Theatre, B.A.

Mission Statement

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.

Curriculum Overview

Wagner College Theatre offers training in Acting, Musical Theatre Performance, Opera, Dance, Design, and Management as well as Playwriting, Directing, and more.

Academic offerings cover a comprehensive range of courses spanning performance, design, and production. Students develop their skills through classes in acting, dance, voice, and design alongside other offerings like playwriting, directing, stage management, among a vast array of others. Many students choose to study design and technical theatre, taking classes like stagecraft, lighting, scenic and costume design, scene painting, among others, able to practice onstage what is introduced in the classroom. The curriculum is grounded in critical study through literary analysis and history but is deeply experiential with shows chosen to give students opportunities for mentorship on stage and behind the scenes,

Capstone experiences, including Senior Showcase, allow students to synthesize their training in preparation for professional careers in the theatre industry.

Degrees

Wagner offers a BA in Theatre and Speech. Students can elect to concentrate in Performance, Design/Technology/Management, and Theatre Studies. The Theatre Department is also home to the Bachelor of Science in Arts Administration program.

Minors are available in Theatre and Dance. If you are interested in Education programs and how they can be combined with theatre and dance studies, explore the Wagner College Education Department and contact Dr. Katia Gonzalez, Associate Provost/Chair of Education.

Cats

Theatre Performance
The Theatre Performance Concentration involves a sequence of acting courses, including classical styles, improvisational techniques, musical theatre performance, dance, voice, and the business of acting. The curriculum culminates in a Senior Showcase at a prestigious venue in NYC. Performance majors have a wide variety of courses in dance, music, and acting to choose from. An audition is required for acceptance into the program as select classes are exclusively for Performance majors. A student in the Performance Concentration cannot finish the degree in less than 3 years at Wagner, and no transfer credit in performance will be accepted toward the major requirements. Currently recent graduates are represented on Broadway with shows like The Outsiders, Aladdin, and Good Night, and Good Luck.

Highlights of the Concentration
- Private voice lessons taught by members of the Music faculty.
- Dance classes including Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theatre Dance as well as the opportunity to minor in Dance.
- Multiple levels of acting, including optional classes like Improv, Acting for the Camera, Devised theatre, and more.
- A Senior Showcase for New York City agents, managers, and casting directors at a prestigious Manhattan venue.
- Monthly workshops open to all students with well-respected Broadway, film, and television actors, dancers, directors, and casting agents, etc.
- Elective courses including Voice-Overs, Stage Management, Directing, and many others.
- Four Main Stage productions and multiple Studio productions per year.
- No graduate students to compete with for opportunities.
- A campus-wide Honors program.
- A close-knit family of faculty and students, who encourage open communication.
- An impressive list of Wagner alumni and faculty with Broadway, film, and television credits.
Performance Opportunities

WCT is proud to offer a variety of performance opportunities ranging from our Main Stage and Stage One seasons to final performances connected to certain classes such as Wagner College Opera, Cabaret, and the Choreography and Directing Originals. It is important to note that students enrolled in the Theatre Performance concentration are not guaranteed to be cast in a Main Stage or Stage One production while studying at Wagner College. Throughout your time with WCT, you can expect world class education with industry professionals in the classroom, performances attached to courses in which you are enrolled, and the final Senior Showcase capstone presentation. We encourage all of our students to consider every opportunity to work on their craft as a performance and growth opportunity as important as any casting assignment.
Design, Technology, and Management

The Theatre Design, Technology and Management (DTM) Concentration allows students to find their own path as they pursue their major in fields like Stage Management, Technical Direction, Set and Lighting Design, Wardrobe and Hair & Make-Up, Sound Engineering, and more. There are many opportunities to practice by working on the various departmental productions. An interview is required for acceptance into the program. Currently DTM alumni are represented on Broadway in shows like Little Shop of Horrors, Water for Elephants, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

The Theatre Design, Technology, and Management program offers a comprehensive curriculum that blends hands-on production experience with in-depth academic study. Required courses include foundational training in script analysis, acting, stage design, drafting, computer visualization, and theatre history, alongside multiple production lab experiences in technical, design, management, and audience services. Students further specialize by selecting upper-level electives such as stage costuming, scenic painting, sound and lighting design, costume and scene design, stage management, and period styles. The program culminates in a Senior Learning Community, where students integrate their skills through seminar work and advanced practicum projects, preparing them for professional careers in theatre production and design.
Theatre Studies

The Theatre Studies Concentration is designed for students who want to study the many aspects of theatre and offers a wide range of courses to allow students to personalize their academic experience according to their interests, including Design, Playwriting, Acting, Theatre History, and Directing. The program also supports students to expand their craft through production directing, writing, dramaturgy opportunities, tech assignments, and performance work.

