About the Department of Theatre & Dance

includes over 120 undergraduate majors in Theatre and Dance, 40-45 graduate students in the MFA in Dramatic Art and the PhD in Performance Studies, as well as 5-10 visiting professional artists and teachers each quarter. This mix of college students, mid-career professionals, and seasoned theatre practitioners and scholars provides a dynamic environment for learning, experimentation, and growth, and a diverse, supportive community for all of its members. Through Sideshow Physical Theatre Company the Department is a resident producer in the world-class Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts which houses the most advanced playing space in northern California.

Facilities

Students experience the thrill of working in Jackson Hall, a state-of-the-art 1,800-seat proscenium theatre, and in the adaptable Studio Theatre at Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. Our seven performance spaces also include: Main Theatre, Wyatt Pavilion Theatre, Arena Theatre, Laboratory Theatre A, and the University Club Studio.

Faculty

Emmy Award-winning Professor John Iacovelli designed the set for our fall 2007 production of Noises Off. Our distinguished international Faculty is recognized for both their professional and scholarly contributions to the world of theatre, dance and performance studies.

Visting Faculty

In February 2008 our Main Theatre hosted the world premiere of Fate & Spinoza by Granada Artist-in-Residence and 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist Rinde Eckert. Mr. Eckert is a Visiting Faculty member, one of our three annual Granada Artists-in-Residence who direct students in a variety of traditional productions and new works.