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Dr. Justin P. Cowan, Chair cowanj@wcsu.edu VPA 239A, Westside campus (203) 837-8476
Joni Johns Lerner, Associate Chair lernerj@wcsu.edu VPA 239B, Westside campus (203) 837-3984
Heather Hurley, Department Secretary heatherh@wcsu.edu
VPA 239, Westside campus (203) 837-8404 (203) 837-8912 (fax)
Cowan, Chair, Musicianship, MT Rep, MT History, Musical Director, Director J. Johns-Lerner, Associate Chair, Costume Design, Costume Technology, Costume History D. Gagnon, Theatre History, MT History, Play Struct. & Analysis, Senior Portfolio, Dramaturgy T. Howard, BFA Musical Theatre Coordinator, MT Workshop, Audition Techniques, Director P. McDaniel, BFA Acting Coordinator, Directing, Acting, Performing Shakespeare, Acting II, III S. Trapani, Acting, Directing, Devised Theatre, Theatre History, Director O. Wason, BFA Design/Tech Coordinator, Lighting Design, Design Fund., Technical Theatre
Tom Swetz, Theatre Arts Production Coordinator
Evan Anderson, Lighting Design Michael Bartoli, Acting, Voice and Diction Gabriel Bennett, Sound Design Chris Bolan, Acting, Voice and Diction, Audition Techniques John Bonanni, BFA Stage Management Coordinator Donna Baldwin-Bradby, Director, Social Issues and Justice in Theatre Clifton Chadick, Scenic Design, Computer Drafting Danielle DeLaFuente, Scenic Design Anthony DePoto, Acting, Playmaking with Children, Directing Arielle Edwards, Sound Design Cameron Filepas, Lighting Design Phillip George, Scene into Song Kevin Geraghty, Video Production Kori Hansen, Production Lab Supervision, Technical Coordinator John Hickok, Performance Techniques, Acting, Meisner Andrew Levine, Theatre Management Annie G. Levy, Directing Mary Ann Lamb, Musical Theatre Dance Robin McGee, Stage Makeup, Costume Design Jan Mason, Intro to Theatre Arts Matt Newton, Acting for the Camera Megan Osterhaus, Applied Voice Elizabeth Parkinson, Musical Theatre Dance, Choreography Brenda Phelps, Costume Technology, Stage Makeup Amy Piantaggini, Musical Theatre Dance Jeremy Powell, Applied Voice Janelle Robinson, Applied Voice Donna Rendely Peeler, MT Repertoire, Musical Director David Sexton, Lighting Design Kiyoshi Shaw, Costume Design Cheyenne Sykes, Lighting Design Jennifer Turey, Choreographer Scott Wise, Choreography, Tap
Colleen Callahan, Props Coordinator Hilary Oak, Costume Shop Supervisor Ben Warner, University Assistant Zach Anderson, Pianist/Musical Theatre Coach Sarah Fay, Pianist/Musical Theatre Coach Sarah Fox, Pianist/Musical Theatre Coach Ann Gerschefski, Pianist/Musical Theatre Coach
Chris Farell, Piano Technician Eric Gomez, SVPA Events Coordinator Kori Hansen, Technical Coordinator Chip Machokas, Audio and IT Coordinator
Our NAST-accredited Department of Theatre Arts provides a strong professional training approach to the study of the art and craft of theatre. Students who pursue a BFA in Theatre Arts prepare for a myriad of professional careers as they relate to the student’s personal interests in Acting, Design/Technology, or Stage Management through our specialized and rigorous curriculum. Students pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre prepare for professional performance careers through the BFA program’s intensive curriculum and training. For students interested in a broader/liberal arts theatre education, the BA in Theatre Arts program is the perfect place for a more expansive, less specialized, approach. While there is no audition or interview process for the BA in Theatre Arts Degree, the BFA in Musical Theatre degree, as well as all concentrations within the BFA in Theatre Arts degree do require an in-person audition/interview for admittance into those programs.
The WCSU Department of Theatre Arts produces six MainStage productions every year in our state of the art, 98-million dollar Visual and Performing Arts Center. Our productions include both musicals and traditional plays, and range in style and genre from classic to contemporary. All students in our department, regardless of degree program, are heavily involved in all aspects of these productions. Whether performing on stage, building scenery, hanging lights, running sound, contributing to dramaturgical research, or stitching costumes…upon graduation, our students will have had hands-on experience in multiple areas of production. Our students leave WCSU not only well-equipped with a plethora of skills in a diverse and expansive array of theatrical disciplines.