Theatre Studies is the most flexible of the concentrations in terms of obtaining more than one degree while at Wagner. This is also the most flexible of the concentrations in terms of accepting transfer credits and community college degrees; if a student is transferring from a community college and is looking to complete a Theatre degree at Wagner in two years, Theatre Studies should be the curriculum followed. Students are required to interview prior to declaring this major. Theatre Studies majors often go on to graduate school and work professionally as theatre-makers after their time at Wagner.

“The Theatre Studies major at Wagner opened my eyes to all the possibilities a career in theatre can offer me. The flexibility of the program allowed me to double major in Theatre and English, participate in department and student-run productions, study abroad in London with the IES Abroad Theatre Studies program my junior year, complete a part-time internship with a talent agency my senior year, write and direct my own play as part of my senior thesis project, and pursue my specific academic interests with my thesis paper. The opportunities I had and diverse educational opportunities I was offered gave me a well-rounded understanding of the theatre industry and academia.” –Emily Lagace, Class of 2020.
Dance Minor

The Dance Program offers a Minor in Dance. The Dance Program works to foster excellence in dance and the best values of a citizen-artist.

All Wagner students are able to take studio dance classes in a range of disciplines, including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Tap, as well as courses in Pedagogy, Movement, Choreography, History, and Criticism. Professional dancers and choreographers regularly offer guest workshops and are hired to participate in the program.

The program cultivates dance artists of the highest caliber who will be multidimensional in their scope of dance studies and pedagogy, and who will work towards building a diverse and inclusive dance community.

If you are interested in Education programs and how they can be combined with dance studies, explore the Wagner College Education Department and contact Dr. Katia Gonzalez, Associate Provost/Chair of Education.
Arts Administration

Arts Administration students explore the intersection of arts and management. Majors will follow a curriculum that includes Business Administration courses, foundational Arts Administration courses, and the study of artistic disciplines. Some course topics include nonprofit and for-profit arts management, marketing and audience development, fundraising and grant writing, event planning, financial management, cultural policy, and leadership in the arts. Coursework combines theory with hands-on experience, preparing students to support and lead arts organizations such as theatres, museums, galleries, and music venues.
Course Descriptions

Full Course Descriptions

Find more information about courses review the Wagner College 2023-25 Bulletin.

Meet Your Faculty

Wagner College Theatre’s faculty are an accomplished and dynamic group of educators and artists, bringing a wealth of professional experience from Broadway, national tours, regional theatres, and top-tier training institutions. Many faculty members are also directors, choreographers, and designers, with credits in television, film, and national commercials. Their commitment to mentoring students while remaining actively engaged in the industry ensures a rich, hands-on learning experience that prepares students for real-world success.

Wendy Bobbitt Cavett

Wendy Bobbitt Cavett is a music director, arranger, and conductor whoseBroadway and Off-Broadway credits include Come From Away, Hamilton, Mamma Mia!, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Most Happy Fella, A Year with Frog and Toad, The Sabbath Girl, and A Tale of Two Cities. She has supervised national and international productions of SuperYou Musical, Come From Away,The Who’s Tommy, Mamma Mia!, and A Chorus Line. Regional credits include new musical premieres atSt. Louis Repertory, A.R.T., Denver Theatre Company, Milwaukee Repertory, Asolo Repertory, North Shore Music Theatre, Prince Music Theatre, Curve Theatre in Leicester, U.K., and most recently, The Heart at La Jolla Playhouse.

