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Airness musical theater show at UWEC

Musical Theatre

Practice your craft onstage and off with a musical theatre bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire. Our program is unique, in that the music, theatre, and dance programs are all housed in a single department, providing excellent opportunities for collaboration across the performing arts. As a musical theatre student, you’ll take theatre and dance classes, but also voice lessons. With musical productions every season and an opera every other year, our program will provide you with opportunities for artistic growth and freedom of expression.

Available as
Major
Description

Take the Stage

With more than five theatre productions and 200 performance opportunities each year, there is no shortage of experiential learning. Rigorous music classes and voice lessons will cultivate your vocal skills, helping you to stand out from the crowd. You'll also learn from some of the best. Faculty have deep experience both on and off stage, and they use that expertise to guide and mentor you.

As one of only a few programs in the region to house music, theatre, and dance in the same department, you'll have the unique and beneficial opportunity to collaborate with all three disciplines. Small class sizes allow you to receive one-on-one attention and master best practices and professional techniques. And one of the highlights of our program is the ability to connect, network, and work with others who are just as passionate about music and theatre as you are. No matter your path, our musical theatre bachelor’s degree program will support you and help make your dreams a reality.

Degree Types

Program Details

Degree Types
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Degree Level undergraduate
Available asMajor
Program Length 4 years
Campus
Eau Claire
Offered
On Campus
Requires a minor No
Authored on
Hallmarks
NYC immersion for music and theater
Travel Opportunities

Study abroad opportunities and the National Student Exchange program are available to all UWEC students. And faculty-led immersion programs open even more doors to travel and performance opportunities. For example, each spring break, music and theatre arts students have the opportunity to visit New York City. There, they attend plays, musicals, masterclasses, and other artistic events, while also shadowing working professionals and meeting various actors and musicians to learn more about their specific trade. 

2023 M&T show Godspell
Performances Galore

The Music and Theatre Arts Department offers four mainstage productions, plus a Theatre for Young Audiences touring production, student-directed Short Play Festivals, and a dance concert. Each of our productions take place in facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and acoustics. In addition, you’ll have the chance to be a part of Opera on Wheels, where you can perform at different elementary schools and teach kids the fundamentals of opera.

Jazz Fest saxophonist
A Musical City

From the professors who teach you to the students who work alongside you, a love for music is not hard to find when you’re at UWEC. And that love isn't just isolated to our campus. The city of Eau Claire is nationally recognized for its abundance of music festivals, events, and venues.

theatre dance guest Shayanne Lindsay
Regular Guest Artists

There are numerous art- and music-focused student organizations to help connect you with peers, faculty, local professionals, and potential mentors. Join student orgs like the UWEC Theatre Collective to get the chance to create student-led productions, or become a member of Concert Dance Company to express your love for dance.

Facts List

Just
the
facts

8 Majors, 2 Minors, 5 Certificates
Music and Theatre Arts offers a standout education with a variety of academic programs to help you find your perfect role.
Meet Fellow Musicians and Artists
Explore 20 student orgs geared towards music, theatre, and dance.
A History of Music Excellence
Our jazz ensembles have 2 Grammy nominations, 8 DownBeat awards, and 21 albums.
6 Performance Venues
From on-campus theaters to the Pablo Center in downtown Eau Claire, you can perform at a variety of professional venues.
200+ Annual Performances
Help coordinate or participate in one of UWEC's annual music, dance, or theatre performances.
Outcomes Image
Scene from the Putnam Spelling Bee theatre performance
What can I do

Where can the musical theatre program lead me after graduation?

Graduates of the musical theatre program leave with a well-rounded skill set and an impressive resume. Because of the broad nature of the program, our alumni go on to pursue a variety of artistic and creative careers all over the country. From touring with Cirque du Soleil to performing on cruise ships to working in the film and television industry, the possibilities are endless. 

Students have also found paid internships and summer work at places like the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Glimmerglass Theatre Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, American Repertory Theater, Iowa Shakespeare Festival, and Pablo Center.

Example Careers

  • Broadway performer
  • Actor
  • Theatre stage manager
  • Dancer
  • Professor
  • Theatre director

Recent Graduates

Associate Artistic Director
Illinois

Actor and Television Personality
California

Comedian, Actor, and Writer
California

Stage and Film Actress
New York

Courses information
SampleCourses

There is no role too small, and after completing our theatre arts program, you’ll be able to do them all! Learn how to sing in a variety of genres, design costumes, direct productions, and work lights and sound. A variety of experiential learning opportunities offer leadership roles on stage, backstage, and in the planning and production process, preparing you well for a variety of roles upon graduation. 

A unique partnership with Pablo Center at the Confluence allows our students to learn in state-of-the-art facilities, including two theaters, a recording studio, a music recital space and an art gallery. There, students also gain real-world experience using the industry's most up-to-date equipment and software.

Here are a few courses in Musical Theatre at UW-Eau Claire.

THEA 320

American Musical Theatre

The history and development of contemporary musical theatre, including the study of major productions and collaborators.

THEA 223

Voice and Diction

Study of voice and articulation for actors and other performers. Exercises designed for the development of relaxed, controlled, and articulate speech for performance.

THEA 239

Stage Movement

Introduction to basics of stage movement aimed primarily at developing skill and expressiveness in acting. Follows an active, learning-through-participation approach.

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Meet the Faculty

Headshot
Music and Theatre Arts Department
Professor of Theatre Arts-Costume Design
James Zwicky
Music and Theatre Arts Department
Professor of Theatre Arts
Technical Director
Erin Hisey, assistant professor of theatre
Music and Theatre Arts Department
Assistant Professor - Theatre Scenic and Lighting Design
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What's Next?

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