University of Montana School of Theatre and Dance
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| University of Montana School of Theatre and Dance | |
|---|---|
| Name | School of Theatre and Dance |
| Parent | University of Montana |
| Established | 1946 |
| Type | Public university department |
| Location | Missoula, Montana, United States |
University of Montana School of Theatre and Dance is an academic unit within the University of Montana located in Missoula, Montana. The school offers undergraduate and graduate training in theatre and dance with production-focused curricula, scholarship, and community partnership. Its programs intersect with regional arts organizations, touring companies, and national associations to provide professional pathways for students.
History
The program traces its origins to post‑World War II curricular expansion at the University of Montana alongside national growth in American Theatre. Early faculty recruitment mirrored trends seen at institutions such as Yale School of Drama, Juilliard School, and Carnegie Mellon University. During the late 20th century the school developed curriculum and repertory practices influenced by practitioners associated with Moscow Art Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, and The Group Theatre. Institutional milestones included accreditation alignments with the National Association of Schools of Theatre and collaborations with regional entities like the Missoula Cultural Council and touring festivals such as the Spoleto Festival USA.
Academic Programs
The school offers Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees structured around conservatory models similar to Northwestern University, University of California, Los Angeles, and Boston Conservatory. Curricula include training in acting methods connected to Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, and Uta Hagen traditions, movement techniques influenced by Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and Twyla Tharp, and design pedagogy reflecting practices at Rhode Island School of Design and Pratt Institute. Production courses emphasize stagecraft aligned with standards from the United States Institute for Theatre Technology and career preparation through internship partnerships with companies such as American Conservatory Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Arena Stage.
Facilities and Performance Spaces
Performances are staged in multiple campus venues including a proscenium theatre, a black box space, and dedicated dance studios outfitted for repertory and touring work. Technical training occurs in workshop spaces with equipment standards comparable to those at Stratford Festival, Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center. The facilities support collaborations with visiting artists from institutions like New York University, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley, and accommodate touring productions by companies such as Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil.
Productions and Festivals
Season programming mixes classical repertoire from playwrights such as William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov, and Henrik Ibsen with contemporary work by writers like Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, and August Wilson. The school hosts festivals and guest residencies that mirror formats used by Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Avignon Festival, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival, attracting directors and choreographers from organizations including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project, and San Francisco Ballet. Student productions often tour regionally to venues associated with Montana Repertory Theatre, Billings Studio Theatre, and Helena Civic Center.
Faculty and Notable Alumni
Faculty appointments have included staging artists and scholars with affiliations to Lincoln Center Theater, Guthrie Theater, Royal Court Theatre, and Goodman Theatre. Visiting teachers have come from programs such as Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Cleveland Institute of Music. Alumni have pursued professional careers with credits at institutions and companies like Seattle Repertory Theatre, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Radio City Music Hall, and dance companies including Paul Taylor Dance Company and Boston Ballet.
Community Engagement and Outreach
The school maintains partnerships with local and regional organizations such as the Missoula County Public Schools, Missoula Children's Theatre, and the Montana Arts Council to provide education outreach, summer intensives, and touring youth programs. Collaborative initiatives mirror outreach models used by Shakespeare & Company, American Players Theatre, and Kennedy Center Education to expand access to performance training and theatre literacy. Workshops and symposiums invite practitioners from New Dramatists, Playwrights Horizons, and The Public Theater.
Awards and Recognition
Students and faculty have received competitive honors and fellowships comparable to awards from Princess Grace Foundation–USA, Fulbright Program, National Endowment for the Arts, and adjudications at regional festivals such as YoungArts and the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Institutional acclaim includes production citations and design awards paralleling recognition from Dramalogue, Obie Awards, and Outer Critics Circle Awards.