Division of Performing Arts

Exceedingly Creative, Passionate and Driven 

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.

Students perform a musical at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center

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.

Learn More about the Pre-Professional Theatre Training Program

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!

Best wishes,

Jon Liebetrau
Director of Theatre Program