Academic Programs

WCT_Logo_SmallWagner College Theatre was founded in 1968 and today has grown to become one of the nation’s top-ranked collegiate theater programs.

A major in Theatre & Speech serves a broad range of student interests and goals.  Graduates go on to careers in theater and numerous arts-related areas as well as graduate study in law, education, healthcare and business, among other professions, along with MFA programs such as Rutgers, Villanova, and Harvard/ART.

DEGREES:
The department uses both the Mainstage and Stage One to present productions ranging from Broadway musicals to dramas to dance concerts.
The Mainstage is a proscenium theatre that seats approximately 300 and regularly sells out to students, family, staff and the greater Staten Island community. Shows include three or four musicals and possibly a play or dance concert. Each of these productions runs 2 weeks. To view our current season, click here.
WCT's DAMN YANKEES, 2015.

DAMN YANKEES directed by Mickey Tennenbaum, 2015

Stage One is a black box theatre that focuses on the dramatic cannon in recent years including Moliere, Shakespeare, Williams as well as contemporary writers such as Amiri Baraka, Stephen Karam, and David Ives as well as new devised works. Three of the four shows are classic or contemporary plays; the fourth show is a musical or dance concert. To view our current season, click here.

Dutch Chump-159

21 CHUMP STREET directed by David McDonald, 2015

Special Projects: The Department regularly supports collaborations with student organizations and other academic departments, such as Honors Projects, concerts with the Music Department, etc. Among recent events: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "The Vagina Monologues," and BC/EFA fundraisers.

Jeanine Bruen as Rosabella and Anthony Turner as Tony in MOST HAPPY FELLA'.

Jeanine Bruen as Rosabella and Anthony Turner as Tony in THE MOST HAPPY FELLA', 2015.

Faculty Involvement: The Theatre Faculty participates fully in the production program, serving as directors, choreographers, designers, vocal coaches, fight choreographers and in other specialized support roles. To see the list of faculty and their bios, click here.

Theatre Advisory Board (TAB): This student organization consists of two elected members from each academic class. TAB meets throughout the school year with the Department Chair and/or members of the Theatre faculty. TAB provides a formal conduit for theatre students to convey their views and concerns to the faculty. They also organize various social and fundraising activities.

Other Department-Related Clubs: Dance Club, Society for Arts Administration, USITT Student Chapter, Completely Student Productions, Student Run Musical Theatre, among others.

Guest Artists/Workshops/Clinics: WCT sponsors many guest lectures and workshops; among recent guests: Broadway star and Wagner alum Randy Graff, Broadway animal trainer Bill Berloni, composer/lyricist William Finn, Broadway director Jerry Mitchell; Glee actor Ali Stroker.

Ali Stroker speaks to a full house.

Ali Stroker speaks to a full house.

Field Trips: Given Wagner's location, classes often include travel to Manhattan to see shows, conduct research at places like the Library of Performing Arts, and The Players Club.

Senior Showcase: The department produces an annual Senior Showcase in Manhattan (usually at Playwrights Horizons) during which qualified seniors perform before an invited audience of agents, managers, and producers. The Senior Showcase takes place at the end of spring semester and is part of a Performance major's Senior Learning Community.

Class of 2016

Class of 2016