focuses on flexibility within a liberal arts education with a strong foundation in general dance studies. B.A. students individualize their dance program by choosing electives to support their goals. The dance minor is designed for students who wish to continue their dance studies as an avocation. The Online Undergraduate Certificate in Dance Studio Management is designed to provide current and prospective dance studio owners with knowledge and skills related to dance studio ownership and management. Dance courses offered include four levels of ballet, jazz, and modem dance, three levels of choreography, three dance history courses, dance science and analysis, conditioning, pedagogy, and production. An audition is required for acceptance into all dance majors. For additional information, please refer to specific requirements.