In the theatre world, creativity is collaboration, performance has purpose, and every production is a chance to connect with other actors and the broader Gunnison Valley community.
Being a part of the student-run Western Theatre Company, you develop hands-on skills in acting, directing, playwriting, design, stage management, and technical production.
With four mainstage productions each year, as well as offerings like the 24-Hour Play Festival, the WTC Improv Troupe, and a Student-Directed One-Act Series, every participant finds a role to shape and a story to tell.
In the Theatre program, you’ll explore how performance intersects with literature, anthropology, communication, sociology, and philosophy. Courses span acting, directing, scriptwriting and analysis, technical production, and theatre history. This multidisciplinary foundation equips you with tools to drive social change, tell meaningful stories, and build versatile creative skills.
Every show is more than a performance. It’s a practical, educational experience. Whether you’re on stage, behind the scenes, or helping lead a production, you’ll build transferable skills in leadership, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. These projects become compelling additions to your creative portfolio, setting you up for success.
The Theatre program offers multiple pathways to financial and academic advancement. Departmental scholarships are available through the Western Colorado University Foundation. For those looking to accelerate their career, an Accelerated Theatre Secondary Licensure pathway lets you complete both a Bachelor’s in Theatre and a Master of Arts in Education, preparing you for a career in teaching faster.
You’ll study and perform in a context-rich environment that combines artistic rigor with liberal arts perspectives. Whether you aim for a career in performing arts or broader fields like journalism or media, theatre trains confident communicators, and critical and creative thinkers.
The creative energy extends beyond stage productions. Collaborate across mediums, partner with School of the Arts teams like Film, and bring performance to new platforms. These experiences strengthen your artistic range and professional adaptability.
Here are just a few ways the theatre program grows you as a person:
Fundamental roles in acting, production, writing, and design through diverse theatre genres.
Connects the theatre with media, storytelling, and creative expression campus-wide.
Multidisciplinary academic foundation in performance as both art and a community tool.
Build leadership, collaboration, and a compelling professional portfolio.
The best way to get to know Western and our Theatre program is to see it in action.
Schedule a campus visit, tour our theatre, and ask to meet with a professor. You’ll get a feel for the creative community and see where your art can come to life.
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