Courses taught by Professor Cavett include Performance and Senior Showcase.
Allison Borio

Allison Borio, Master Electrician, is super excited to be returning for her second year on staff! Coming from Montgomery County Pennsylvania she is a class of 2024 graduate of Wagner College, with a B.A. in Theater: Design, Technology and Management with a minor in Film and Media Studies. Allison has worked in Philadelphia Regional Area, Manhattan and Staten Island in Stage Management, Lighting Design and Electrics.
Jeanine Bruen

Jeanine Bruen, who earned her B.A. in Theatre Performance at Wagner College, has sung on legendary New York stages including Town Hall (Broadway Rising Stars 2016), 54 Below, Green Room 42, and The Triad. Regional theatre: Pamela’s First Musical at Two River Theater, dir. Tony Winner Graciela Daniele. Anna in the Tropics at Barrington Stage Company, starring RENT OBC member Wilson Jermaine Heredia. Directing: Down With Love and Anything But Broadway (Let’s Broadway NYC). Jeanine has taught in many capacities over the years, particularly vocal instruction, currently earning her vocal pedagogy and anatomy certification through NYSTA. She is also a writer and published poet, completing a Master’s of English through Arizona State University this December 2025. https://www.jeaninebruen.com/

Courses taught by Professor Bruen include Acting.
Rusty Curcio

Rusty Curcio, CMA, RSMT, RSME, is Head of Dance at Wagner College Theatre and has performed internationally in classical ballet, contemporary works, and musical theatre. As a director and choreographer, he has staged over 55 theatrical and original dance productions. In addition to his work as a somatic therapist and educator, he is a Certified Movement Analyst and Registered Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist, bringing a holistic approach to training the next generation of performers.

Courses taught by Professor Curcio include Pedagogy, History of Dance, Choreography, Dance Pedagogy, Ballet, Movement, and Experiential Anatomy and Kinesiology.
Frankie DiCiaccio

Frankie DiCiaccio (they/he) is an actor, theatre-maker, educator, and community organizer, splitting their time between New York City and northern Illinois. Frankie has worked on productions in Chicago (Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Shakespeare Project of Chicago, TimeLine Theatre), Boston (American Repertory Theater, Club Oberon) and New York (SoHo Shakespeare Company, The Dare Tactic, The Shakespeare Forum). Frankie has taught and been a guest artist at university theater departments across the country, including The Theatre School at DePaul, Northwestern, Northern Illinois, Adelphi, and College of Staten Island. Frankie sits on the Board of Directors of Barb Food Mart, a food pantry serving families in DeKalb, IL, and is the project coordinator of Common Table DeKalb, a series of community-building events that include free meals and story-sharing across DeKalb County, Illinois. Frankie holds degrees from Northwestern University and the American Repertory Theater/Moscow Art Theater School Institute at Harvard University.

Courses taught by Professor DiCiaccio include Acting.
Susan Fenley

Susan Fenley is the Executive Director of Sundog Theatre, where she leads theatrical productions and arts education programs for schools. She has performed with L.A. Actors Theatre, LaMama, Twelfth Night Repertory Co., and Cherry Lane, and has taught at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Paper Mill Playhouse, and NYC schools. A member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA, Susan holds a BA in Arts Management from UMass Amherst and studied musical theatre at US International University.

Courses taught by Professor Fenley include Acting and How to Be a Teaching Artist.
Alika Hope

Alika Hope is the founder and lead vocalist of the Ray of Hope Project, an award-winning initiative that uses African American spirituals and historical storytelling to educate about slavery and social justice. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame, a dance minor from St. Mary’s College, and a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education from Columbia University.

A member of Actors’ Equity, Hope has performed in productions such as South Pacific, The Island Lil, and Doubt. She co-hosted CT Perspective TV on FOX-CT and stars in the comedy A Coupla Pros. In 2019, she was crowned Ms. New England America and competed in the Ms. America Pageant. The Ray of Hope Project released its debut album, Hope for a Motherless Child, in 2016, earning multiple awards. The group combines live music, historical narratives, and multimedia to promote empathy and social awareness, including projects like the “IRL” music video on digital kindness.

Arts Administration courses taught by Professor Hope include Management and Special Topics.
Alfreda "Fre" Howard

Alfreda “Fre” Howard grew up in Michigan, now resides in Philadelphia, PA. Fre stands in Solidarity with IATSE Local 798 and is a sought after artist. Fre is the PROUD owner of a WBE Certified business Faces By Fre, LLC Makeup Artistry that provides Makeup, Hair, Wigs, Special FX, etc. for Opera, Theater, Film and Television as well as National Commercials, Including “Smartwater” with Pete Davidson, Hair and makeup for Hulu’s “Mr. Crocket”, Key Makeup for “Bel Air” S1 on Peacock. Fre was the Wig,Hair and Makeup designer for five World Premieres’ in theatre and Opera ( “Chiaroscuro” National Black Theatre 2025, “Infinite Life’ with Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Baker 2024, “10 days in a Madhouse”, Best New Opera 2024, “Wake World” 2022 and “Empty the House” 2019 with Opera Philadelphia).

