Program Overview
As you pursue a theatre major or minor at Lawrence, you’ll experience a seamless blend of technical practice and liberal arts learning, fostered by a supportive community. Courses cover acting and movement, history and theory, production and performance, allowing you to learn by doing. From all the design areas to acting and directing, you’ll experience fellow artists making theatre together in a creative, collaborative environment.
Program Highlights
Perform Across Styles and Traditions
Take part in a wide range of productions, including modern classics, musicals, student-written work, devised dance-theatre, and plays from Shakespeare’s era.
Create Theatre with Joy
Work closely with faculty who share a collaborative, supportive approach to making theatre.
Prepare for Competitive Opportunities
Build the experience and confidence to pursue graduate programs and early-career internships.
Explore a Broad Performance Range
Perform in new plays, classics, musicals, operas, and dance-theatre productions throughout your time at Lawrence.
Spotlight
Types of Degrees
Theatre Arts majors can choose from focus areas in performance, design and production, and dramatic literature and criticism. We also reserve space for students who wish to pursue a generalist approach that combines courses from all focus areas.
Advising
At Lawrence, academic advising helps you shape an educational experience that reflects your interests, goals, and aspirations. Your faculty advisor will support you as you plan your path, connect with campus resources and communities, and make informed decisions that prepare you for a meaningful and fulfilling future.
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Faculty
Engage deeply and collaboratively with professors who are experts in their field and committed to supporting your education.
Chairs
Timothy X. Troy (he/him)
J. Thomas and Julie E. Hurvis Professor of Theatre and Drama and Professor of Theatre Arts
Timothy X. Troy (playwright & stage director) is the Hurvis Professor of Theatre and Drama at Lawrence University. Regular teaching areas include acting, directing, script analysis, and playwrighting. Professor Troy’s…
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Mauriah Donegan Kraker (she/her)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance
mauriah.donegankraker@lawrence.edu
Mauriah Donegan Kraker is a midwesterner, a choreographer, a long-distance walker invested in slow travel. She walks place as a means of attending to the choreographic unfolding of time cycles in…
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Kellyn Gagner
Lecturer in Theatre Arts and Costume Shop Supervisor
Kellyn Gagner served as the costume technician at the Peninsula Players Theatre and costume shop manager for the University of Wisconsin Green Bay before returning to her alma mater, Lawrence…
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Karin Simonson Kopischke
Instructor of Theatre Arts and Costume Shop Supervisor
karin.s.kopischke@lawrence.edu
Kärin Simonson Kopischke has designed costumes for regional theatre Tony Award winners including American Conservatory Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Long Wharf, Victory Gardens, Children's Theatre Company, Crossroads,…
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Kathy Privatt (She/Her/Hers)
James G. and Ethel M. Barber Professor of Theatre and Drama and Associate Professor of Theatre Arts
I am joyfully making theatre at Lawrence by teaching acting, theatre literature and history, and directing departmental productions. A certified Alexander Movement Technique (AT) teacher, I also teach AT workshops…
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Austin R. Rose
Production Manager & Lecturer of Theatre Arts
With a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Idaho and a Master of Science in Theatre Arts from Texas A&M University Commerce, I bring a wealth…
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Kristi A. Ross-Clausen (She/they)
Instructor of Theatre Arts
kristi.a.ross-clausen@lawrence.edu
Theatrical multi-hyphenate: IATSE Stagehand who works in all Yellow card departments, Actor's Equity Stage Manager, AVIXA Certified Quality Specialist, Association for Quality in AV Certified Quality Technician and Certified Quality…
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Jacque Troy (she/her)
Lecturer in Theatre Arts
Jacque Troy has worked as a professional actor and designed and taught theatre in a variety of short- and long-term educational settings for over two decades. Specifically, she served…
View Full Profile Timothy X. Troy (he/him)
J. Thomas and Julie E. Hurvis Professor of Theatre and Drama and Professor of Theatre Arts
Timothy X. Troy (playwright & stage director) is the Hurvis Professor of Theatre and Drama at Lawrence University. Regular teaching areas include acting, directing, script analysis, and playwrighting. Professor Troy’s…
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Each biennial cycle of production in the department of Theatre Arts features special opportunities for young playwrights. Our Fred Gaines Student Playwrights Series features 3 fully produced and two developmental staged readings of one-act plays that premiere in Cloak Theatre. In addition to the rare opportunity for young playwrights to see their new work live and breathe before a live audience, actors get the chance to breathe the first life into new characters, and student designers help bring new worlds to our audiences.
