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University of Kansas - Lawrence

Department of Theatre and Dance

Department of Theatre and Dance

1502 Iowa Street
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
785.864.3511
adm@ku.edu

Degrees offered

Bachelor of Arts in Dance
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Culture, and Society
Bachelor of General Studies in Theatre Performance
Bachelor of General Studies in Theatre, Culture, and Society
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Voice
Minor in Theatre
Minor in Dance

About the program

Our undergraduate programs are grounded in the philosophy that good theatre artists are thinking theatre artists. KU Theatre is part of the School of the Arts within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Our students work intensively on acquiring theatre skills and knowledge in our classrooms, studios, and laboratories. They receive small-school individual attention while benefiting from big-school academic choices and vast array of programs. KU theatre students often undertake secondary study in areas such as business, journalism, art, and English. KU Theatre is internationally recognized for its graduate education. Our M.A. and Ph.D. programs are unique for combining intensive study of theatre and performance with the production training necessary for theatre careers in higher education. Our groundbreaking M.F.A. in Scenography is unique for having an integrated approach to scenic, lighting, and costume design that prepares artists for professional and academic careers.

Notable alumni

Alexis Faught, Allie Thaman, Andrew Schum, Becky Phelps, Bree Herrington, Chaela Jeanelle Herron, Colin Montgomery Neukirch, Darian Bruch, Dominique Lorae Waller, Elsa Marie Bernauer, Emily Hunsucker, Emily Kendall Weiss, Gracie Horvat, Havilah (Maggie) Puderbaugh, Hollyanna Mathews, Jakob Reitz, Jenna Espinoza, Jessie Deaver, Jillian Tucci, Jordyn Manhart, Kylie Thompson, Lusie M. Cuskey, Malcolm Reynolds, Noah Parker, Timmia Hearn-Feldman, Tia Carpenter.

Acceptance rate

The University of Kansas (KU) Department of Theatre & Dance has a selective graduate program with a 38% acceptance rate for its MA and Ph.D. programs.

Faculty

Jane Barnette, Henry Bial, Tarrah Bossert, Ashley Brittingham, Dennis Christilles, Christine Colby Jacques, Rana Esfandiary, Darci Fulcher, Michelle Heffner Hayes, Laura Kirk, Paul Laird, Mechele Leon, James Moreno, Nicole Hodges Persley, Markus Potter, Mark Reaney, Rebecca Rovit, Santiago Sosa, Andie Stitt, Patrick Suzeau, Maya Tillman-Rayton, Kelly Vogel, Waeli Wang.

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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