Theatre and Dance

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Production/Design

The primary goal of the Department of Theatre and Dance is to develop skilled and creative student artists for careers in theatre, dance, and related arts.

The Production/Design degree program at Western Illinois University is a hands-on program where students learn from highly skilled professional faculty. Teamwork, mentorship, collaboration are essential part of a career in the theatre and core to your experience at WIU. A unique quality of our program is the commitment we have to providing individualized attention to each student and to the student’s professional growth. Our class sizes are small, the student-to-faculty ratio is low, and we offer realized scenic, lighting, costume, sound, prop, projection design opportunities in all of our theatres each year to undergraduate Production/Design students. Our students are exposed regionally and nationally by actively participating in ACTF, SETC, USITT, and other major theatre conferences around the country, including stock/regional auditions/interviews on our campus. The faculty of WIU Theatre and Dance are working professionals as well as educators and the relationships you build at WIU will serve as the basis of your professional network for many years to come.

Students looking for an excellent, challenging program with a rich history of success are attracted to our program for its great preparation at an affordable price.

WIU Advantages for YOUR training

  • We have small class sizes
  • Freshmen are immediately eligible for performance opportunities.
  • We have an approachable faculty of educators who are also working professionals focused on your education.
  • We offer masterclasses with working industry professionals from the entire country in many disciplines throughout each school year.
  • We offer “business of the business” courses and opportunities in tandem with performance skills classes so students are well equipped to know how to find and get work with an extensive understanding of how the industry works.
  • We offer eight fully-realized productions each year, including two dance concerts.
  • Several classes will be in our new Goldfarb Center For the Performing Arts opening September 2026.
  • We will SEE you, we will KNOW you, we will know your strengths and weaknesses and work with you individually to be the best artist YOU can be and not simply push you through to the finish line in a pack. You will never be a number to us.

Possible Careers

Theatre students make OUTSTANDING employees for their wide range of abilities, such as creative problem solving, time management, performance and public speaking, professionalism, attention detail, motivation, commitment, collaboration and teamwork, self-confidence, to name a few! They are well prepared to enter careers in:

  • Theatre Management/Arts Management
  • Stage Management
  • Designing
    • Costumes
    • Lighting
    • Scenery
    • Sound
    • Projections
  • Teaching
    • Design
    • Painting
    • Management
  • Public Relations
  • Graphic Design
  • Communication
  • Foundation/Development

As well as advanced graduate study!

Get To Know Us!

Would you like to get to know us better to see if we’re a good fit for you? Join us for an Info Zoom. Dates offered throughout the school year.

Come spend a day in our Department to see who we are and what we do. You choose the date and we’ll create an experience for you.

Requirements for the BA program and all options are below.