Wausau, Stevens Point, Marshfield
Spoon River Anthology
A Staged Reading
Directed by Jim O’Connell
Spoon River Anthology, by Edgar Lee Masters, is a collection of short free verse poems that collectively narrates the epitaphs of the residents of the fictional Spoon River, Illinois. They are spoken from beyond the grave by former residents of the dreary, confining small town.
Studio Theatre
The Moors
Directed by Laurie Schmeling and Sarah E. Ross
Two sisters and a dog live out their lives on the bleak English moors, dreaming of love and power. The arrival of a hapless governess and a moor-hen set
all three on a strange and dangerous path. The Moors is a dark comedy about love, desperation, and visibility.
Jenkins Theatre
She Loves Me
Directed by Mark Hanson
In this scented case of mistaken identity and letter writing, two feuding perfume clerks have no idea that they are in love. Set in a 1930s European perfumery, we meet shop clerks, Amalia and Georg, who, more often than not, don’t see eye to eye. After both respond to a “lonely hearts advertisement” in the newspaper, they now live for the love letters that they exchange, but the identity of their admirers remains unknown. Join Amalia and Georg to discover the identity of their true loves… and all the twists and turns along the way!
Jenkins Theatre
Afterimages 2023
Afterimages is an exciting and unique experience in the Department of Theatre and Dance. It features original choreography by dance majors and minors who are eager to experiment with their artistry and uses dance to explore their relationship to the world around them. This shared artistic experience focuses on student involvement and allows for collaboration and contribution from all aspects of our department. The choreographers, dancers, designers, and technicians are all UWSP Theatre and Dance students!
Wausau, Stevens Point, Marshfield
Eurydice
A Staged Reading
Directed by Greg Pragel
“Eurydice” reimagines the classic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice not through Orpheus’s infamous pilgrimage to retrieve his bridge, but through the eyes of its heroine. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. With contemporary characters, plot twists, and a script written to be a playground for designers, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story.
Studio Theatre
Kodachrome
Directed by Tyler Marchant
Welcome to Colchester, a small town where everybody knows each other and the pace of life allows the pursuit of love to take up as much space as it needs. Our tour guide is Suzanne, the town photographer, who lets us peek into her neighbors’ lives to catch glimpses of romance in all its stages of development. A play about love, nostalgia, the seasons and how we learn to say goodbye.
Jenkins Theatre
Bright Star
Inspired by a true story, BRIGHT STAR tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tightly in its grasp, BRIGHT STAR is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.
Studio Theatre
Danstage 2024
An exciting evening of new works created by UWSP Dance Program faculty Michael Estanich, Jeannie Hill, Sarah Olson, and a nationally recognized guest artist that displays the remarkable versatility of the UWSP Dance Program. The concert demonstrates the vast range that dance encompasses– in style, intention, feeling, and purpose. The dances created are rich investigations of the questions that we ponder in life and each one reveals, through the moving body, something special and unique.
YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN FIRST NIGHTERS!
Traditionally, opening nights of theatre and dance performances include celebrating with friends and family. Following this tradition, we invite you to join our First Nighters series. This is a great way to see terrific theatre and dance, get to know our students, met new friends and enjoy a delicious meal before the show! We look forward to welcoming you to our remarkable 2023-2024 production season!
Our First Nighters Season offers theatergoers dinner and a performance on the opening Friday evenings for five of the productions. Meals are served in the Noel Fine Arts Center courtyard by Dining and Summer Conferences. You can choose either the Full First Nighters Package or purchase Individual Event Tickets – whatever suits your schedule and tastes! Your best value is the Full First Nighters Package of five productions. It is a great price for dinner and a show!
Michael Estanich, Chair
Department of Theatre and Dance
5:15 p.m. Cash Bar Refreshments
NFAC Courtyard
6 p.m. Director’s Remarks and Dinner
NFAC Courtyard
7:30 p.m. Performance
Jenkins Theatre or Studio Theatre
Consider Supporting Our Students
Each year we rely on patrons’ support to create exceptional productions, support Senior Showcase, student research, conference attendance, and endowments for student scholarships. Thank you to participating businesses for their willingness to match employee contributions. If your employer has a matching gift program, please include the matching gift form with your reply.
To make a contribution to support students, select a link below.
Or contact Jennifer Tubbs, COFAC Major Gifts Officer for Advancement, at jtubbs@uwsp.edu, 715-346-3056.
Learn About Our Programs
Students performing in our productions are working towards one or more of these degrees.