Theatre & Dance Programs
The Theatre & Dance (THAD) Department offers one major and two minor options for students.
Major
In the Theatre major, students are trained onstage and backstage in both of our campus theaters to learn everything there is to know about production.
Students get hands-on experience in performance, design, technology, choreography, stage-management, and directing.
View the Theatre Major Map (PDF) for an idea of what your program plan could look like.
Minors
The Theatre minor gives students the chance to enhance their creativity, communication, and critical thinking skills while taking part in the basic fundamentals of theatre.
In the Dance minor, students in any discipline can use dance to improve body and mind integration, and achieve creative potential through the art of movement.
Students have opportunities and experiences in all aspects of production:
- performance
- design/technology
- choreography
- stage-management
- directing
We have 4-6 mainstage productions per season. Students have practical training onstage and backstage in both of our theaters.
If you want to explore your passion outside of the classroom, we encourage you to join one of our several clubs.
Our graduates are employed across the US in professional theatre and dance companies.
- Great River Shakespeare Festival (Winona, MN)
- Gulfshore Playhouse (Naples, FL)
- Paul Bunyan Playhouse (Bemidji, MN)
- Kalamazoo Civic Theatre (Kalamazoo, MI)
- Crane River Theatre Company (Kearney, NE)
- New York City Ballet (NYC, NY)
- Milwaukee Repertory Theatre (Milwaukee, WI)
- National Theatre for Children (Minneapolis, MN)
- Central City Opera (Central City, CO)
- Barrington Stage Company (Pittsfield, MA)
- The Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis, MN)
Our department is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).
Accreditation is evidence that the department and university care about providing students with a good education.
It also proves we have met certain standards of equipment, faculty, and facilities.