University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Housed within the College of Fine Arts & Communication, UW–Stevens Point’s Department of Theatre & Dance offers five distinct degree options, including conservatory-style B.F.A. programs in Acting, Musical Theatre, and Design & Technology, as well as B.A. degrees in Drama and Dance. These rigorous tracks provide tailored training for students who are committed to deep specialization or who prefer a more flexible liberal arts–based approach. Admission to the B.F.A. tracks requires audition or interview via the Acceptd platform. The department is fully accredited by NAST, making it among the few Wisconsin institutions offering such professional recognition.

Performance opportunities are abundant. Four major mainstage productions occur each year, alongside student-generated festivals, such as student-directed shows and theatre labs. Undergraduates participate in Practicum courses and production ensembles, gaining experience both onstage and behind the scenes. The department supports Master Classes with visiting artists and encourages student involvement in the Players program—a student-run initiative for writing, performance, and creative experimentation.

Facilities at UW–SP are professional and versatile. The program’s home, the Noel Fine Arts Center, contains the 344-seat Jenkins Theatre, a 150-seat fully configurable Studio Theatre, and the Simpson Theatre (black box). Students work in cutting-edge scenic shops, costume, lighting and sound labs, and rehearsal studios allowing hands-on design and production work throughout their training.

The curriculum emphasizes both craft and civic engagement. Acting majors work in techniques such as Meisner and Stanislavski, dialect, movement, stage combat, and camera performance. Design & Technology students complete scene, light, costume, makeup, and properties courses, working practically in each area. Musical Theatre requires private voice study, dance, audition training, and music theory, while the Drama B.A. allows study across disciplines—including playwriting, directing, dramaturgy, and design.

A program highlight is the Senior Showcase, which places graduating B.F.A. acting and musical theatre students before casting directors and agents in New York City. Alumni, such as Felix Torrez‑Ponce who made his Broadway debut in Sweeney Todd, have connected to professional networks through this culminating experience. The Showcase preparation includes audition materials, industry insight, and career planning taught by faculty coordinators Tyler Marchant and Mark Hanson.