Department of Theatre Arts and Dance

Department Information

Department Chair: Kay Andersen
South Hall 202 ~ (435) 865-8503
andersen_k@suu.edu

Department Associate Chair: Peter Sham
South Hall 203 ~ (435) 865-8676
sham@suu.edu

Administrative Assistant: Jacque Marchant
South Hall 201 ~ (435) 586-7746
marchantj@suu.edu

Academic Advisor: Stephen Wagner
ST 205Q ~ (435) 586-5420
stephenwagner@suu.edu

Website: http://www.suu.edu/pva/ta

Faculty: Professors: Richard Dean Bugg;
Associate Professors: Kay Andersen, Christine Frezza, Shauna Mendini, Paul Ocampo, Peter Sham, Don Weingust;
Assistant Professors: Jarrod Bray, Denise Purvis, Wendy Sanders, Brian Swanson, Chien-Ying Wang;
Artist in Residence: Brad Carroll

Adjunct Faculty: www.suu.edu/pva/ta/faculty.html

Staff: Costume Shop Supervisor: Madeline Jones; Scene Shop Supervisor: Brian Beacom; Music Accompanist: Gerald Rheault

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre

Classical Acting Emphasis 
Musical Theatre Emphasis 
Theatre Design & Technology Emphasis 

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

Theatre Arts
Theatre Arts, B.A 
Theatre Arts, B.S. 
Theatre Arts - Secondary Theatre Education, B.A. 
Theatre Arts - Secondary Theatre Education, B.S. 

Dance
Dance Performance, B.A. 
Dance Performance, B.S. 
Dance Education, B.A. 
Dance Education, B.S. 

Minors

Theatre Arts 
Dance Performance 

Licensure

Secondary Teaching License in Theatre Arts Education 
Secondary Teaching License in Dance Education 

Accreditation

Southern Utah University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance

Overview of Programs

Our students in Southern Utah University’s Department of Theatre Arts and Dance perform, choreograph, design, create, invent, dance, act and stage manage – and stretch themselves creatively and scholastically by incorporating their comprehensive training and experience in all aspects of the live arts. SUU is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). The Theatre Arts and Dance program gives students the opportunity to work alongside professionals in mainstage dance and theatre productions, as well as the Utah Shakespeare Festival, recipient of the 2000 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre and the Neil Simon Festival. Students have the opportunity to create and perform their own work in Second Studio, The Fool’s Assembly and the Orchesis Modern Dance Company. Student work has been selected for the Gala Concert at Regional American College Dance Festivals, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and United States Institute for Theatre Technology. Our internationally active professionals at the top of their respective fields, whose talent and expertise provide our students with the foundation for entry into professional entertainment, graduate studies and other educational fields.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a nurturing and challenging educational environment through a rich diversity of theatre and dance disciplines, techniques, technologies and productions. Central to our focus as a department is superior teaching and personalized mentoring; our classroom encompasses the studio, the stage, and the technical laboratory.

Department Goal Statement

 The goal of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance is to:

• Foster academic excellence through development of programs that meet national standards.
• Promote quality personnel with expertise in their areas of teaching.
• Enhance the cultural and aesthetic experience of our campus, community and region through quality productions, leadership, and service learning.
• Embrace a standard of artistic excellence, which is enhanced by a strong professional link with the internationally recognized Utah Shakespeare Festival.
• Create widespread visibility through our active participation with the ACDFA, KCACTF, USITT, URTA, ATHE, UTA and other professional/educational organizations.
• Prepare students for successful transfer to graduate or conservatory programs or to pursue professional careers in the theatre and dance performance, theatre and dance education or allied fields

Department/Program Learning Outcomes

 Students will:

1. Comprehend how the techniques and practices of theatre arts and dance are used for creative thought and artistic expression
2. Execute basic production processes in the areas of acting, dance, stage direction, choreography, design, and the necessary technical operations related to production.
3. Acquire knowledge of diverse historical and multi-cultural dimensions and traditions of theatre arts and dance.
4. Formulate assessments of quality, both creatively and critically, in works of theatre, dance and other related art forms.