Academic Programs
Wagner 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.
-
BA in Theatre with three different concentrations: Performance, Design/Technology/Management, and Theatre Studies.
-
BS in Arts Administration with concentrations in Theatre, Music, Art, and Combined Arts.
-
And Minors in Dance and Theatre.
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.
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 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.
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