Theatre at Western

Hit the YouTube button and read below to learn about the Department of Theatre.

Arrange a visit

Meet professors and students, and tour our facilities

Contact Kevin Harris, our Lead Advisor: Kevin.Harris@wwu.edu

Kevin can also arrange classroom visits and tickets to our productions for you.

Left: A man in overalls and a french hat, holding a bandana, singing and smiling. Photo from Street Scene, 2023, by Sattva Photo. Right: A person in torn jeans, leather jacket and beanie stands with hands outstretched and one foot on a chair, in front of a group. Photo from Heretoo, 2019, by Rachel Bayne

Vision

To be the premiere undergraduate Theatre and Dance Department in the Pacific Northwest.

A man flexing his arms, grinning at his bicep. A person behind him in pigtails has one hand on his shoulder while holding his wrist on the other side, brow furrowed and mouth open in wide in cheer. Photo from Street Scene, 2021, by Sattva Photo

Mission

To provide a transformative liberal arts education based in the rigorous study of theatre and of dance, while developing skills leading to artistic excellence in the practice of theater and dance. 
We promote an inclusive and collaborative view of performing arts education which leads to student success and future achievement, whether in the arts professions or as engaged members of a global community.

A person in elaborate gown and makeup dragging across the floor a person in a floral robe. Photo from Imaginary Invalid, 2019, by Rachel Bayne. Their gaze points to a superimposed image of two people with clasped hands: one below the other aggressively begging the one above, who has a slight smile. Photo from No Exit, 2021, by Sattva Photo

BA in Theatre at Western

The Theatre major at WWU is grounded in the liberal arts. Declared students must complete a selection of core fundamental courses for a well-rounded education. From there, students select one or more areas of specialization

Entertainment Design and Technology

For students interested in costume, lighting, or scenic design. This area also explores new technology and skills in the field.

Performance

For students who want to pursue a career in theatrical performance. Focus includes studio classes in Voice, Movement, Acting, and Musical Theatre.

Production

For students to learn dramatic writing, directing, or stage management skills.

Educational Theatre

For those interested in youth outreach, education, and applied theatre. Students can also complete the teaching certification program with Woodring College of Education. 

Theatre Studies

For students interested in the general study of theatre. This concentration is also for individuals who want to blend concentrations. 

A group of actors wearing cat ears pose with one arm up and wrist bent down. Photo from Ride the Cyclone, 2023, by Sattva Photo

Our curriculum also features devising, which is a process of collaboratively creating new work for the stage. Western has received six National Awards from the Kennedy Center for devised productions. All courses are taught by professional educators as opposed to graduate students. Most of the classes in the Department offer a low student-to-faculty ratio.  

The major also includes an introduction to playwriting class that many undergraduate programs overlook. Western students have won playwriting awards, including accolades from the Kennedy Center. Many have gone on to pursue graduate degrees or professional work in playwriting.  

Through both playwriting and devising, we train our students to be self-generative artists. These skills are critical for students to engage in cultural conversations and spur social change by adding their voice, their perspectives to the work and world.

Women in men's clothing in 3 lines on a stage - the people in front in a squat - all holding a rowing oar above their head with both arms. The set behind them depicts rushing water at the edge of land. Photo from Men on Boats, 2022, by Sattva Photo

Faculty

Our award-winning faculty have worked internationally, regionally and locally at:

  • Oregon Shakespeare Festival
  • Carnegie Hall
  • Mixed Blood Theatre
  • Seattle Children’s Theatre
  • Colorado Shakespeare Festival
  • Edinburgh Fringe Festival
  • Blessed Unrest Theatre
  • Seattle Opera
  • Teatro Zinzanni
  • Idaho Repertory Theatre
  • Amphibian Stage Theatre
  • Oregon Contemporary Theatre
  • McCarter Theatre
  • Actors Theatre of Louisville
  • Berkeley Repertory Theatre
  • Utah Shakespeare Festival
  • Pacific Opera
  • ACT
  • Cleveland Play House
  • Santa Fe Opera
  • Shakespeare Santa Cruz
  • National Theatre of
  • Romania, Bucharest
  • Mount Baker Theatre
  • Bellingham Theatre Works
    and San Jose Repertory Theatre among others.
A ghostly figure in tattered rags dances in the middle of a dim stage. On either side, figures in hooded robes along with a male figure in late 1800s attire move with shovels in a digging motion. The background scene depicts tall, old buildings and a dark tunnel. Photo from A Christmas Carol, 2015, by Rachel Bayne

