Theatre Arts Department

Mission Statement

Edgewood College Theatre presents an annual season of productions for the students, the college community and the greater community of Madison. We rotate our offerings to provide a wide range of theatrical experiences, time periods, genres, voices and lenses for both our students and our audiences.

These productions create an educational and artistic environment that nurtures creativity, academic integrity and professionalism. The productions also serve as the context in which classroom and studio work combine with performance as we collaboratively share our vision and ideas with the community, our audiences.

We strive to give students hands on opportunities to learn theatre by doing theatre–both onstage and behind the scenes, to practice green theatre techniques by leaving a light footprint on the earth, to serve the students we have at the highest level while always seeking to enrich the diversity of our talent pool, artists and theatrical offerings, and to uphold the Sinsinawa Dominican values and mission to serve.

Department Policies

Required Production Work

All majors will complete 8 out of 9 crews on an Edgewood College Theatre Production, by accepting an assigned crew and then enrolling for THA 292 for a ½ credit each, to equal 4 credits.  Those areas are: Stage Management, Theatre Management/Box Office, Costumes, Dramaturgy, Hair & Make Up, Props, Sets, Sound, and Lights.

Majors will work each of the following crews:

• THA 292 Stage Manager or Assistant Stage Manager
• THA 292 Theatre Management/Box Office
• THA 292 Dramaturgy
• THA 292 Sound
• THA 292 Lights

Majors will work three of the four following crews:

• THA 292 Costumes
• THA 292 Make Up
• THA 292 Props
• THA 292 Sets

All majors are required to attend:

• All regularly scheduled Theatre Assembly meetings
• All Edgewood College Theatre productions
• All Studios
• At least one audition per academic year (technical and design emphases excepted)

Portfolios and Student Conferences

All majors are required to keep a portfolio of their work, to be discussed during their annual student conference. Requirements for the portfolio are included in the theatre student handbook, available at the department website. Portfolio will be reviewed by department members during their senior student conference. All theatre majors and talent scholarship winners are required to attend an annual student conference with faculty and staff. Minors are encouraged to attend.

Course Rotations

Courses required for the theatre arts majors are regularly offered on a rotating basis, normally within a two-year cycle. Students are urged to consult the Department of Theatre Arts website for information regarding this sequence or their advisor in Theatre Arts, so that requirements may be fulfilled within the normal pattern. All majors are required to maintain at least a 2.75 GPA in their theatre courses.

Theatre Arts Grants and Scholarships

Talent Scholarship for Theatre Arts

The Talent Scholarship for Theatre Arts is for first time freshman and transfer students not necessarily majoring or minoring in theatre. Grants are for $1,000 to $3,000 based on need and are renewable for up to four years based on the recommendation of the Theatre Arts faculty. Recommendation for renewal for the third and fourth year will be limited to majors and minors. For information, contact the Admissions Office or the Producer.

Mary Frances Green Murphy Scholarship

Awarded to a Theatre Arts major who has attained junior standing. The scholarship recipient must have demonstrated all around excellence in several of the following areas: growth in chosen area, breadth of knowledge, a strong academic interest, collaborative working skills, an excellent work ethic, and leadership skills. In addition, the scholarship recipient will demonstrate financial need and exhibit great enthusiasm for and dedication to his/her chosen field. To learn more about the legacy of this scholarship, visit https://give.edgewood.edu/Murphy-Legacy. 

Theatre Arts Outstanding Freshman/Sophomore Scholarship

This award may be offered to a current student or an underclassman entering Edgewood College. The student must show exceptional achievement or potential for exceptional achievement in some or all of the following areas: collaborative work skills, dependability, and work ethic, growth in knowledge, high academic interest and classroom work.

Martie Kaump Award

This is awarded to a student who demonstrates outstanding artistic achievement and student leadership. The criteria for this award includes the following: student is able to work independently, uses research tools in academic work, is able to formulate long-range goals, is reasonably successful in mentoring less experienced students, has completed 70 credits and maintained a grade point average of 3.2 or higher. This award rotates between the Theatre Arts Department and the Communications Department.

First Act Children’s Theatre Scholarship Award

This award is given to a student who has maintained a GPA of 2.75 or higher, and demonstrated both interest and leadership in the areas of Youth Theatre.

The David A. Raagas “Big Kahuna” Memorial Award

The David A. Raagas “Big Kahuna” Memorial Award is to be awarded to students interested in the arts, theatre, film, and/or creative writing. The award is named in memory of David A. Raagas to provide financial support for students who share his love and passion for the arts. The awardee will be determined by the Theatre Arts Department and receive the award at the annual Theatre Arts Department banquet.

The John Brendan Hallinan Primm Theatre Arts Department Honors Award

The John Brendan Hallinan Primm Department Honors Award is given annually to a student who has been active in the theatre program, has done excellent work, and has contributed to the department in meaningful and impactful ways that benefit the entire theatre arts community. This is our department’s highest honor. The award is named in memory of John Brendan Hallinan Primm, a theatre major, student leader and respected member of the Edgewood College theatre arts community. The awardee will be determined by the Theatre Arts Department and receive the award at the annual Theatre Arts Department banquet.