Performing Arts

You don't have to wait until later in your college career to be involved with the mainstage productions as a performing arts major at Iowa State University. Our faculty encourages students to audition for roles and work on the backstage crew from your first semester on campus.

ISU Theatre also produces a variety of one-act plays and scenes throughout the academic year. Each member of our faculty will work directly with you not only in the classroom, but also through designing, directing, acting and writing for the theatre both here at Iowa State, and nationally. Through such collaboration with faculty and your peers, you are taught creative problem solving, how to meet deadlines and how to cooperate with a diverse population.

If you wish to major in the performing arts at Iowa State, you will receive a core curriculum in theatre, music and dance, plus a comprehensive emphasis in acting/directing, theatrical design or dance. You are also required to have two professional internships prior to graduation, experiences that are vital to the practical understanding of the rigors of the profession.

Ensembles

ISU Theatre works hard to provide all performing arts majors with a diverse series of mainstage productions. You are guaranteed that in your four years at Iowa State, you will have the opportunity to work on any number of productions, including a Shakespearean play, operas, comedies, classical plays and recent works.

The production schedule each year also takes into account a number of other factors including allowing students the opportunity to work with large and small casts, performing well-known titles as well as lesser-known works, and providing equal opportunities for both men and women on the stage.

Each year, ISU Theatre offers a major musical production as part of Iowa State's VEISHEA celebration. Other recent ISU Theatre production's include "A Christmas Carol," "Fifth of July," "Three Sisters," "The Marriage of Figaro" and "The Diary of Anne Frank."

Career Opportunities

Recent performing arts graduates have gone on to graduate study or moved directly into professional positions including

• Busch Gardens stage manager
• New York University
• Freelance choreographer

Scholarships

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also offers a wide variety of scholarships for both incoming and continuing undergraduates.

More information on the scholarships is available on-line at www.discoverlas.com/scholarships.shtml.

4-Year Plans (Word document)

Acting - Directing
Theatrical Design