Guest Artists

  • Steven Dietz, one of America’s most produced playwrights
  • Idris Goodwin, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Artistic Director
  • Johamy Morales, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Associate Artistic Director
  • Brian Quijada, NYC based actor and playwright 
  • Matt Opatrny, NYC-based playwright
  • Francesca Betancourt, Seattle & DC-based, Intimacy Director/actor,   WWU alumna
  • Teague Parker, Founder - Improv for Wellness, WWU alum
  • Jeremy Urann, LA-based actor, dancer, plus sized model, WWU alum
  • Alison Luhrs, Seattle-based improviser and writer for Magic: The Gathering, WWU alumna
  • David Lee Huynh, first-generation Vietnamese-American actor based in NYC. Many credits in theatre, film/tv, audio book narration, and dubbing for anime and foreign films.
  • Darnell Pierre Benjamin, actor, dancer, choreographer, activist, and director based in Cincinnati
  • Isaiah Reaves, award-winning playwright whose work explores a spectrum of Black and Queer experiences
  • Kayla Adams, Chicago based director, WWU alumna
  • C. Quintana (CQ), NYC based writer (playwright, screenwriter, creative writer), WWU alumnx
  • Noni Salma. Award-winning NYC based screenwriter and filmmaker
  • Jan Rosenberg, NYC based playwright
  • Frank Paiva, LA base writer/performer
  • Alberto Bonilla, Professional Actor (Russian Doll/Broadway: Marvin’s Room)
  • Pirronne Yousefzadeh, guest director, Associate Artistic Director at Playwrights’ Center, Minneapolis
  • Mark Valdez, Artistic Director of Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis
  • Christopher Moses, Artistic Director of The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta
A man in military uniform stands on one foot on top of a stool, leaned forward with a hand gestured out in front. In front of him a woman in a dress lounges on a bench looking up at him with skeptical eyes. Behind him a man in military uniform points thoughtfully at papers on a table, and a woman in a dress stands patiently in a corner. Photo from Arms and the Man, 2017, by Rachel Bayne

Productions and Facilities

The Mainstage Season consists of five theatre productions and two dance concerts, allowing students opportunities in many areas including: acting, designing, tech/crew, stage managing, shop crew (costume and scenic), dramaturgy, and assistant directing. At Western, students can design, and stage manage mainstage departmental productions. This is a rare opportunity at the undergraduate level. 

Mainstage

Our facilities include the Mainstage: a large proscenium stage with a full fly system, hydraulic apron lift, and professional sound, projections & lighting. It seats 1,100 with orchestra and balcony seating. 

DUG Theatre

Our black box DUG Theatre can be transformed into a variety of staging configurations. It is an intimate theatre space that seats between 70 to 100 patrons (depending on the needs of each show) with professional technical equipment. 

A scene on stage where two people are dueling with sticks. One holds a defense position, while the other is mid air and mid yell in an attacking leap. Photo from Henry V, 2020, by Rachel Bayne

Old Main Theater

Old Main Theater is our third space which is a smaller proscenium stage and seats 200. Our Student Theatre Productions club (STP) produces a full parallel season to our mainstage productions in Old Main. This doubles the opportunities available for our students to practice their craft.

Costume and Scenic shops

We have full Costume and Scenic shops where the builds for our productions take place. Student designers work with faculty and professional staff to implement their designs. Both shops are stocked with professional equipment and tools.  

A group of actors in work uniforms and vests, singing onstage. A projected image behind them depicts a housekeeper by a made bed with folded sheets. Photo from Working, A Musical, 2019, by Rachel Bayne

Collaboration with Seattle Children's Theatre

SCT/WWU Test Kitchen – WWU Department of Theatre and Dance collaborates with Seattle Children’s Theatre (one of the premiere theatres for all ages in the country) to develop new plays each summer at WWU, which then go on to premiere on the SCT mainstage and/or tours high schools throughout the state of Washington under SCT professional contracts. Each summer numerous SCT professionals spend two weeks in Bellingham working side-by-side with our top students. This collaboration makes professional connections for our students which serve them early in their careers by providing a bridge from college to professional work.

