For students who possess outstanding talents and dedication to their personal artistic growth and development the Division of Theatre and Dance offers an intensive training program. During the four-year undergraduate course of study, majors may specialize in Acting, Design and Technology, Puppetry and Creative Dramatics, or General Theatre Studies. Students also may minor in Theatre or Dance. Each area of emphasis provides a wellrounded knowledge of the art as well as an opportunity to specialize. All programs in Theatre are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and the University/Resident Theatre Association. Moreover, the Puppetry and Creative Dramatics Program is one of only a few programs of its kind in the country with accreditation. In both the Theatre and Dance programs, small classes are stressed, and individual attention from faculty members is provided. Faculty members are nationally known experts in their fields. More than 30 scholarships are available for majors and incoming freshmen. All scholarships involve an audition. Auditions are usually held in late fall of each year, with awards announced by January. Interested students should contact the Division for more information on auditions for scholarships. Five to six main-stage theatre productions are performed annually in a variety of settings, including the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre and the Gladys G. Davis Theatre. Additional “workshop” productions are mounted by students annually in the intimate Vivian Davis Michael Theatre. One dance concert is presented in the concert theatre (featuring modern, ballet, jazz and tap, and theatre movement pieces). Majors in the College of Creative Arts Art History BA, MA Art BFA, MA, MFA Music BA, B, M, D Theatre BA, BFA, MFA B = Bachelor's; BFA = Bachelor's of Fine Arts; M = Master's; MFA = Master's of Fine Arts; D = Doctorate For more information, contact Margaret McKowen at 304-293-4841, ext. 3120, or visit the Web site at www.wvu.edu/~theatre/index.htm

The WVU College of Creative Arts
Creative development in art, music, and theatre and dance is the purpose of the College of Creative Arts at WVU. A distinguished faculty of studio and performing artists and academicians bring a commitment to the creative process of artistic growth, which is shared with each student. Here, in a rich environment of art exhibits, concerts, and plays, students are offered the knowledge, skills, and inspiration necessary for professional success.

College and University tuition grants and cash awards are available each year for academic and artistic excellence in art, music, and theatre and dance.

The Creative Arts Center is home to the WVU College of Creative Arts. It is a modern, well-equipped facility devoted to creative development through instruction, performance, and exhibition in art, music, and theatre and dance. The $20-million center features the 1,400-seat Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre that accommodates many College and University productions, while providing premiere performance space for touring productions. In addition, the Center has three other performance spaces -- the Gladys G. Davis Theatre, a 225-seat space, and the Antoinette Falbo and Vivian Davis Michael Theatres. Also, for technical support and training, there are a full range of shops. A choral recital hall with seating for 180 and an orchestra/choir rehearsal hall, each with state-of-the-art recording equipment, round out the Center's performance space.

The Creative Arts Center also boasts large ceramics, printmaking, drawing, painting, sculpture, photographic, and digital studios for instruction in the fine arts. The Mesaros Art Galleries are showcases for the visual arts, featuring exhibitions of internationally renowned visiting artists, faculty and student art, as well as works from the WVU Art Collections.

The core of the facility, however, is the instructional space. Approximately 50 classrooms and studios and individual office/studio spaces are home-away-from home for 108 full-time and part-time faculty, staff, and administrators, plus 800 student majors and 2,500 other University students pursuing arts instruction.

Admission
If the University requirements for admission are met, students may be admitted to WVU as Theatre and Dance majors. At that time, an area of emphasis may be chosen, or students may wait up to one year to declare their specialization; such students are considered General Theatre majors. Auditions for the program are not necessary unless students would like to be considered for scholarships. Since the first two years in the Acting Program are considered probationary, admission to the junior year of the program is open only by invitation from the Acting faculty. To continue in any program in the Division of Theatre and Dance beyond the sophomore year, a 2.0 GPA must be established. Transfer students should contact the Division directly.

Theatre Curriculum
BA Degree: This bachelor of arts degree combines a liberal arts degree with general theatre studies that include a sampling of all theatre course work from acting, directing, stagecraft, and theatre history/criticism. It is a ideal for students pursuing an advanced degree in theatre history/criticism, directing, a related field, or who just wish to get a basic theatre arts degree without specialization. This is not a studio degree.

BFA Degree: Leading to a bachelor of fine arts degree, the course of study in theatre is designed for individuals who intend to pursue professional theatre careers and for those who may enter fields where theatre skills are desirable. All four areas of emphasis combine formal classes in theory and practical experience in the Division’s theatre, studio, lab, and shop areas. For all Theatre majors, one year of general study is required, and concentration in the desired area of emphasis begins in the sophomore year.

In addition to the classes all Theatre majors take, Acting students study voice and speech, movement, text analysis, and, of course, acting. While studying in the Division of Theatre’s BFA Studio Acting Program, students are expected to audition for all five major productions and are required to serve in other production capacities.

The Puppetry and Creative Dramatics course of study includes course work in theatre history, playwriting and text analysis, directing, stage management, and design. Intensive study in the area involves work in children’s theatre, the practice of puppetry, and creative dramatic activity as methods of learning and self-development for children. This group of Theatre majors is frequently on tour with the WVU Puppetmobile
They gain hands-on experience by presenting shows they write, build, and rehearse themselves.

The Division of Theatre and Dance has one of only a few university puppetry programs in the United States.

While concentrating in Design and Technical Theatre, majors are exposed to all areas of design, including scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound. Additional course work includes drafting, stage makeup, scene painting, costume accessories, construction classes, computer-aided design courses, and general theatre studies. Many hours are spent drawing and painting to acquire the skills needed by designers, and practical experience is gained in scenic, costume, lighting, and sound labs.

Theatre Minor: Students interested in pursuing a minor in Theatre may select from a variety of foundation courses that include acting, theatre history, design, and related arts.

Dance Minor: Students interested in pursuing a minor in Dance take a selection of classes in modern, jazz, and ballet dance, as well as specialty classes in choreography and production.

Course Work
Students may select an area of emphasis in Acting, Design and Technical Theatre, Puppetry and Creative Dramatics, minor in Theatre, or minor in Dance.
Total hours required for graduation: 128-132*

*Please see the current WVU Undergraduate Catalog for complete course descriptions.
Degree requirements vary according to the various emphases.

Accreditation
WVU is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The programs in Theatre are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Career Opportunities
Employment may be found in the professional theatre, radio, television, and film. Some graduates choose careers in commercial sales, makeup, lighting design and installation, and positions in the public arena. An education in theatre is also an excellent background for graduate study in theatre, law, political science, literature, and other fields.

Graduate School Opportunities
Training can be obtained at theatre programs at other major universities and colleges throughout the country offering bachelor’s or higher degrees in dramatic and theatre arts.

Salary Range
The salary for those with a Visual and Performing Arts bachelor’s degree (average) was $18,541. The master’s average was $21,033, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey. The design and graphic arts fields average was $15,625, and the communication and production fields average was $20,575. Earnings from acting are low because employment is irregular. The median earnings for stage acting in the course of a year were approximately $5,200.