Prospective Students

Rich Curriculum

Our program educates students in the contemporary practice of theatre and dance through a liberal arts curriculum. Accredited by the National Association of Schools and Theatre, the Department provides a broad-based education that uniquely integrates theatre and dance to develop versatile theatre artists. There are two Bachelor of Arts degree programs: Theatre for those interested in performing, teaching, directing or other backstage work and Child Drama for those interested in creating theatre for the young people. Students can also choose a minor in Theatre or Dance or a concentration in Dance.

Visiting Artists

Several times a year, the department invites visiting artists to teach master classes or stage original productions. This gives students the opportunity to:

- Learn to fake a punch from Charles Currier, the fight choreographer who staged battle scenes for the Oliver Stone film Alexander.

- Perform in an original production created by award winning New York City International Fringe Festival founder, writer and director John Clancy.

- Participate in a mock casting session with New York casting director Ted Sluberski as part of our Professional Workshop Series.

- Dance in an original show by Irish writer/director Michael Duke, Artistic Director of Tinderbox Theatre Company in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

- Create a fresh new production of Twelfth Night with Scottish Director Peter Clerke.

Grad Schools

Here is a sample of the schools our recent graduates have entered:
  - Rutgers University, Ph.D. program
  - Pennsylvania State University
  - Northern Illinois University
  - New York University
  - Temple University

Student Achievements

- Amanda Coppola '05, (Sewell), Sara Biddle '05, (Salem), Stephanie Garland '05, (Somerdale) and Deborah Morford '05, (Runnemede) received a grant to create original choreography for the American College Dance Festival.

- Chris Legentil '05, (Washington Township) appeared on Good Morning America with the Broadway Cast of Rent.

- Joanna Congalton '07, (Ridgefield), wrote a series of monologues that will be published by Dramatic Publishing.

- Joshua Totora '05, (Hammonton), won the Best Classical Acting Award out of sixteen finalists at the Kennedy Center's Regional American College Theatre Festival

Performance Groups

You'll be able to participate in our productions as early as your first semester. Our three performance groups-Campus Players, Lab Theatre, and Dance Extensions- produce ten events each year ranging from full-scale main stage shows to experimental, student-directed and choreographed performances. Many of our students have taken advantage of our prime location, close to Philly & NYC, to audition, intern and understudy for professional productions.

Admission Requirements

The Department of Theatre and Dance targets students with a strong college prep curriculum and practical experiences in theatre and dance with high school or community groups. Admission to the department requires an audition and an on-campus interview. For more information, please call Carmella Conn at 856-256-4030.

Career Opportunities

Opportunities abound for students with a degree in Theatre and Dance. In addition to performing, teaching, directing and other backstage work, graduates are also working as:

  - Theatre producers
  - Television/film directors
  - Entrepreneurs
  - Marketing directors
  - Journalists
  - Arts Administrators

Theatre Faculty

All full-time Theatre and Dance faculty are active performers, playwrights, directors and technicians. Their work has been seen around the world.

- Professors Melanie Stewart and Paule Turner have performed and produced at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland and are the Artistic Directors of the nEW Festival in Philadelphia.

- Resident child drama author Joe Robinette's plays have been performed in all 50 states and many foreign countries.

- Professor Liz Hostetter recently published the book The Berlin State Theatre Under the Nazi Regime and has presented extensively across the United States and Europe.

- Professor David Sullivan recently directed the Off-Broadway premiere of The Blowin of Baile Gall by Ronan Noone at New York City's Irish Arts Center.

Achieving Alumni

Rowan Theatre and Dance majors are currently working for a variety of organizations nationwide including:

American Idol
Arden Theatre
Cherry Hill High School
James Madison University
Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival
Montclair State University
Oakcrest High School
Quincy Broadcasting
QVC
Radio City Rockettes
Ritz Theatre
TNT Television Network
United Airlines
University of Windsor, Ontario

Cross-Discipline Training

The arts and entertainment industry is very competitive so it helps to acquire as many skills as you can. We encourage our majors to use all of the resources the university has to offer. Here is an example of what you can do to enhance your education:

- Join an interdisciplinary team of artists (theatre, dance, visual art, music, and film) to create new work for an emerging artists' Incubator series.

- Collaborate with music majors on an original score for your choreography.

- Produce an original film or video with radio/tv/film majors in Cinema Workshop.

- Perform in college-wide arts collaborations, such as 2006's Carmina Burana, with the departments of theatre and dance, music, and visual arts and film.

Dynamic Experience

Rowan's Department of Theatre and Dance showcases new and experimental work that challenges the mind, invigorates the body, and excites the spirit of theatre artists.