Scenes from the UWEC theater's production of "Peter and the Starcatcher".

Theatre

Get Involved: Join our UWEC Theatre Community

The study of theatre arts at UW-Eau Claire provides students with an outstanding liberal arts education and fosters the development and appreciation of theatre as a significant art form. Theatre students begin their training immediately at UW-Eau Claire, working in a disciplined group effort under real-life pressures and deadlines to develop fully realized productions for campus and community audiences.

Theatre at UW-Eau Claire is both an academic and extracurricular activity. Auditions and participation are open to any UW-Eau Claire student! Studying and/or participating in theatre develops your creative problem-solving skills, heightens your emotional awareness, and creates meaningful engagements with others. 

There are numerous ways to be involved and share in creating art that presents the wildly swinging pendulum of human experience. Each year there are four mainstage plays, an active musical/opera theatre ensemble, a one-act play festival or touring theatre production, and numerous other smaller events that all showcase the broad emotions we experience in life. This thriving community puts you in the midst of performances and classes that will make you a better artist! Whether your art is dance, acting, directing, playwriting, design, costuming, set building, stage managing, or sound and lights — there’s a place for you here. You can even work as a student employee in our scenic and costume shops, get a job in publicity, or as a master electrician.

For more information about the Theatre Division productions, auditions, or classes, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Arthur Grothe at grothear@uwec.edu. 

Visit our UWEC Theatre Facebook page

Get Involved!

Auditions

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (musical)
Auditions: Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 4:00 PM & 6:30 PM, Riverside Theatre (Haas Fine Arts Center)
Callbacks: Friday, September 9, 2022 from 5:00-8:00 PM, Riverside Theatre
Material to Prepare: Prepare 32 measures of a song which showcases your vocal range and two contrasting one-minute monologues. Please bring sheet music or an accompaniment track; an accompanist will be provided.
Rehearsals: Mondays-Thursday (6:30-9:30 PM) and Fridays (4:00-7:00 PM) starting Monday, September 12. Tech week runs October 8-13.
Performances: October 14-16 and 19-23, Jamf Theatre (Pablo Center)

The Bald Soprano (play)
Auditions: Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 4:00 PM & 6:30 PM, Riverside Theatre (Haas Fine Arts Center)
Callbacks: Saturday, September 10 at 1:00 PM, Riverside Theatre
Material to Prepare: Prepare a 1-3 minute contemporary monologue (you may use the same monologue to audition for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “The Bald Soprano”)
Rehearsals: Mondays-Thursday (6:30-9:30 PM) and Fridays (4:00-7:00 PM) starting Monday, October 31. Tech week runs December 3-6.
Performances: December 7-11, Riverside Theatre

Touring Theatre
Fall Semester TBD

The Wolves (play)
Auditions: Monday, October 24, 2022 at 4:00 PM & 6:30 PM, Riverside Theatre (Haas Fine Arts Center)
Callbacks: Tuesday, October 25, at 6:30PM, Pablo Center Rm 327
Material to Prepare: Prepare a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue (from a play written in the last 10 years). For callbacks, you will be asked to do cold reads from the script, as well as physical exercise and light soccer drills.
Rehearsals: Mondays-Thursday (6:30-10:00 PM) and Fridays (4:00-7:00 PM) starting Monday, January 30. Tech week runs February 25-March 2.
Performances: March 3-5 and 8-12, Jamf Theatre (Pablo Center)

Orpheus in the Underworld (opera)
Auditions: Monday, October 17, 6:30-9:30 PM (by appointment), Gantner Concert Hall (Haas Fine Arts Center) – interested students may sign up for a time slot on the sheet posted outside of Dr. Pereira’s office door (HFA 258) in advance or on the day of the audition.
Callbacks (if needed): Tuesday, October 18, 6:30-9:30 PM, HFA 190 (dance studio)
Material to Prepare: Sing an aria, art-song, or non-belting musical theatre piece in English, no longer than 4 minutes. Please bring sheet music or an accompaniment track; an accompanist will be provided.
Rehearsals: Music rehearsals will begin at the start of the spring semester, and staging rehearsals will begin a week prior to spring break. Tech week runs April 29-May 3.
Performances: May 4-7, RCU Theatre (Pablo Center)
*Note: auditions for dancers will be held at the beginning of the Spring 2023 semester – more info coming soon!