Courses taught by Professor Howard include Hair and Makeup.
Lou Jacob

Lou Jacob, Clinical Professor, is an acclaimed stage director, musician, and educator, and a recipient of the Princess Grace Statue Award for his contributions to the performing arts. His New York credits include The God of Hell, The Glass Cage (Lucille Lortel Awards, Time Out Top Ten), Coyote on a Fence (Drama Desk Nominations), and Hard Times (Drama Desk Nomination for Best Director). A member of the Tony Awards Nominating Committee, he has also directed major regional productions such as The Audience, Red, Mr. Joy, and has collaborated musically with artists like Bob Weir, The Edge, Taj Mahal, and the Klezmer Conservatory Band.

Courses taught by Professor Jacob include Acting and Senior Showcase.
Theresa McCarthy

Theresa McCarthy, Professor of Theatre at Wagner College, has originated roles in acclaimed Broadway and Off-Broadway productions including Titanic, Floyd Collins, Saturn Returns, Queen of the Mist, and First Daughters Suite. She is featured on several cast recordings and performed as a soloist in Bernstein’s MASS at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, with a recording on Naxos. Her screen credits include Law & Order and House of Cards.

Courses taught by Professor McCarthy include Acting and Script Analysis.
Molly McGoldrick

Molly McGoldrick (they/she/he), Master Carpenter, is a recent graduate of Providence College where they majored in Philosophy and minored in Music. While living in Providence, she worked as a carpenter and run crew for a number of theaters while also occasionally performing in shows at school—most recently The Drowsy Chaperone and John Proctor is the Villain. Originally from Long Island, Molly is so happy to be staying in New York and starting his career at Wagner College Theatre!
Vicki Neal

Vicki Neal is a Clinical Professor, Designer, and Production Manager whose scenic and lighting designs have appeared in venues from Wilmington to New York City. Her professional credits include work with the New York Musical Theatre Festival, The Pearl Theatre Company, Primary Stages, and City Theatre Company, among others. A member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, she has recently designed Me and My Girl, Pippin, The Prom, and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Wagner College.

Courses taught by Professor Neal include Scene Painting, Design, Stage Properties and Set Dressing.
Arturo Porazzi

Arturo E. Porazzi, Adjunct Professor, a longtime member of Actors’ Equity Association, has been a Broadway stage manager since 1974, with credits including COME FROM AWAY, MEMPHIS (2010 Tony Award for Best Musical), XANADU, JELLY’S LAST JAM, and both productions of 42ND STREET. His extensive career spans over 20 Broadway shows, from classics like ZORBA to premieres like CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER’S LIFE. Porazzi has also worked in television with major networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, Telemundo, and ESPN.

Courses taught by Professor Porazzi include Stage Management.
Dr. Felicia Ruff

Dr. Felicia Ruff is the Division Chair of the Arts and Professor of Theatre at Wagner College, with a Ph.D. in Theatre History from the CUNY Graduate Center. A noted scholar in Oscar Wilde and melodrama studies, she has authored acclaimed chapters such as “The Transgressive Prop” and “Oscar Wilde, the Erotique-Grotesque,” and contributed to Theatre Journal and the Encyclopedia of Broadway and American Culture. Her research on horror and humor in theatre led to a feature on the Imaginary Worlds podcast, and she continues to publish on themes like stage witches and empathy in early modern plays.

Courses taught by Dr. Ruff include Theatre History.
Dr. Sarah Scott

Dr. Sarah Scott, Professor, earned her BA in Art History and Archaeology, with a minor in Chemistry, from Bowdoin College. After working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in both the Objects Conservation and Ancient Near Eastern Art departments, she completed her Ph.D. in the History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania in 2005. She joined Wagner College in 2007, where she is now a full Professor of Art History and serves as the Director of Arts Administration.

Dr. Scott specializes in Ancient Near Eastern Art, with research focusing on the relationship between art and writing in early Mesopotamia and the role of visual narrative in Assyrian imperial art. Her interdisciplinary approach draws from Art History, Archaeology, Semiotics, and Assyriology. She is currently working on a digital reconstruction of an Assyrian palace at Nineveh.