Our proximity to NYC (one hour to midtown Manhattan) gives us a unique opportunity to make excellent use of its vast resources, including hiring well-known casting directors & agents for our annual Senior Showcase, Broadway choreographers for our staged productions, and various guest artists for master classes. Many faculty members have worked extensively in the Broadway and TV community, and have received Tony, Drama Desk and Emmy awards. The theatre faculty also maintains close ties with professional organizations, activities, and research facilities within the greater tri-state area. Opportunities such as professional training workshops and performances by guest artists are regularly planned to introduce students to the professional environment through these connections.
Additionally, the Theatre Arts Department at WCSU has participated in The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), and has received many top national awards from the festival. Design/Technology students also have the opportunity to attend the national USITT conference annually, gaining access to the latest technology being developed specifically for the stage. Keeping our students up to date on the latest technology and trends is something for which we as a department take great pride.
The theatre department keeps consistent with the university’s mission to serve as an accessible and responsive intellectual resource for the people and institutions of Connecticut. The department provides a thorough, modern education in the theory, skills and technology of theatre production and performance that is tailored to the individual student’s background and career objectives.
The department believes in fostering a diverse student environment with an emphasis on professionalism and a commitment to excellence.
To accomplish this mission the Department of Theatre Arts:
As per NAST standards and the stated goals for this degree, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and Theatre Arts degree programs are expected to demonstrate the following competencies upon graduation:
All students wishing to transfer into any degree program in theatre at WCSU must meet the criteria listed for each program, including those currently attending institutions holding articulation agreements with WCSU. All applicants will be assessed in the areas of their selected option for matriculation and appropriate prerequisite placement in courses within the major.
Western Connecticut State University, as part of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU), accepts credits for non-theatre courses as per the Transfer Articulation Policy for students with an earned Associates Degree. Information regarding this specific classification of transfer credits can be found at the CSCU website. For the 2016-2017 academic year there are no approved “pathways” for community college students to utilize TAP and seamlessly enter Western’s Department of Theatre Arts at the junior level.
Credit Hour: A semester hour of credit is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
Bachelor of Arts Theatre Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts Musical Theatre
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts options in: Acting Design/Technology Stage Management
Minor Theatre Arts
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN THEATRE ARTS (B.A.)
Description: This degree is appropriate for students who wish to study theatre within the broader context of a liberal arts education and to emphasize areas of concentration such as performance, design/technology, theatre arts management or theatre studies. Students are encouraged to explore breadth and variety in their educational pursuits to enhance their understanding of the world around them and to give them greater career versatility as a graduate.
Program Learning Outcomes
This degree is appropriate for students who wish to study theatre within the broader context of a liberal arts education and to emphasize areas of concentration such as performance, design/technology, theatre arts management or drama studies.
Specific goals related to the B.A. in Theatre Arts include:
Degree Requirements All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, and electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 42 SH.
Minimum GPA for the BA in Theatre Arts = 2.0
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. The WCSU General Education curriculum invites students to encounter a broad range of topics and skills in the liberal arts and sciences. The system requires students to successfully complete a minimum of 40 semester hours split across eleven learning areas. Generally, students can satisfy the requirements for a given learning area with any course they choose within that area; some programs of study may require specific Major
Designated General Education Courses; if so, they will be listed with the program requirements. Additionally, the Racial Justice and Global Diversity requirements may be completed with courses which are part of the program requirements. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link: https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad/academic-programs-degrees/
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
* All Bachelor of Arts degrees at WCSU require students to study a language other than English to at least the elementary level II. Students who have completed three years of a language other than English in high school with an overall “C” average or completed a total of four years of two languages other than English in high school with an overall “B” average have met this requirement.
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN MUSICAL THEATRE (B.F.A.)
Description: Offers students knowledge of and professional training in all aspects of musical theatre within a liberal arts context in order to compete for employment opportunities in the entertainment industry where musical theatre talent is utilized.
Entry and Audition Requirements: The BFA in Musical Theatre requires a prescreen audition in order to be invited to campus for an in-person audition. For more information about how to submit a prescreen, how to audition, and what to prepare, please visit the BFA in Musical Theatre Auditions webpage here.
Admission Auditions for Musical Theatre Degree Program
Students wishing to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre degree in the Department of Theatre Arts must adhere to the following criteria for admission:
Perform and pass a prescreen audition, and an in-person audition, for members of the faculty. The student, through this audition process, must exhibit the standards and skill sets required for entry into the Musical Theatre program, including:
Information regarding audition dates and specific audition requirements can be found online or by contacting the Department of Theatre Arts at (203) 837-8250.
The Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre degree is a specialized professional training degree that provides students with knowledge of, and training in, all aspects of musical theatre in order to compete for employment opportunities in the entertainment industry where musical theatre talent is utilized. Students will develop the following skills:
In addition to Musical Theatre specialization, students will also develop the following skills:
Students will create professional portfolios and audition packages to advance their careers post-graduation. This will be assessed through courses in Transition Workshop, Senior Portfolio, and Senior Showcase.
Required Courses in the Major: 79 SH.
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. The WCSU General Education curriculum invites students to encounter a broad range of topics and skills in the liberal arts and sciences. The system requires students to successfully complete a minimum of 40 semester hours split across eleven learning areas. Generally, students can satisfy the requirements for a given learning area with any course they choose within that area; some programs of study may require specific Major Designated General Education Courses; if so, they will be listed with the program requirements. Additionally, the Racial Justice and Global Diversity requirements may be completed with courses which are part of the program requirements. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link: https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad/academic-programs-degrees/
Sample Four Year Plan: BFA Musical Theatre Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
“C” or better required in all courses within the major to count toward graduation.
Description: The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts at WCSU is the newest degree in our nationally-recognized Department of Theatre Arts. Within a liberal arts setting, this professional training program provides students with knowledge of, and professional training in, all aspects of theatre while offering three distinct concentrations in which students can hone their specific skills. Those three concentrations are: Acting, Design/Technology, and Stage Management.
Students in these concentrations are guided toward professional placement in order to compete for post-graduate employment opportunities in their specified field.
Degree Requirements: All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, and electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Entry and Audition Requirements: Prospective students must schedule an on-campus audition for acceptance into the BFA in Theatre Arts – Acting Concentration degree program. There is currently no prescreen requirement to be granted an in-person audition. For more information about how to request an audition appointment, and what to prepare, please visit the BFA Auditions – Acting webpage here.
Students wishing to pursue a BFA in Theatre Arts: Acting degree in the Department of Theatre Arts must adhere to the following criteria for admission:
The BFA in Theatre Arts degree offers students knowledge of and professional training in three specific areas of theatre within a liberal arts context in order to compete for employment opportunities in the entertainment industry where theatrical talent is utilized. These three areas of concentration are: Acting, Design/Technology, and Stage Management.
Students will develop the following skills:
Required Courses in the Major: 77 SH.
Sample Four Year Plan: BFA Theatre Arts: Acting
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
Description: The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts at WCSU is the newest degree offering in our nationally-recognized Department of Theatre Arts. Within a liberal arts setting, this professional training program provides students with knowledge of, and professional training in, all aspects of theatre while offering three distinct concentrations in which students can hone their specific skills. Those three concentrations are: Acting, Design/Technology, and Stage Management.
Entry and Interview Requirements: Prospective students must schedule an in-person interview for acceptance into the BFA in Theatre Arts – Design/Technology Concentration degree program. For more information about how to request an interview appointment and what to submit, please visit the BFA Interviews – Design/Tech webpage here.
Students wishing to pursue a BFA in Theatre Arts: Design/Tech degree in the Department of Theatre Arts must adhere to the following criteria for admission:
Attend and pass an in-person interview for members of the faculty. The student, through this interview process, must exhibit the standards and skill sets required for entry into the Design/Technology program, including:
This degree offers students knowledge of and professional training in three specific areas of theatre within a liberal arts context in order to compete for employment opportunities in the entertainment industry where theatrical talent is utilized. These three areas of concentration are: Acting, Design/Technology, and Stage Management. Students will develop the following skills:
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses. Sample Four Year Plan: BFA Theatre Arts: Design/Tech
Entry and Interview Requirements: Prospective students must schedule an in-person interview for acceptance into the BFA in Theatre Arts – Stage Management Concentration degree program. For more information about how to request an interview appointment and what to submit, please visit the BFA Interviews – Stage Management webpage here.
Students wishing to pursue a BFA in Theatre Arts: Stage Management degree in the Department of Theatre Arts must adhere to the following criteria for admission:
Attend and pass an in-person interview for members of the faculty. The student, through this interview process, must exhibit the standards and skill sets required for entry into the Stage Management program, including:
Required Courses in the Major: 78 SH.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses. Sample Four Year Plan: BFA Theatre Arts: Stage Management
Minor in Theatre (18 S.H.)
Eighteen semester hours in theatre which must include at least 12 semester hours above the 200-level or higher with at least 3 semesters of THR 300. Emphasis must be on Theatre Arts.