Top: Three actors in early 1700s attire sit thoughtfully on stage. (1776 production, 2017, by Rachel Bayne). Lower Left: Person in overalls holds a foil-wrapped bowl hesitantly, while another smiles uncertainly. (Sonata Escondida, 2022, by Sattva Photo). Lower Right: Person with dark eye makeup in medieval soldier's clothing crouches, with a blurry figure in the background. (The Duchess of Malfi,2024, by Sattva Photo)

Student Groups

In addition to our Department’s Mainstage Season there are several student groups which also provide ample opportunities for hands-on learning: 

Student Theatrical Productions (STP) has their own season of shows which they fully produce on their own. Past shows include: 

  • Puffs
  • Trail to Oregon
  • Stupid F**king Bird

Plays 4 Us focuses on producing a collection of students’ original short plays each quarter.  

The award-winning Improv troupe Dead Parrots Society is another way students gain skills in short and long-form improv. 

Top: A feminine person with short hair and tank top staddles another feminine person who is laying on a couch, holding one hand back in surprise and the other hand hangs on to the back of the first person's neck. Photo from Invincible Ones, 2018, by Rachel Bayne. Bottom: Two men on a bench talking intimately while another looks on at them. To the side, children sit together looking away like they're watching TV. Photo from Fun Home, 2018, by Rachel Bayne

course offerings

(partial list)

  • Scenic Design
  • Lighting Design
  • Sound Design
  • Props Design
  • 3D Digital Modeling & Design
  • Costume Design & Technology
  • Makeup and Hair Styling
  • Intro to Stage Tech
  • Stage Management 
  • Acting (Michael Chekhov, Stanislavski, Uta Hagen)
  • Movement (Grotowski, Suzuki, Viewpoints)
  • Voice (Linklater, Knight-Thompson, Dialects)
  • Play Direction
  • Playwriting
  • Musical Theatre
  • On-Camera Acting
  • Mask/Commedia
  • Audition Technique & Professional Preparation
  • Styles Scene Study 
  • Secondary Theatre
  • Education
  • Improv for Teaching Artists 
  • Theatre History
  • Intro to the Cinema
  • Understanding Plays
  • Costume History
Actors and actresses pose together on stage in burlesque wear and poses surrounding one in the middle standing up with hand straight up, chin down, eyes forward. Behind and above shine two giant cat eyes. Photo from Cabaret, 1998 Version (2021), by Rachel Bayne

regional and national conferences

Each year we support students traveling to participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). We have had many students win awards at our Region 7 conference in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition, Design, Journalism, Playwriting and Directing and many have been selected to attend the National Conference in Washington, D.C. 

Our Design students participate in United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) where they compete and showcase their design work and network with industry professionals. 

Left: 2 men and 2 women in 1800s English attire huddle aound an open book as light emanates from it. Photo from Book of Will, 2023, by Sattva Photo. Right: two women in 1920s dress peer from behind suitcases they're holding. More suitcases are held behind them. Photo from Hay Fever, 2023, by Sattva Photo

Alumni

Our Alumni have been working across the industry regionally at: Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT, Washington Ensemble Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Arts West, as well as Amazon & Microsoft. Alumni have worked in Film/TV/Gaming: Head Writer/Show Runner of Severance on Apple+, Appearing in Film/TV shows: HBO’s South Side, NBC’s This is Us, Punky Brewster, GLOW, and many others, as well as numerous national commercials, web-series, and hit games.  

A person stands behind a shop counter displaying various cakes, looking nervously at a customer dressed in a white tuxedo who is smiling and looking down. On the wall a sign reads Della's Sweets, with a menu below. Photo from The Cake, 2024, by Sattva Photo

Affordable Tuition

Western is nationally recognized for providing excellent education at an affordable cost, with Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranking Western as a top value in education.

View tuition costs at Western

A person mid-leap in the air, one leg bent back, one arm reaching forward, mouth open in a yell, wearing a hairy old man mask that covers the top of the face. Photo from Masks Play!, 2024, by Sattva Photo