Theatre and Dance

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Production/Design

The primary goal of the Department of Theatre and Dance is to develop skilled and creative student artists for careers in theatre, dance, and related arts.

The Production/Design degree program at Western Illinois University is hands-on program where students learn from highly skilled professional faculty. Teamwork, mentorship, collaboration are essential part of a career in the theatre and core to your experience at WIU. A unique quality of our program is the commitment we have to providing individualized attention to each student and to the student’s professional growth. Our class sizes are small, the student-to-faculty ratio is low, and we offer realized scenic, lighting, costume, sound, prop, projection design opportunities in all of our theatres each year to undergraduate Production/Design students. Our students are exposed regionally and nationally by actively participating in KC/ACTF, SETC, USITT, and other major theatre conferences around the country. WIU Theatre and Dance hosts four or five summer stock/regional theatre companies each year for on campus auditions/interviews. The relationships you build at WIU will serve as the basis of your professional network for many years to come.

Students looking for an excellent, challenging program with a rich history of success are attracted to our program for its great preparation at an affordable price.

Possible Careers

Theatre students make OUTSTANDING employees for their wide range of abilities, such as creative problem solving, time management, performance and public speaking, professionalism, attention detail, motivation, commitment, collaboration and teamwork, self-confidence, to name a few! They are well prepared to enter careers in:

  • Theatre Management/Arts Management
  • Stage Management
  • Designing
    • Costumes
    • Lighting
    • Scenery
    • Sound
    • Projections
  • Teaching
    • Design
    • Painting
    • Management
  • Public Relations
  • Graphic Design
  • Communication
  • Foundation/Development

As well as advanced graduate study!

Why Choose Acting Theatre at WIU?

Our standard of excellence demands the celebration of individuality within the collaborative process, empowering the student to begin a lifelong career of risk-taking and self-discovery.

Requirements for the BA program and all options are below.

To download in PDF