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Principia College

Department of Theatre and Dance

Department of Theatre and Dance

One Maybeck Place
Elsah, Illinois 62028
618.374.5010
collegeadmissions@principia.edu

Degrees offered

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre
Minor in Theatre
Minor in Dance

About the program

Develop problem solving, leadership, communication, collaboration, and critical and creative thinking through theatre and dance. Whether at the experimental Davis Black Box, the newly-renovated McVay Center, or the spacious Cox Auditorium, you’ll find the perfect venue for your exploration of the arts at Principia. With many opportunities to perform, direct, choreograph, and work on all aspects of technical production alongside our dynamic faculty and visiting professional artists, you’ll challenge yourself and grow. Connect with current industry professionals, like Principia alum David Lovegren, by participating in the Los Angeles Spring Break trip. You’ll have opportunities to visit studios, network, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry today. Further your exploration of theatre and dance internationally. On the United Kingdom Study Abroad, open to all students, you will research a variety of artists and art forms across the U.K. in castles, museums, libraries, and historic homes, learning what it means to see through the eyes of an artist. When you return to campus, you’ll put your learning into practice by performing a Shakespearean play with your classmates.

Acceptance rate

Principia College has a general acceptance rate of 45%

Faculty

Chrissy Calkins Steele, Tom Halsey, Erin Lane, Leah McFall, Trish Brown Schmit, Dr. Jeffrey C. Steele.

BWW Q&A: John Wilson Talks PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC at New Jewish Theatre

BWW Q&A: John Wilson Talks PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC at New Jewish Theatre

by Joshua Wright — April 1, 2026

After two decades shaping young performers as chair of the Theatre and Dance Department at the University of Central Missouri, John Wilson has built a reputation as one of the region's most versatile theater artists — actor, fight choreographer, dialect coach, and educator all at once.

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