School of Visual & Performing Arts

Theatre Arts

For Prospective Students Interested in Theatre Arts

There are many ways for prospective students to figure out if Western’s Theatre Arts program is the right fit.

Prospective students and parents can come as our guests to any of the shows we produce.  We produce large-scale musicals, Shakespeare as well as more classic dramas and comedies in our 350-seat MainStage Theatre.  We produce smaller shows including student-generated works in the Studio Theatre, our black box space.

Prospective students can also sit in on our classes. Though our “Shadow Day” program, they can follow a current student and get a taste for the average day in the life of a theatre major at Western. There are plenty of classes they can attend, including acting, dance, costume technology, musical theatre, management or a design/tech class. They can take a tour of our facilities and see our stages, rehearsal rooms, new computer lab, scenic arts and crafts room and costume and scene shops. They can even spend time with the students, hanging out with them in the Campus Center.

For any further information, please email Professor Pam McDaniel at mcdanielp@wcsu.edu.

 

Upcoming Events

 

For prospective students, the Department of Theatre Arts offers a special High School Night performance, which includes free admission to prospective students & parents. Check in for our High School Night is at 7:30 PM, at which time our Admissions office will be present to consult with prospective students and parents regarding the program and the application/audition process. Immediately following the show will be a talkback with members of the cast, production team, and design team to discuss aspects of the production.  This entertaining and informative night will allow for prospective students to learn about our thriving School of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as make connections with our faculty, staff, and students. 

 

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Written by Bertolt Brecht

Thursday, October 17th at 8:00 PM

Check in at 7:30 PM

 

Click here to register for our high school night performance of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Please note that seating is limited.

 

Based in 1930s Chicago, the Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, written by Bertolt Brecht and adapted by Bruce Norris, is a theatrical commentary on the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany. This dramatic comedy challenges the way power is obtained through the veil of vegetable companies and gangster mobs. Meant as a warning of what can happen in these circumstances, it begs us to consider who we are willing to trust. So open your minds, hold onto your hats, and come join us for this “Good Old-Fashioned Gangster Music Hall”! 

 

A Little Night Music

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler

Thursday, November 7th at 8:00 PM 

Check in at 7:30 PM

 

Click here to register for our high school night performance of A Little Night Music. Please note that seating is limited. 

 

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, A Little Night Music is a masterfully intricate exploration of musicality and character that has astounded audiences since winning the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1973.  Sondheim’s score, including the timeless “Send in the Clowns”, has been described by The New York Times as “heady, civilized, sophisticated and enchanting.”  Set in Sweden at the turn of the century, A Little Night Music unravels the tangled web of the affairs of actress Desirée Armfeldt and the men who love her. The men, as well as their jealous wives, agree to join Desiree and her family for a weekend in the country at Desiree’s mother’s estate. With everyone in one place, new romances and second chances usher in infinite possibilities. This dazzling production is directed by Tim Howard, who appeared in the Broadway National Tours of Parade and Showboat, both directed by the late Hal Prince. He is also an Associate Professor, as well as the Coordinator of the BFA Musical Theater Program, at Western Connecticut State University.