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Students salute the light techs at the end of Disaster! The Musical.

Theatre

Part of: School of the Arts

Offered as: Major, Minor

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Part of: School of the Arts

Offered as: Major, Minor

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Explore your role in theatre.

In the Theatre program, you’ll benefit from small class sizes, our experienced faculty who maintain active professional theatre careers, and our beautiful mountain location. 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 or content creation, the program will impart valuable skills for a variety of applications.

Experiential Education

  • Three students standing on stage during a play.

    Western Theatre Company

    Students in the Theatre Company grow their skills in acting, directing, playwriting, design, and stage management.
    Read More
  • Kai Vong sits in the KWSB studio during his jazz DJ show for the radio

    CALL – Clubs & Organizations

    Students find their community, explore passions, and develop leadership skills through a variety of clubs.
    Read More

Theatre Requirements

Emphasis
Minor

A major emphasis dives deeper into a specific interest within your major. It allows you to focus on a particular area of study, replacing the need for a separate minor. By tailoring your coursework, a major emphasis equips you with specialized knowledge and skills to better prepare you for career opportunities or advanced studies in your chosen field.

Program Requirements Degree Plan

A minor complements your major by allowing you to explore a secondary field of interest. It requires fewer courses than a major, making it a flexible way to broaden your knowledge, diversify your skills, or pursue a personal passion alongside your primary area of study.

Program Requirements

Scholarships

Scholarships by Department

The Western Colorado University Foundation offers scholarships for this program. Explore eligibility requirements and funding opportunities.

Explore Scholarships

General Western Scholarships

The Western Colorado University Foundation offers scholarships for this program. Explore eligibility requirements and funding opportunities.

Explore Scholarships
1

Top Skills

Communication
Leadership
Management
Marketing
Operations
Teaching

2

Career Pathways

Actor
Choreographer
Media Programming Director
Set and Exhibit Designer
Sound Engineering Technician
Theatre Director

Latest News

  • Steven Cole Hughes on set with fellow actors.

    From Classroom to Call Sheet: Western Professor Lands Film Role in Major Colorado Production

    Steven Cole Hughes was in the middle of a semester teaching an on-camera acting class at Western Colorado University when he got an email from…
    Read More
  • Heather Hughes poses with the students at Theatre Camp.

    Summer Theater Camp Fills a Need, Gives Local Kids a Chance to Shine

    When the curtain went up on the Gunnison Valley Theater Festival’s fourth-annual summer theater camp at Western Colorado University this summer, director Heather Hughes hoped…
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  • Steven Cole Hughes stands in the middle of the studio theatre and joins the audience in clapping for the cast after their performance of his musical 'Singletrack!'.

    Western Playwright Debuts ‘Singletrack, the Musical’ in Gunnison

    After four years of writing in his spare time, Western Colorado University’s Director of Theater, Steven Cole Hughes, is ready to roll out his latest…
    Read More
  • Pride Month, Tokenism, and Being Queer at Western

    Pride Month, Tokenism, and Being Queer at Western

    A Testimony from Natalie Edwards Pride Month Origins The first declaration of Pride Month was made in 1999 when President Clinton named June Gay and…
    Read More
  • Western Alumna Lands Big Laughs

    Western Alumna Lands Big Laughs

    The Greatest Preparation Possible Sometimes it’s the unexpected path that leads to great success. For comedian, writer and performer Betsy Sodaro, that path led her…
    Read More

Faculty & Staff

Paul Edwards, PhD

Emeritus & Adjunct Professor

Heather Hughes

Artist-in-Residence, Instructor of Theatre

Steven Cole Hughes, MFA

Associate Professor of Theatre, Theatre Program Director

School of the Arts

Interim Dean

Administrative Assistant II

Contact Information

970.943.3093

Contact Location

Quigley Hall 202

Mountain Graphic