Theatre at RWU

Roger Williams University Performing Arts Center

Fall 2024

Tiny Beautiful Things: September 20, 21. Debut show featuring new students.

A Midsummer Night's Dream: October 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 19. Main Season.

Stage Company One-Acts: October 25, 26. Stage Company.

Crimes of the Heart: November 15, 16, *17, 21, 22, 23. Main Season.

Read the program for Crimes of the Heart.

Performance Times: *2:00 matinees, 7:30 evenings

Information: 254-3666 

Tickets: rwu.booktix.com

• Main Season: $15 general; $10 seniors; $5 students
• Stage Company/Debut Show/Studio Productions/Senior Projects: $5 general/students/seniors
• Alive! Arts: free admission

RWU Theatre

The RWU Performing Arts team is mindful of those concerned about sensitive subject matter in live performances. If you wish to inquire about possible adult and/or difficult content in a production, please send questions to rwutheatre@gmail.com.

RWU Theatre

The RWU Performing Arts team is mindful of those concerned about sensitive subject matter in live performances. If you wish to inquire about possible adult and/or difficult content in a production, please send questions to rwutheatre@gmail.com.

2024

• August 29: Stage Company Picnic and Auditions (for Debut Show and Main Season)
• December 14: Holiday Party

2025

• March 26: Deadline for 2024-2025 Senior Project Proposals
• April 2: Deadline for 2024-2025 Production Proposals (StageCo. and Senior Projects)
• May 10: Barn Picnic

The Theatre Program was founded by Professor William Grandgeorge in 1969. Before moving into the Performing Arts Center in 1986, performances were held in the Coffee House Theatre (now a classroom in the FCAS building).

The Theatre Program offers four main season productions each academic year (two in the fall and two in the spring).  A usual season features a musical, a classical play, a modern or post-modern play, and a contemporary play. 

The program produces an annual "Debut Show."   This is traditionally the first production of the year and the cast and crew are usually comprised of only new students, or students new to the RWU Theatre. 

In the spring, the program also produces "Senior Projects."  These are fully mounted productions.  A senior acting project is directed by a faculty member.  Senior directing projects are directed by seniors while senior design projects can be either a student or a faculty directed production.

The student organization, Stage Company, also produces once a semester.  The offerings range from full-length plays, to one-act plays, to shorter plays, to a variety of performance types.  All Stage Company productions are supervised by a member of the faculty.

Each academic year the program sponsors trips to see three or four professional productions by companies like Trinity Repertory, The Gamm Theatre, and American Repertory Theatre.  

The Roger Williams University Theatre Program aims to provide each student with a well-rounded, general mastery of all areas of the theatre arts and an appreciation of the place of theatre in our world. Through the study of theatre the program also hopes to imbue students with love of learning while honing their tools of thought and expression. Our goal is to prepare students for further academic study, and careers in theatre and other liberal arts related areas. We seek to serve both those specializing in the study of theatre and those for whom theatre is studied as an adjunct to areas of concentration.

Learn about the Theatre Minor

The formal course curriculum and the production program are designed to work symbiotically. The production program is designed to provide the working laboratory where the ideas and skills taught in the classroom are demonstrated, reinforced and mastered. The plays produced are chosen to afford students opportunities to research and to experience a range of materials in a variety of styles and genres. 

In addition to the goals mentioned, the program’s courses, productions, and activities are intended: 

• To deliver historical and global perspectives on the cultures of the world and the theatre’s place in those cultures. Through its semester abroad in London the program is able to expand and reinforce the multicultural and international nature of theatre. The London Study Abroad Program is integrated into the curriculum and functions as a crucial step in the intellectual development of our students.
• To teach students necessary professional and life skills, such as communication, collaboration, self-discipline, self-discovery, self-reliance, creative problem resolution, and critical thinking all aimed toward a heightened consciousness and appreciation of the human condition. 
• To help students to develop research, analytical, organizational, and communication skills that are fundamental to the theatre as well as to a wide variety of business and creative pursuits. Students are required to take courses that develop all of these skills and are then encouraged to use and apply these skills to production and courses in other studies.
• To expose students to high quality productions and professionals through field trips, our London Study Abroad Program, workshops, and visiting artists.

The Theatre Program, through curriculum, productions, and activities, also strives to challenge and enrich the wider academic and regional communities intellectually, culturally, and artistically by providing a range of theatrical events for all to experience.

The RWU Theatre Program is devoted to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We believe in the transformative power of theatre to reflect the richness of human experience, and we dedicate ourselves to ensuring that our community is reflective of the diverse world in which we live. Our courses, productions, study abroad program in London, and various activities and events echo these values.

We respect and value the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and identities that our students, faculty, and staff bring to our program. We vigorously seek to create a space where all feel welcomed, respected, and represented. Through a commitment to diverse programming, we hope that all voices and practices are heard and seen.

Theatre is collaborative and burgeons from each individual’s contributions. We are dedicated to providing equitable opportunities for all members of our community. Our commitment to equity extends to all facets of our program, from casting and production to leadership and decision-making.

Inclusion is central to what we do. We actively work to create an environment where all feel a sense of belonging, understanding, and empowerment. We foster an open dialogue that encourages the expression of diverse perspectives, challenging assumptions, and broadening horizons. By embracing inclusion, we enrich our collective experience and strengthen the impact of our artistic endeavors.

We strive to make performances accessible for everyone. This includes providing physical access to our spaces, creating productions that are inclusive of diverse abilities, and ensuring that our events are sensory-friendly. We seek advice from our audiences and community to improve accessibility, recognizing that it is an ongoing process.

In addition to our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our program, we dedicate ourselves to educating our community about the broader societal issues related to these principles. We encourage our students, faculty, and staff to be advocates for positive change within our institution and beyond.