Theater and performance are an infusion of artistic and technical crafts. Behind all great theater performances are talented actors, the ingenuity of costume and set designers, detailed technicians and visionary directors.
Program Overview
Explore your role in theater and performance.
In the Theatre & Performance Studies program, you’ll explore the human desire to perform in both aesthetic and everyday settings. By understanding the links between the arts and literature, anthropology, communication, sociology, and philosophy, you’ll learn how to harness the power of performance to promote social change. Through a multi-disciplinary curriculum and hands-on experiences, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the history of theater, scriptwriting and analysis, technical production, acting, directing and more.
During your time at Western Colorado University, you’ll also have the opportunity to work as an actor, producer, artistic staff and technical crew in all aspects of the art form through the Western Theatre Company’s four annual productions. Whether you want to pursue creative careers in the performing arts or hone your public presence for broadcast journalism, the program will impart valuable skills for a variety of applications.
Taking the stage
Students work as actors, producers, artistic staff and technical crews in all aspects of the art form through the Western Theatre Company’s four annual productions.
Courses
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
| Code | Title | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM 121 | Introduction to Theatre (GT-AH1) | 3 | View |
| COM 216 | Dramatic Literature and Script Analysis | 3 | View |
| COM 231 | Technical Production I | 4 | View |
| COM 235 | Fundamentals of Acting | 3 | View |
| COM 306 | Scriptwriting | 3 | View |
| COM 310 | Introduction to Performance Studies | 3 | View |
| COM 317 | Studies in Theatre and Performance | 3 | View |
| COM 323 | Media/ Arts Management | 3 | View |
| COM 324 | Advanced Acting | 3 | View |
| COM 330 | Technical Production II | 3 | View |
| COM 423 | Directing | 3 | View |
Careers
Career preparation starts your first year at Western and is the primary focus of every degree.
Visit Career Services in Library 120 or online to discover your interests, define your goals, and land the career of your dreams.
The data below is automatically collected by Burning Glass Technologies, a firm that sources job market data and provides analytics. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western. Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming freshman or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.0 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found here (click). Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Description
The Western Presidential Honors Scholarships, established by the Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Foundation shall be an elite class of scholarships awarded to Western's highest achieving and most deserving students, celebrating the ideals of academic excellence and service to the campus and community. Recipients of the Scholarships will be members of the Western Colorado University Honors Program.
There are eight Presidential Honors Scholarships of $2500 each. Each year two new Presidential Honors Scholarships will be awarded to two incoming freshmen.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student's GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
News & Research
Get Involved
Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch your career.
- KWSB Radio: On air since 1968, KWSB is student driven, student staffed and open to anyone who wants to have their own radio show.
- Mountaineer Media: A student-run media production group specializing in short films, screenings and storytelling abilities.
- Taylor Media Center: Houses film production studios, audio production studios and more.
- Top o’ the World Newspaper: Monthly paper composed by students offering opportunities in newswriting, photography, editing, designing and advertising sales.
- Western Theatre Company: A co-curricular program and student-run producing board that oversee and provide quality live performance to the campus and Gunnison community.
It’s showtime
Western Theatre Company is a co-curricular program and student-run producing board that oversees and provides quality live performances to the campus and Gunnison community.
Additional Resources
Department Information
Communication, Arts, Language & Literature (CALL) Department
Department Chairperson
Jack Lucido, MFAProfessor of Communication Arts, Director of Film Studies, Chair of CALL Department
Administrative Assistant
Cindy PetitoAdministrative Assistant II
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Taylor Hall 216
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231