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#1 “Best College Theatre”

The Princeton Review 2026

Wagner College Theatre ranked among The Princeton Review's top ten collegiate theater programs in the United States for over three decades, ranking #1 in 2026.
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Wagner College Theatre offers a robust and comprehensive B.A. in Theatre and Speech combining intensive training in dance, music, acting, design, and more. With more than 50 years producing live theatre in New York City, Wagner College has become a leader in the field. Through a rigorous combination of theory and practice, the department seeks to foster leadership, a sense of community, artistic integrity, intellectual expertise, and the best professional values to serve students in their chosen profession.

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Dancers in pastel garden party costumes BS in Arts Administration
BA in Theatre
Dance and Music
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Students with their fists raised in the air under the words "#1 Collegiate Theater Program"
Colorfully costumed performers reach into the air towards the text: #2 Collegiate Theater Program
A collage of a logo for Follies, performers both backstage and onstage at Carnegie Hall, and the view from the stage.
WAGNER COLLEGE THEATRE CELEBRATES ALUMNI DURING THE 2026 AWARD SEASON

Wagner College Theatre is proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of our alumni during the 2026 awards season. From acclaimed revivals to groundbreaking new works, Wagner alumni made a significant impact on Broadway and beyond, with productions earning recognition at both the 2026 Drama Desk Awards (May 17 at Town Hall) and the 79th Annual […] LEARN MORE

A STANDING OVATION FOR GRADUATING SENIORS

Wagner College Theatre proudly celebrates the many graduating seniors and arts students recognized at the 2026 Wagner College Senior Awards Ceremony. This year’s honorees were recognized for excellence in academics, performance, leadership, service, arts administration, education, and creative achievement across the college community. A special congratulations goes to Abigail Bernesky, Arts Administration and Theatre Performance […] LEARN MORE

WCT CABARET STUDENTS DELIGHT AT LORENZO’S

Wagner College Theatre extends its heartfelt gratitude to Lorenzo’s at the Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island and to Lois and Richard Nicotra for hosting You’ve Got a Friend in Me, a special cabaret performance presented on May 13, 2026. Through Lois and Richard’s long-held love for the art of cabaret, WCT students were lucky enough […] LEARN MORE

CELEBRATING THE 2026 SENIOR SHOWCASE

You're Invited to WCT's 2026 Senior Showcase on April 26th!   Join us in the Main Hall Theatre at 1:00pm to celebrate our graduating performers. Among this special group of seniors many have already lined up their next career steps, including National Tours, Regional Theatre productions, positions with Disney, acceptance to graduate programs including the MFA […] LEARN MORE

Wagner College Theatre Closes its 25-26 “Portraits of America” season with BRIGHT STAR

BRIGHT STAR is an uplifting Broadway musical inspired by a true story, featuring a Tony-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Set in the American South during the 1920s and '40s, the show weaves a poignant tale of love, loss, and redemption. With its blue grass score and deeply emotional characters, BRIGHT STAR is […] LEARN MORE

SPRING EVENTS AT WAGNER COLLEGE

It is a busy spring for the Arts at Wagner College, with something for everyone. Check out everything happening between now and graduation!   Elizabeth McCullough Voice Studio Recital: April 11th @ 7:30pm, Music Performance Center This is Government Staged Reading: April 11th @ 7:30pm, Stage One In Good Company - Graña-Siemens Voice Studio Recital: […] LEARN MORE

A DOG DAY AFTERNOON FOR WAGNER ALUMNI

Dog Day Afternoon made a charged and stylish arrival on Broadway, opening at the August Wilson Theatre on March 30, 2026. Leading the production are Jon Bernthal, fresh off his acclaimed work in The Bear, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, known for both The Bear and his role in The Fantastic Four. Opening night carried the energy […] LEARN MORE

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE 2027 STANLEY DRAMA AWARD

Applications are now open for the 2027 Stanley Drama Award! Administered by Wagner College Theatre, the top prize of $2,000.00 has been offered annually to an original full-length play, musical, or one-act play sequence that has not been professionally produced or received trade book publication.    The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2026, after […] LEARN MORE

ANNOUNCING THE 67th STANLEY DRAMA AWARD WINNER

Wagner College Theatre is excited to announce that James Still is the winner of the 2026 Stanley Drama Award for, HAUNT ME. As fiction and reality blur onstage, HAUNT ME becomes a surreal, compassionate exploration of identity, memory, and creation, revealing that the most terrifying story may be one’s own life. Best-selling horror writer Ellery […] LEARN MORE

