Department of Theatre and Dance

The Department Office is located on the 2nd Floor of the Robinson Hall building, Room 220

Open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday

Dept. Phone: (510) 885-3118

Faculty

Professors Emeriti

Ann Fajilan, M.F.A. University of California, Davis

Marc Jacobs, M.F.A. California State University, Long Beach

Darryl V. Jones, M.F.A. The Boston University School of Theatre Arts

Professors

Nina O. Haft, M.F.A. University of Wisconsin

Eric Kupers, M.F.A. University of California, Davis

Assistant Professor

Richard Olmsted (Chair), M.F.A. Carnegie Mellon University

Mission Statement

Through Inclusiveness and rigorous creative inquiry, the Department of Theatre and Dance provides comprehensive training in theatre and dance emphasizing passion, performance, collaboration, community and issues of social justice.

Theatre and Dance, as performing arts, provide sparks that transform a person into a lifelong student. Across the campus and in diverse communities we offer opportunities for participation both in art-making and in critical examination that help students to discover, accept, and express themselves as active, compassionate persons, and to know and appreciate the work and values of others. To succeed in their creative practices, students study world history as well as theories of art, gender, social justice, inclusion/diversity, and body politics by use of the everyday practices of the liberal arts, including collaboration, research, writing, figuring, reasoning, and experimentation. They learn practical, usable skills. Students experience the problems of making choices while on stage and off. They learn to recognize the connection between art and life, as well as to discover their own capacities to make choices as citizens, as creators of art, as collaborative team members, as “emotional first responders,” and as directors of their lives.

Our department values a diversity of approaches to performance, including: traditional, contemporary, professionally-oriented, experimental, interdisciplinary, inclusive, adaptive, indigenous, DIY, and outsider art. We welcome interested students of all sizes, shapes, abilities/disabilities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, ages, ethnicities, ancestral identities, experience levels, creative forms, and cultures.

About the Department

Use our university website link to learn more about what the Theatre and Dance Department has to offer.

Degree Roadmaps
New Single Subject Teaching Credential Programs for Dance and Theatre
Auditions
Performance Season
Anyone Can Get Involved (open casting)
Alumni
Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble
Creativity Lab
Us in the U.S. Ensemble
Healing the Trauma of Racism Altar Project
Videos
Social Media Links
And more…

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Minors

Courses

Dance

Theatre Arts: Activity

Theatre Arts: Theatre