{"id":952,"date":"2019-07-17T18:19:03","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:19:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/top-five-theatre-colleges-in-connecticut\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:19:03","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:19:03","slug":"top-five-theatre-colleges-in-connecticut","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/top-five-theatre-colleges-in-connecticut\/","title":{"rendered":"WCSU 2016 – Top 5 Theatre Colleges in CT"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 Western Connecticut State University<\/a> has received recognition as one of the \u201cTop Five Theatre Colleges in Connecticut\u201d<\/a> in a newly released survey published by the online theatre news and review service OnStage<\/a> based in New Haven.<\/p>\n

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The 2016 survey, posted on June 4, ranked the WCSU Department of Theatre Arts<\/a> among Connecticut\u2019s five best college programs on the basis of diverse criteria including comparison of educational cost and value, location, facilities, faculty, curriculum strength and contributions to career development and success. OnStage editors observed that the annual survey aims to provide guidance for high school students interested in pursuing a college degree in theatre by \u201cresearching virtually every theatre program out there to come up with our suggestions for which theatre programs are the best choices.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The OnStage profile of the WCSU program placed special emphasis on students\u2019 experience in productions at the Visual and Performing Arts Center\u2019s<\/a> MainStage Theatre and Studio Theatre, described as performance spaces that offer \u201ctechnology and functionality beyond many Broadway venues.\u201d OnStage also cited the access of theatre students to state-of-the-art rehearsal studios equipped with audio\/visual technology and sprung dance floors, as well as dressing rooms and other specialized facilities incorporated into the design of the VPAC so that \u201cstudents may experience a professional-quality arts education.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Pam McDaniel<\/a>, chair of the WCSU Department of Theatre Arts, said the university\u2019s \u201cTop Five\u201d ranking along with the University of Connecticut, Wesleyan University, the Hartt School and the Yale School of Drama reflects favorably upon the educational quality of Western\u2019s theatre arts curriculum as well as its superior facilities for instruction and performance.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOur goal has been to provide the highest-quality educational experience in theatre at the price of a state school,\u201d McDaniel said. \u201cIn recent years, we have been able to offer programming in theatre arts and musical theatre that takes advantage of our close proximity to New York City. We have been able to engage instructors who are active within the industry and with extensive performance history on Broadway. We look forward to future growth and continued strengthening of our program.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The OnStage selection of WCSU among the state\u2019s elite theatre programs marks the latest in a series of regional and national honors garnered this year by the university\u2019s theatre arts program. Western\u2019s Department of Theatre Arts production of \u201cParade\u201d received five national awards<\/a> this spring at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival<\/a> in Washington, D.C. Western\u2019s presentation of \u201cParade\u201d won top honors for \u201cOutstanding Production of a Musical\u201d and \u201cOutstanding Choreography,\u201d with individual awards earned by WCSU Musical Theatre Coordinator Tim Howard as \u201cBest Director,\u201d Matthew Grasso for \u201cOutstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical,\u201d and Shaylen Harger for \u201cOutstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are all very proud of our new facility and what our Department of Theatre Arts has accomplished,\u201d Interim Dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts Jamie Begian<\/a> remarked. \u201cIt is an honor to be considered as a \u2018Top Five\u2019 program along with the other fine institutions cited in the OnStage list.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The OnStage report of the \u201cTop Five Theatre Colleges in Connecticut\u201d is available at
www.onstageblog.com\/columns\/2016\/6\/4\/the-top-five-theatre-colleges-in-connecticut<\/a>. For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.<\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

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