Backstage Roles

In addition to roles onstage, we offer plentiful roles backstage as well! There are two main ways to get involved in shows offstage: production assignments (working on an assigned role tied to a specific production) and working in the shops.

Scenic/Costume/Electrics Labs

Students get academic credit for working in our costume shop (THEA 151), scene shop (THEA 152), and electrics shop (THEA 153). These classes meet throughout the semester to build or otherwise install the scenery, costumes, and lighting/sound equipment necessary for our mainstage productions. Anyone can register for these classes, regardless of major, and there are no prerequisites – no experience required! If you are looking for a hands-on way to get involved in making theatre, this opportunity may be for you!

Production Assignments

Alternatively, every show we produce has a team of students who put it together. From stage managers to light/sound board operators to wardrobe crew to props artisans and more, these folks each play a valuable role in successfully transferring our shows from the rehearsal hall to the stage. Every spring, the faculty look ahead to the upcoming season’s shows and put out a survey for students to fill out indicating their areas of interest and availability. These opportunities are open to everyone (not just Theatre majors/minors), though Theatre students tend to get priority given that they each must complete a certain number of these production assignments in order to graduate. The survey is typically emailed out in March, and is due back in April, then students are informed of their placements later that month. This form is also typically shared on the UWEC Theatre Facebook page, and will be posted here when it is available as well.

For questions related to production assignments/backstage roles, contact the following faculty:

  • For the scene shop, props management and construction, and run crew (stage crew), contact James Zwicky, zwickyja@uwec.edu
  • For the costume shop, wardrobe crew, and makeup, contact Amanda Profaizer, profaiaj@uwec.edu
  • For the electrics shop, light and sound board operation, spot light operation, sound design/engineering, and serving as a Master Electrician (ME), contact Erin Hisey, hiseyec@uwec.edu
  • For stage management, contact Jen Zwicky, zwickyjl@uwec.du
  • For house management and publicity, contact Arthur Grothe, grothear@uwec.edu

Theatre productions for 2022-23

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Elizabeth Tanner; music directed by Dr. Ken Pereira; choreographed by SK Stone
Evening Performances: October 14, 15 and 19-21, 7:30 PM
Matinee Performances: October 16 & 23, 1:30 PM
Location: Jamf Theatre, Pablo Center (128 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire, WI)
Tickets: https://www.pablocenter.org/all-events/699/uwec-the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee/

The Bald Soprano, directed by Dr. Jennifer Chapman
Evening Performances: December 7-10, 7:30 PM
Matinee Performances: December 10 & 11, 1:30 PM
Location: Riverside Theatre, Haas Fine Arts Center (121 Water Street, Eau Claire, WI)
Tickets: https://uwec.universitytickets.com/?cid=186

The Wolves, directed by Arthur Grothe
Evening Performances: March 3, 4 and 8-11, 2023
Matinee Performances: March 5 & 12, 1:30 PM
Location: Jamf Theatre, Pablo Center (128 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire, WI)
Tickets: https://www.pablocenter.org/all-events/701/uwec-the-wolves/

Orpheus in the Underworld, directed by Dr. Ken Pereira; music directed by Dr. Mark Mowry; choreographed by SK Stone
Evening Performances: May 4-6, 7:30 PM
Matinee Performance: May 7, 1:30 PM
Location: RCU Theatre, Pablo Center (128 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire, WI)
Tickets: https://www.pablocenter.org/all-events/700/uwec-opheus-in-the-underworld/

Other Theatre Division Events for 2022-23

Theatre & Dance Open House – September 7, 6:30 PM, Riverside Theatre

  • Meet new & returning students and faculty
  • Learn about the upcoming season
  • Participate in prize giveaways!

Riverside Roundtable –

Each month the UWEC Theatre Division hosts a “Riverside Roundtable.”  This is a chance for the theatre community to gather, connect, and discuss a wide range of topics.  The Theatre Division often shares information about classes, upcoming productions, and hosts guest artists.  Follow our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UWECTheatre/) for updates on roundtable event dates and topics!

Explore our theatre majors

Learn more about our theatre arts, BA or BS program

Learn more about our musical theatre, BA or BS program

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In the theatre department at UW-Eau Claire, I was able to learn my craft with the guidance of talented, caring professors, each with their own strengths and expertise. Studying theatre arts here is a special way to gain firsthand experience.

Sam Theatre Arts

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