Theatre
Theatre is a thriving program at UCO with a growing number of majors each year. There are two options in the Theatre Program – one is a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre in which the student can emphasize Acting/Directing or Technical/Design. We also have a new option in Theatre Education Studies.

Students have the opportunity to be a part of four main stage productions, about twenty senior directed one-act plays, and two improvisational shows every year. Additionally, a number of students participate in music theatre productions produced by UCO’s School for Music. We also provide technical support for UCO President Roger Webb’s "Broadway Tonight" series, which brings five touring productions to campus each year.

Since 1998, the department has had an alliance with Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, so many of our students are active in a winter Shakespeare production at Stage Center in Oklahoma City and also with OSP’s three play summer season at Hafer Park in Edmond, Oklahoma.

We often receive comments lauding our students’ professionalism, talent, training and commitment. As a result, even while they are pursuing their studies, they are much in demand as actors and for their design and tech work, in area theatres. These companies include Carpenter Square Theatre, Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, Jewel Box Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma City and The Pollard Theatre. Several are also active in independent films and local/regional television commercial work. During summers, there are very few theatre courses on campus because many of our students are either participating in Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, or are hired at area and regional theatres.

Our program has been active in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival since its inception, both with participating and associate productions. We regularly host the program’s state festivals on our campus. Our productions are often nominated to go on to the regional festivals.

Our students traditionally also do well in the KCACTF Irene Ryan competition. It is a rare year when at least one of our students does not make the finals in our region.

Each year, the department brings in a guest director to direct one of the four major productions. We also try to enrich our program by bringing in people working in the profession.

The vast majority of our students wish to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, particularly in film and theatre. Some wish to teach theatre. We keep close contact with our graduates and alumni because of the wonderful relationships forged when they were students, and also so that they can assist us with program changes.

Our theatre program provides a challenging educational opportunity for a young artist to develop within a positive creative setting. We expect a lot from our students because their career goals will demand a lot from them. All this while at the same time engaged in producing theatre from the classics to cutting-edge contemporary. What could be better?

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