Webster University: Department of Theatre and Dance

Department of Theatre and Dance

Majors and Degrees Offered

Minors Offered

Course Listings

Statement of Purpose

It is our mission to train our future colleagues to become visionaries, creators and leaders in the next generation of American professional theatre.

Educational Goals

Graduates of The Conservatory of Theatre Arts will:

Possess skills within their area of expertise
Demonstrate an effective working process
Be disciplined theatre practitioners
Understand the value of the ensemble
Be able to realize the potential of their imagination
Have experience in theatre production in professional and learning environments
Be prepared to get work

Student Assessment

The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University offers a sequential, selective, and intensive program for training young artists for theatre. All students are accepted into the program by interview or audition and are enrolled in a particular sequence. Through a carefully monitored grading system using written comment sheets from all faculty, students are regularly advised of their progress and status within the Conservatory. Learning outcomes are measured via semester auditions, interviews and/or portfolio reviews from which students receive individual faculty feedback.

Special Study Opportunities

The Conservatory is the only undergraduate program in the country that works with two professional performing organizations in residence and on campus: The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. These outstanding performing institutions offer exciting productions, nationally and internationally recognized theatre artists, and special opportunities for specific projects.

All Conservatory students in the fourth year take part in a trip to New York City, where they audition and/or exhibit their talents in performances, for alumni, agents, casting directors, and artistic directors. A portfolio review is scheduled for designers, stage managers, and producers located in New York. The Conservatory produces a season of six plays and one dance concert annually. The productions are mounted and designed by students, using each of three performance spaces. A sequence of weekly one-act plays called E.T.s (Every Tuesday) is part of the directing and actor training programs. Further performance and production opportunities are possible when projects of special merit are proposed.

The bachelor of fine arts (BFA) in dance is designed to provide an emphasis in performance and choreography. It is an intensive exposure to dance technique, performance, and choreography for the purpose of preparing a student for the challenges of a professional dance career or to increase chances for acceptance into a strong MFA program.

In recent years, theatre and dance students have been placed in internships and practica with the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego; Denver Center Theatre Company; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Milwaukee Repertory Theatre; Missouri Repertory Theatre; Dance Saint Louis; Grand Center; Circus Flora; Missouri Citizens for the Arts; Washington Opera; Seattle Repertory Theatre; The Nebraska Theatre Caravan; St. Louis Regional Arts Council; Intiman Theatre; the Goodspeed Opera House; the Joffrey Ballet; and San Diego Repertory Theatre.

Scholarships

Marita Woodruff Scholarship

This scholarship was established through a gift from Marsha Mason, an alumna of the Webster Theatre and Dance Department, to acknowledge the outstanding teaching contributions of Marita Woodruff. The scholarship is awarded annually to one student in the third year and one student in the fourth year who represent an outstanding balance of professionalism, talent, and scholarship in humanistic studies.

Judy K. Meyer Scholarship

This scholarship is funded by the Arthur Meyer Memorial Fund and is awarded to a fourth year musical theatre or regional theatre student judged to be outstanding.

Robert Slowiak Scholarship

This award was created by the Robert Slowiak Memorial Fund to be awarded to the outstanding fourth year student in the design and technical production program. This fund is intended to support the student's needs for supplies and materials.

David Huffman Scholarship

This scholarship is established to provide a student in the fourth year with additional support that will allow him/her to complete the final year. This award is based on financial need and excellent work within the Conservatory.

Phyllis Huffman Del Vecchio Scholarship

This scholarship is established to recognize an outstanding Fourth Year student in Acting or Musical Theatre in The Conservatory of Theatre Arts with significant financial need. The scholarship is intended to provide support to allow the student to complete his/her final year of studies. The awardee should exhibit potential for a successful careeer as an actor in theatre or film.

Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin Scholarship

This scholarship is established and named for an alumna of the Webster Department of Theatre and Dance and is awarded to the outstanding fourth year stage management student.

Peter E. Sargent Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a student in the third or fourth year representing outstanding talent and promise in the field of lighting design.

Jeffrey Struckman Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship, established by family and friends to honor the memory of an alumnus of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, is awarded to a full-time, third or fourth year student majoring in theatre with an emphasis in costume or scene design.

Marcella Withum Finn Endowed Costume Fund

The fund establishes an endowment to provide support for the design, construction, and execution of costumes for an annually selected Conservatory of Theatre Arts production. It is intended to be utilized for a single production selected by the design and technical production faculty each season.

Byron Grant Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a third or fourth year student in musical theatre representing outstanding talent and the desire to pursue a career in musical theatre performance.

Special Requirements

Courses completed with a grade of D do not count toward fulfilling the specific course requirements of the major.