Theater
- Degree Type Bachelor of Arts
- Department Theater, Dance and Film Studies
- Academic Division The College
- Offerings Major Minor
Through the study of the practice and history of theater, students develop aesthetic appreciation for art and culture, learn flexible problem-solving methods, acquire diverse communication skills and employ creative collaborative processes.
Theater
The Theater Program is housed within the Department of Theater, Dance and Film Studies at W&L. Students who wish to deepen their understanding or hone their craft can choose to major or minor in theater.
The department produces a number of theatrical events each year, including plays and musicals. Participation in any department production is open to all students at Washington and Lee. Students do not have to be a major or minor to be involved in a show.
Opportunities
Theater productions take place throughout the academic year. Past productions include:
- 2018–19 “The Cherry Orchard”
- 2018–19 “Vana, Sona, Marsha and Spike”
- 2017–18 “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”
- 2017–18 “James and the Giant Peach”
- 2016–17 “Sense and Sensibility”
- 2016–17 “Dracula”
Past productions founded by the Robert O. and Elizabeth M. Bentley Endowment for the Performing Arts include:
- 2018–19 “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”
- 2017–18 “The Addams Family, a New Musical”
- 2016–17: “Theory of Relativity”
- 2015–6: “Legally Blonde”
- 2014–15: “Monty Python’s Spamalot”
The Richard B. Sessoms Fund for Student Experiences helped to support the following opportunities:
- 2018–19 February Break trip to Washington, D.C.
- 2017–18 February Break trip to Chicago, Illinois
- 2016–17 February Break trip to New York, New York
News
The professor of dance and theater will use the award to conduct research in London.
The play runs April 8-11 in Johnson Theatre in the Lenfest Center for the Arts.
The play runs Dec. 2-5 in Johnson Theatre in the Lenfest Center for the Arts.
TJ Fisher ’15 held a five-game winning streak in October 2025, securing a spot in the Tournament of Champions.
Jemma Levy, associate professor of acting and directing at Ƶ, gives us a tour of her office.
Collaboration between the business administration and theatre, dance and film studies departments has created pathways for students to blend creative interests with professional skills.
The visiting assistant professor of theater attended a conference to present a different approach to teaching playwriting.
This fall, Pastore will enter a one-year master’s program at the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England.
DeRosa composed the music for the opera based on the short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Newly promoted faculty members will present their research in a PechaKucha format on Jan. 28.
The production runs from Nov. 19-21 in Johnson Theatre on the W&L campus.
The article “Organic Dance Designs” tells the story of the theatrical work of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin Fellowship.
Meet the Faculty
At W&L, students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors who educate and nurture.
Jenefer M. Davies
Department Head, Theater, Dance and Film Studies; Professor of Dance and Theater
- P: 540-458-8281
- E: daviesj@wlu.edu
Davies teaches courses on contemporary European dance, dance composition, movement for actors and aerial dance techniques. Her research focuses on modern dance composition and the feminine aesthetic.
Owen Collins
Professor of Theater; Music Department Head
- P: 540-458-8003
- E: collinso@wlu.edu
Collins teaches courses on stage craft, special effects, performance design, 3D printing for theater, and scene painting/art. His research focuses on new media and technology in contemporary theater practice.
Shawn Paul Evans
Professor of Theater
- P: 540-458-8014
- E: evanss@wlu.edu
Evans teaches courses on the fundamentals of theater, stage management, digital production, lighting and dance production. He has researched theater technology, including automation and motion control.
Stephanie Sandberg
Associate Professor of Theater/Film
Sandberg teaches courses on screenwriting, documentary filmmaking and an ethnographic study of modern-day slavery in Ghana. Her current research focuses on theater for social justice.