The Department of Theatre & Dance has successfully developed an award-winning program in the theatre arts and dance within the context of a high-quality liberal arts education. Study of theatre and dance at Muhlenberg College is designed to serve a wide ranging population from beginners interested in broadening their education to advanced students pursuing careers in the performing arts.

Students in theatre choose to major in acting, design and technical theatre, directing, performance studies or stage management; students interested in dance may major, double-major with another academic area, or minor in dance. Built in an atmosphere of inclusiveness, students from all academic majors may study dance and theatre and actively participate in performances and productions. Each academic season includes six plays, including one musical theatre piece, three major dance concerts, two series of studio work in theatre, and one studio series for dancers and choreographers. Serious training and intense attention to students as artists create a collaborative rather than competitive atmosphere.

The academic programs in both theatre and dance have been designed to provide department majors with carefully structured studio experiences in performance and design in conjunction with a solid background in the history, theory and literature of stage performance.

Production Opportunities

DanceBeat 2007 Newsletter

The program is focused on students individually and collectively in producing extensive opportunities for acting, choreography, dance, design, direction, stage management and technical theatre. In addition to a regionally acclaimed and ambitious production season on the main stage, the department supports a series of student-initiated studio projects each year that offer extended opportunities to explore a diversity of interests and talents.

Visiting faculty in theatre and dance are involved in classroom and production, offering a wealth of diverse professional experiences and styles for students to experience as a way of broadening their own journey as artists. All Muhlenberg students, regardless of major, are eligible to participate in the performance program and work on production crews.

Master classes, lectures, and special performances by visiting artists and artists in residence offer further opportunities for students to expand their creative horizons. Work that is developed in collaboration with visiting artists is frequently included in studio and main stage performances.

Community Outreach Projects offer students the opportunity to perform in the community and in area schools, at the same time giving students additional opportunities to direct, design, and act. These projects address issues that are relevant to the communities we serve and include study-guides and discussions with teachers and leaders as well as direct interaction with audiences. The department also includes outreach into the public schools and the community with each of its professional artists in residence.

For more information about the Theatre & Dance Department, email Jess Bien.