School of Theatre and Dance

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www.millikin.edu/theatre

Rachel Barnett, Director

School of Theatre and Dance Faculty

Matthew Albrecht, Lori Bales, Beth Creighton, Nick Dalton, Aaron Dyszelski Jefferson Farber, Jana Henry Funderburk, Brendan Greene-Walsh, Paul Jannise, Kevin Long, Alex Miller, Angela Fleddermann Miller, Sean T. Morrissey, Victoria Scrimer, Samantha Thompson, 

Mission Statement

Through Performance Learning, the rigorous integration of theory and practice in the classroom and on stage, we investigate and interpret ideas, peoples, and perspectives of the world. We strive to develop an intellectual and imaginative engagement with our audience and community using theatrical arts as the method of inquiry.

Degree Programs

The School of Theatre and Dance offers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Theatre and the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Musical Theatre, Acting, Design and Production, or Stage Management. Students in all degree programs must complete Millikin’s University Studies requirements in addition to their course work in Theatre. All degrees are designed for students interested in pursuing careers in professional, academic, regional, and community theatre. Minor degrees are offered in Dance and Theatre.

Students are admitted to the BFA programs in Acting and Musical Theatre based upon auditions and/or interviews and only after being admitted to the University.

All degree programs in the School of Theatre and Dance promote craftsmanship, creativity, and the development of the individual artist within the context of a liberal education. Performance, in the broad sense, and the development of artistic responsibility are emphasized throughout a student’s career. Our universal learning goals, Collaboration, Analysis, Technique, Professionalism, and Meaning and Value, apply to all of our degree programs. How these learning goals are defined varies among degree programs to accommodate the broad scope of disciplines within the theatre profession.

Assessment of learning goals happens throughout the curricula. For details see the Theatre and Dance website. Ample opportunities for performances and production work are available during the main stage and studio seasons (typically a combination of musicals, plays, operas, a children’s play, and a dance concert). In addition to these seasons, students have performance and production opportunities through work in Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre and activities off campus. Upper class students enrolled in the Design & Production BFA program may be afforded opportunities to design for main stage productions. Four performance facilities are available for productions. The Virginia Rogers Theatre, our newest theatre, is a flexible space in the Center for Theatre & Dance, which houses plays, musicals, dance performances, and operas. Kirkland Fine Arts Center’s 1,900-seat theatre is used for large musicals and dance performances. Albert Taylor Theatre, a 270-seat proscenium theatre, is another site for smaller musicals, plays, dance performances, and operas. Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre is a 90-seat experimental space, which serves as a laboratory for main stage and student-produced performances.

All BFA performance majors (musical theatre and acting) are required to audition for all main stage productions. BFA performance majors must formally petition the Performance Coordinator to be excused from auditions. The departmental learning goals are embedded in both the curriculum and the production experience, and a BFA student’s commitment to the production process will be evaluated accordingly.

Dance

Dance classes are held in three well-equipped dance studios. A dance concert is performed yearly. Master classes are often taught by members of dance companies performing at Kirkland Fine Arts Center or by invited guest artists.

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