Theatre and Dance Department

Colleges and Programs of Study

Theatre and dance feature bold programs that allow our artists a wide variety of performance opportunities and classroom experiences that are the hallmark of a private liberal college education.

Theatre features bold programs that allow our artists a wide variety of performance opportunities and classroom experiences that are the hallmark of a private liberal college education. Auditions are open to all students, and casting policies allow a first-semester freshman to land the lead role in one of our shows.

Class sizes are small (2:1 student/teacher ratio in advanced acting classes), and an all-encompassing approach to the various theatrical philosophies teaches the student the vital techniques, methods, and terminology that will allow the artist to work well with anyone in the industry.

Theatre and Dance Department Overview

  • Faculty

    Gregory Mach, Associate Professor
    Areas of Instruction: advanced acting, directing, theatre history, stage makeup, voice and movement, and humanities
    Email: mach@mikeshiner.com
    Phone: 304-473-8855

    Bio: Gregory Mach teaches advanced acting, directing, theatre history, stage makeup, voice and movement, and humanities. A professional actor, director, and playwright when he is not teaching, he has performed everything from Shakespeare to mime at numerous theatres throughout the southeastern United States and on television, and has directed extensively for the commercial, university and community stage, as well as international tours, for over thirty years. Selected by the Rotary International Foundation to represent higher education and the arts in West Virginia on a tour of Korea, Greg directs at least one show a year at WVWC and advises the acting/directing majors.

    Thomas Schoffler, Associate Professor
    Areas of Instruction: acting, movement, musical theatre, drama for youth, dramaturgy
    Email: schoffler_t@mikeshiner.com
    Phone: 304-473-8810

    Bio: Thomas Schoffler teaches acting, movement, musical theatre, drama for youth and dramaturgy. A professional actor and director, he has worked in New York City as well as regional theatres across the country. He is the director of the musical theatre program, and coordinator for the Theatre & Dance Department.

  • Majors
    • Musical Theatre – B.A.
    • Theatre Arts – Acting/Directing or Technical Theatre/Design – B.A.
    • Arts Administration – B.A.

      Students will:

      • Students will be able to prepare and manage basic budgets for fund development, operations, grant design and financial reporting.
      • Students will be able to develop marketing plans, oversee venue management, and work with volunteers and a board of directors.
      • Students will be able to design communication for promotional copy, press releases and online media for a variety of audiences and demonstrate effective audience analysis.
      • Students will be able to evaluate and respond to various works of arts, exploring the interdisciplinary relationships between the arts.
      • Students will be able to demonstrate practical application of degree skills through internship opportunities.
  • Minors
    • Theatre

      Students will: 

      • Students will recognize and recreate the practices of theatre-making from multiple perspectives.
      • Students will recall and compare the literature of theatre.
      • Students will define and apply the vocabulary of theatre.
      • Students will prepare materials and demonstrate skills for participation in theatre-making.
    • Dance

      Wesleyan’s dance program is open to all students and offers scholarships to incoming freshmen regardless of declared major or minor.

       

      Technique classes are offered in ballet, modern, jazz, tap and hip-hop. Dancers frequently perform on campus in recitals and musical theatre productions, as well as at state festivals and workshops. Students may opt for a minor in dance, which requires 20 hours of study, including courses in multi-disciplinary technique, improvisation, choreography, dance history and participation in various performance ensembles.

    • Programs of Study