Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg College’s Theatre & Dance Department delivers nationally recognized theatre training nestled within a rigorous liberal arts environment. The program emphasizes a balance of intellectual inquiry, artistic experimentation, and practical skill-building. Students benefit from small classes, close mentorship from both resident faculty and guest artists, and an ethical commitment to developing “artist-thinkers” who can contribute meaningfully to diverse communities.

Theatre majors receive a flexible curriculum that combines courses in theatre history, theory, dramaturgy, acting, directing, design, and performance studies across diverse genres. Whether focusing on acting, technical design, performance studies, directing, or playwriting, students are encouraged to tailor their course paths through the culminating CUE Studio senior capstone experience. Classes are highly interactive and studio-focused, shaping both creative confidence and analytical sophistication.

Performance opportunities are robust and varied. Muhlenberg mounts a season that spans Broadway-style musicals in the 392-seat Empie Theatre, intimate black-box dramas, and innovative dance- and theatre-based productions. Signature events such as the Mainstage Season and student-led MTA Studio Productions and Red Door Play Festival offer 15–20 student-driven pieces annually. These programs invite cross-disciplinary participation and creative leadership at all levels.

The department’s facilities support professional-level performance and production pedagogy. Located in the architecturally notable Baker Center for the Arts, students have access to performance venues equipped for large musical theatre productions, rehearsal studios, design labs, and technology-rich workspaces. These resources serve as both educational platforms and creative laboratories for every Theatre & Dance major.

Integral to the Muhlenberg experience is the wide network of opportunities beyond curriculum. Students work closely with guest choreographers and theatre professionals, participate in regional outreach, and benefit from the college’s ranking as a top liberal arts theatre program. Alumni often move into Broadway, film/TV, and arts leadership roles. The program’s emphasis on adaptability, artistry, and ethical storytelling makes it an ideal environment for cultivating the next generation of creative leaders