Department of Theatre and Dance

About
Special Requiirements and Information
Degree Options
Internships and Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Degree Programs Information
Faculty

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, Room 2099

Phone: (307) 766-5100

Department Head: Christie Zimmerman

About

Theatre

The study of theatre provides students with a broad understanding of the art of theatre in a liberal arts college. The study of theatre is considered to provide a basis for more specialized theatre study in a graduate or professional school. The liberal arts education in theatre together with extensive experience in the production program also provides the foundation for a professional career in theatre, motion pictures, or television drama for those individuals with special desires and abilities. Wyoming Professional Teachers State Board (PTSB) K-12 Theatre Education Endorsement in theatre can be obtained through this program of study.

Dance

The dance curricula are designed to provide students with a broad foundation of physical, creative, analytical, and practical skills for the field of dance. Students pursuing this coursework will have opportunities to develop physical and artistic skills in modern, ballet, and jazz with additional movement offerings on a rotating basis; to obtain practical experience in choreographing and teaching dance; to understand the functionality of the body; to analyze the historical and cultural impacts of dance; and to experience multiple elements of the production process. The dance concentrations prepare students for graduate level training and for careers in performance, choreography, teaching, the dance science field, and more.

All dance students are matriculated into the BA degree. Students wishing to apply for the BFA in Dance Performance or BFA in Dance Science do so the second semester of their freshman year.

Outcomes:

Our goal is to nurture artists and scholars within aesthetic, social, critical, historical and contemporary performance and dance idioms, who appreciate cultural literacy and respect diversity, who think critically, who master discipline-specific performance and production skills, and who foster knowledge and make compelling artistic choice on stage.

In addition to disciplinary specific learning outcomes, the departmental core curricula emphasizes the development of transferable skills as applicable to artistic practice, and to broader professional practice as well. All Theatre and Dance students, upon graduation will be able to apply the following transferable skills to their career goals, and be able to:

· Career & Self Development - Demonstrate awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, and transferable skills, and are working towards their career goals.

· Communication - Clearly and effectively communicate their ideas in writing, speech, and visual media.

· Critical Thinking - Utilize logic, facts, and data to analyze issues, make decisions, and solve problems.

· Global/intercultural fluency - Demonstrate respect, openness, and a desire to learn from people of different backgrounds.

· Leadership - Motivate and organize others and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others.

· Professionalism/work ethic - Be accountable for their work behavior, including dress, communication, punctuality, and ethical choices.

· Teamwork/collaboration - Work well with others from different backgrounds to achieve common goals.

· Technology - Navigate technologies to support relevant, effective, and creative construction of ideas.

Departmental Activities/ Organizations:

All university students are able to participate in productions onstage and backstage by auditioning for productions or taking a Design, Production, and Management laboratory course. Students participating in production are required to register for the appropriate course.

Productions are mounted in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts which includes a flexible proscenium theatre, thrust theatre and experimental-studio theatre complete with scenic, costume, and lighting support facilities.

University students may also participate in the department’s student led productions, the Steamboat Spotlight Series.

Special Requirements and Information

Students may not take a course for S/U credit to satisfy course requirements in the major. This does not apply to courses offered for S/U only. Requirements for students majoring in the areas of the department are indicated below.

Degree Options

The Department of Theatre and Dance offers curricula leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, a variety of minors, and courses which fulfill University Studies and College of Arts and Sciences requirements.

Internships and Assistantships

Graduate Degree Programs Information

At present, no program for graduate degrees in theatre and dance is offered.

Faculty

Professors:

CECILIA ARAGÓN, B.S. McMurry University 1991; M.A. University of New Mexico 1996; Ph.D. Arizona State University 2003; Professor, Theatre & Dance 2017, 2005.

CHRISTIE ZIMMERMAN, B.A. University of New Orleans 2000; M.F.A. University of California, Irvine 2002; Professor, Theatre & Dance 2023.

Associate Professors:

SCOTT TEDMON-JONES, B.F.A. University of Wyoming, 2001; M.F.A Carnegie Mellon University, 2010; Associate Professor, Theatre & Dance, 2024, 2018.

AARON WOOD, B.F.A. University of Wyoming, 2003; M.F.A. University of Utah, 2007; Associate Professor, Theatre & Dance, 2025, 2022.

Assistant Professors:

ERIN CARTER, B.F.A. Webster University, 2016; M.F.A. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2019; Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance, 2023.

MATTHEW GREENBERG, B.F.A. Ithaca College, 2015; M.F.A. The Ohio State University, 2021; Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance, 2022.

ERIC JORGENSEN, B.F.A Drake University, 1999; M.F.A. The George Washington University, 2004; M.A. New York University, 2011; Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara, 2019; Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance, 2025.

CAT KAMRATH MONSON, B.A. Loyola Marymount University, 2013; M.F.A. University of Utah, 2016; Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance, 2022.

Associate Lecturers:

JASON BANKS, B.F.A. University of Florida 2004; M.F.A. The Ohio State University 2007; Associate Lecturer, FTRC, 2024, 2020.

Assistant Lecturers:

LANDEE LOCKHART, B.T.D. University of Wyoming, 2001; B.A. University of Wyoming, 2001; M.F.A. University of Houston, 2006; Assistant Lecturer, FTRC, 2022.

BETH TWIGS, B.S. Colorado State University, 2020; M.F.A University of Washington, 2024; Assistant Lecturer, 2024.

Assistant Instructional Professor:

SARAH LASS, B.A. Kenyon College, 2013; M.F.A. Smith College, 2018; Assistant Instructional Professor, 2024.

Emeritus Professors:

Larry Hazlett, Rebecca Hilliker, Leroy Hodgson, Marsha Knight, Ron Steger, Leigh Selting, Margaret Wilson

Programs

Major

Minor

Courses

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