Why Do Theatre?
Since you’re reading this page, we can assume you have some interest in theatre. Maybe you ran a spotlight in your high school musical and would like to do more technical theatre work occasionally just for the fun of it. Or maybe you have already decided to be an actor and you want to perform in every Festival Playhouse main stage play, every student directed Dungeon Theatre play, and every directing class scene in your time at Kalamazoo.
Whatever your interest, talent, and level of experience, there is a place for you in our program. We need you in order to do our productions—as assistant directors, stage managers, scenery builders, and much, much more. Our theatre program is about the artistic growth of our students. And we are very proud of their accomplishments.
And you know what? It doesn’t matter if you intend to be a theatre major or just dabble in it because you enjoy it, you need us! You have probably heard from any number of people that the “theatre is not practical.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The study of theatre is enormously practical—for all who really want to get the best from their liberal arts education. Where else can you learn such things as commitment, time management, getting along with others, working under deadlines? The list goes on and on. These skills are for life—there won’t be a field you enter where you won’t need to learn how to do these things. Theatre can teach them to you well.
And where else can you study literature, art, politics, music, history, and psychology where the result of that research culminates in a performance? Theatre is a crucial part of the liberal arts education.
But I don’t need to convince you of that, and we know that you plan to get involved—by auditioning for a play, working on a crew, joining the college improv group, or taking theatre classes. You’ll be contributing, but also helping yourself as an educated person.
Welcome! We are glad you are here!
Ed Menta
Ph.D., James B. Stone Professor
Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts
Visit our Faculty and Staff page and our Facilities page to learn more about the people and places in the Kalamazoo College Department of Theatre Arts!
Check out our Past Productions to see what kind of theatre you can be a part of at K!
Visit the Zoo—Why We Create: Fine Arts at K, Jan. 27, 2023
Kalamazoo College’s Office of Admissions provides events for admitted prospective students to feel out the atmosphere. During this “Visit the Zoo” experience, we focus on fine arts at K: opportunities in and outside the classroom.
During your visit, you will be able to…
- Attend classes in the Art, Music, Theatre Arts, and English departments.
- Go on tours of not only the campus, but of the Light Fine Arts Building to see theatres, practice rooms, studios, and much more.
- Attend workshops by student organizations such as Monkapult Improv, A Capella, Cirque Du K and much more!
- Talk with current students about their individual K-Plans!
More information on how to sign up for the event is available through the Office of Admission:
Sarah Matyczyn, Guest Experience Coordinator. Sarah.Matyczyn@kzoo.edu, 269-337-7169.