At Wilkes University, we teach theatre artists who are exceedingly creative, passionate
and driven human beings. We offer comprehensive Musical Theatre, Theatre Arts and
Theatre Design and Technology training.
Performances at Wilkes
Wilkes is frequently the stage for a variety of student-led performances, plays, musicals
and more.
It’s nice because it’s small. You’re not a number. Your professors know you.
Brianna Rowland ’21 | Musical Theatre
4
mainstage productions each year, including two musicals.
6
black box productions annually.
478
seats in the Darling Theatre of the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing
Arts.
Pre-Professional Theatre Training Program
A letter from Program Director Jon Liebetrau
"Theatre artists are inspiring people. At Wilkes University, we teach theatre artists
who are exceedingly creative, passionate and driven human beings. We teach theatre
artists who are excited to work as a team, who create to their highest ability, who
take feedback confidently and graciously, and who grow with poise and polish every
day. Our students are inspiring theatre artists.
The theatre program at Wilkes is a preprofessional theatre training program with an
added liberal arts emphasis. We are committed to our small class sizes, individual
support for each student and the mission of our program to create an accomplished
preprofessional theatre artist. Additionally, we are known for the excellence of our
productions, and of our theatre students, as evidenced through accolades and awards
from the American College Theatre Festival sponsored by the Kennedy Center.
A student accepted into the Wilkes theatre program has the opportunity to focus on
one of three majors: Musical Theatre (BFA), Theatre Design & Technology (BA), or Theatre
Arts (BA). Students majoring in Theatre Arts may also pursue concentrations in acting/directing,
design/tech or dance. Our program produces four main stage productions each year,
two musicals and two non-musicals, plus multiple black box senior capstone productions.
Our main stage proscenium theater space, the Darling Theater, can seat 478 people,
enjoys state of the art computer lighting and sound systems, and boasts a 36-line
set and a hydraulic stage elevator/orchestra pit.
Our faculty is devoted to educating the finest, the most creative and the most driven
theatre artists and human beings. Please join us for an exhilarating four years of
exceptional training. We would love the opportunity to inspire you as part of the
Wilkes University Theatre program!