Arts Administration courses taught by Dr. Scott include the capstone Internship and Museum and Gallery Studies.
Brian Sgambati

Brian Sgambati, Assistant Professor of Theatre and proud Wagner College alumnus, has appeared on Broadway in The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino, King Lear with Christopher Plummer, and The Coast of Utopia, which won seven Tony Awards. His screen credits include Bad Education with Hugh Jackman and TV roles on The Blacklist, New Amsterdam, Blue Bloods, and Law & Order.

Courses taught by Professor Sgambati include Script Analysis, Acting, Musical Theatre Performance, Voice & Diction.
Brian T. Sharron

Brian T. Sharron, Technical Director at Wagner College since 2013, holds a BFA in Technical Theatre and Design from the University of Connecticut. His production work includes clients such as Tiffany & Co., Comedy Central, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the Tony Awards, In the Heights (national tour), and New York City Opera. As a scenic designer, his credits span Wagner College Theatre productions like Spamalot, A Chorus Line, and 1776, as well as numerous Shakespearean works for ArtFarm and contemporary plays for Connecticut Repertory Theatre.

Courses taught by Professor Sharron include Theatre Lab, Technical Production, AutoCad, and Stagecraft.
Dr. Lauri Young

Dr. Lauri Young, Professor and Resident Music Director at Wagner College, has served as the college’s musical director for over 25 years. Her New York City credits include performances and collaborations at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall, and venues such as Don’t Tell Mama and the Metropolitan Room, with regional credits at Surflight Theatre, Opera Columbus, and Harbor Lights Theatre. Holding a D.M.A. from the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Young is also an accomplished pianist, composer, and writer.

Courses taught by Dr. Lauri Young include Piano, Musical Theatre History, Music Direction, Performance, and Musicianship.
Michelle Siemens

Michelle Siemens is the WCT General Manager, an adjunct professor teaching voice and courses in arts administration, and an accomplished opera singer. Michelle has performed internationally, including the stages of LA Opera, Highlands Opera Studio, Central City Opera, Yorkshire Opera Workshop, Opera on the Avalon, Halifax Summer Opera Festival, UCLA Opera, and the Manhattan School of Music. In concert she’s performed with LA Opera, Fresh Squeezed Opera, Savannah Voice Festival, Greenwich Symphony, Colburn School and Opera Exposures. Her awards include: 2020 Classical Singer Fall Competition (winner), 2018 LA Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions (winner), 2014 Canadian Opera Company Gala Competition (finalist), 2015 Ades Vocal Competition (finalist). She holds a Bachelor of Music from the the University of Toronto and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. michellesiemens.com IG: @michellesiemensmezzo

Courses taught by Professor Siemens include Arts Management, Private Voice Instruction, and Audience Services.
Mickey Tennenbaum

Mickey Tennenbaum, Adjunct Professor, teaches Directing, Film History, and Public Speaking at Wagner College, where he has directed numerous musicals and plays on both the Main Stage and Stage One. He holds an MFA in Directing from CUNY, has received a Time-Warner National Teacher Award, and was awarded an NEH fellowship for independent study in Film History. A recipient of the 2025 Carl W. Lesch Memorial Award for Educator of the Arts, Mickey is also a “Jeopardy” winner and has directed for community theater and the New York Fringe Festival.

Courses taught by Professor Tennenbaum include Public Speaking, The Movie Musical, and Stage Directing.
Amy Williams

Amy Williams, Adjunct Professor, is a singer, actor, and award-winning cabaret artist who has performed extensively in regional theatre and is currently developing a new cabaret show premiering in December. She is a MAC, Hanson, and two-time Bistro Award winner, and serves on the precollege voice faculty at the Manhattan School of Music. A dedicated educator, Amy has taught at Wagner College for over 20 years and holds an MFA from Cornell University and a BFA from SUNY Binghamton.

Courses taught by Professor Williams include Private Voice Instruction, Voice & Diction, Public Speaking, Acting, and Performance.

Academics

On Stage

Theatre, B.A.

Mission Statement

Curriculum Overview

Degrees

Highlights of the Concentration

Performance Opportunities

Full Course Descriptions

Meet Your Faculty