NEW ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES ANNOUNCED

Wagner College Theatre is thrilled to announce two new initiatives designed to make its upcoming Main Stage productions of PICNIC and FIRST LADY SUITE more accessible, inclusive, and affordable to the Staten Island community and beyond. As part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring that live theatre can be enjoyed by everyone, Wagner College Theatre […] LEARN MORE

HOMEGROWN TALENT IN THE PIT ORCHESTRA OF COMPANY

Wagner College Theatre is proud to spotlight the exceptional musicians powering its Main Stage production of Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY, showcasing a pit orchestra deeply rooted in the Wagner and Staten Island community. Composed of students, alumni, and  faculty, the ensemble is a shining example of Wagner’s commitment to cultivating ties to the local community. The […] LEARN MORE

WAGNER COLLEGE THEATRE TAKES CENTER STAGE AS THE NATION’S #1 COLLEGE THEATER PROGRAM

The spotlight is shining brighter than ever on Wagner College Theatre! In a thrilling achievement, the program has been named the #1 College Theatre program in the country by The Princeton Review’s 2026 edition of The Best 391 Colleges. This marks an historic high for the program, which has proudly held a spot among the […] LEARN MORE

WCT ALUMNI SHINE THIS BROADWAY AWARDS SEASON

It is with immense pride that Wagner College Theatre congratulates the outstanding alumni whose artistry and leadership were celebrated during the 2025 theater award season. From thrilling revivals to dazzling new works, Wagner talent left its mark on Broadway and beyond at both the 2025 Drama Desk Awards (June 1, NYU Skirball) and the 78th […] LEARN MORE

2020 STANLEY DRAMA AWARD WINNER RECEIVES NYC PREMIERE

Wagner College Theatre (WCT) is thrilled to share that the 2020 Stanley Drama Award winning play, TRUTH BE TOLD written by William Cameron, is receiving its NYC Premiere. The Gene Frankel Theatre and ARA Theater will be presenting TRUTH BE TOLD from February 19 - March 9, 2025. This triumph is a perfect example of […] LEARN MORE

66th STANLEY DRAMA AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED

Wagner College Theatre is excited to announce that Nina Kissinger is the winner of the 2025 Stanley Drama Award for her dark comedy, THIS IS GOVERNMENT. Set against the backdrop of a political crisis in the U.S. government, the play follows three interns trapped in a lockdown as they navigate the chaos of political disarray—and […] LEARN MORE

Wagner College Theatre Soars to #2 in The Princeton Review’s 2025 Edition of The Best 390 Colleges

Wagner College Theatre has achieved an impressive milestone in The Princeton Review’s highly anticipated 2025 Edition of The Best 390 Colleges, climbing to the #2 spot on the prestigious list of top collegiate theater programs in the United States. This remarkable achievement underscores Wagner College Theatre’s long-standing reputation for excellence in performing arts education. For […] LEARN MORE

WAGNER COLLEGE THEATRE STUDENTS JOIN TRANSPORT GROUP AT CARNEGIE HALL

On Thursday, June 20th, Wagner College Theatre faculty, students, and alumni took to the stage at the legendary Carnegie Hall as part of Transport Group’s sold-out concert presentation of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s FOLLIES. The cast boasted 223 Broadway credits, 14 Tony Awards, and 38 Tony Award Nominations. Directed by Jack Cummings III and […] LEARN MORE

WAGNER COLLEGE THEATRE ON BROADWAY’S BIGGEST NIGHT

It is with an abundance of pride that Wagner College Theatre congratulates the many Alumni who were involved in the shows being recognized during the 2024 theatre award season. The 77th Tony Awards were held on Sunday, June 16th at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center. It has been a crowded and star-studded […] LEARN MORE

Wagner College Theatre Audition Day 4 February 2024

Wagner College’s Department of Performing Arts provides students with a strong liberal arts background combined with intensive experiential learning. By combining theory and practice, the department seeks to foster a sense of community, artistic integrity, intellectual expertise, and the best professional values to serve students in their chosen careers. Our close proximity to New York […] LEARN MORE

Wagner College Partners with Brooklyn’s Mark Morris Dance Center

Wagner College and The Mark Morris Dance Group, a nationally regarded company based in Brooklyn, have started a new pilot program for Wagner's Dance Education students. The teacher training opportunity, arranged by Rusty Curcio, head of dance at Wagner College, allows Wagner students to participate in Mark Morris Dance Center's Teaching Artist Training program while simultaneously […] LEARN MORE

THEATRE ALUMNI

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“"Wagner not only gave me the training I was looking for in a college program, but it also taught me how to embrace myself as a person and use that to help me with my career. Even today they still check in with me and support everything that I do. Wagner College Theater was the best decision that I ever made." - Tim Grady '08”