Frequently Asked Questions

We are always happy to give a tour to prospective students and their parents.  We can usually give tours to school groups and community groups too, unless it’s an especially busy time of the year.  Just call the Theatre & Dance office at (270) 745-5845 or contact us at theatreanddance@wku.edu.

If you are a prospective student, we would be glad to arrange a classroom or studio visit.  Just contact us at (270) 745-5845 or contact us at theatreanddance@wku.edu.

Our department maintains a listserv for our students and those interested in our activities.  If you have an announcement for an audition, performance, or job opportunity, you can send it to us.  We will review it and post it to the list if appropriate.  We can sometimes also offer you a space in our building to hold an audition. 

Sorry, but we simply can’t loan or rent costumes to individuals.  At slower times of the year we can sometimes rent costumes to other theatre organizations in the region.  That will depend on the time of year, what is needed and who is interested.  For more information about costume rental to arts organizations, please contact our Costume Shop Supervisor, Lindsey Eastman, at lindsey.eastman@wku.edu.

We simply don’t have the time or manpower to handle rentals.  On rare occasion, we’ve been able to help out other theatre organizations in the community with props, but that will depend on a number of factors.  At busy times of the year we have generally have to say no.  For more information, email our Professor of Theatre Design and Technology, Tom Tutino, at tom.tutino@wku.edu.

Not during the school year, we’re just too busy.  The Lab Theatre (approx. 120 seats) and Russell Miller Theatre (approx. 280 seats) are sometimes available for rental when classes are not in session.  For more information contact our Production Coordinator, at theatreanddance@wku.edu. 

Click here to see WKU-affiliated and Non-profit organizations' rental fees.
Click here to see for profit organizations' rental fees. 

Van Meter Auditorium is managed by the WKU Special Events Office: special.events@wku.edu.       

Not during the school year.  We barely have enough room for ourselves when classes are in session!  For possible summer or winter term use, contact us at (270) 745-5845 or contact us at theatreanddance@wku.edu.

Click here to see WKU-affiliated and Non-profit organizations' rental fees.
Click here to see for profit organizations' rental fees. 

As much as our students do love performing, you also have to realize how busy they are here at WKU.  They are full time college students, many of whom are involved in the approximately 25 shows we produce every year.  Lots of them work part time.  And once in a while they even sleep.  So trying to find the time to put together a show, even a small one, for an outside event is very difficult.  There’s also the need for costumes, sound equipment, props and all the other necessities.  On occasion, we have been able to create shows for WKU events such as the President’s Circle Gala.  But that takes lots of preparation and resources.  Unfortunately, we usually don’t have the time or resources to put together a performance for an upcoming event.  However, if you would like to still like to explore this option, you can contact the Department Head, David Young at david.young@wku.edu.

No, we do not allow any type of photography during our productions.  It’s distracting to your fellow audience members.  Even if you don’t use a flash, the noise and movement is still bothersome, and our first commitment is to our audience.  It also violates copyright and licensing rules. 

After a production we often post photos on our website and on our social media pages:

Twitter - @wkutheatredance

Facebook: Theater & Dance, Dance, Costume Shop

Instagram: @wkutheatredance

If you are a representative of the press, we will gladly make arrangements for you to visit and photograph a rehearsal, or interview students and staff involved in a production.  Just call the Theatre & Dance office at (270) 745-5845 or contact us at theatreanddance@wku.edu.

Any WKU student is welcomed to audition for our shows.  We produce about 20 to 25 shows every year, so auditions are happening all the time.  We have no set policies that give preferential treatment to anyone at our auditions.  Auditions announcements are posted to our listserv: td.students@lists.wku.edu.  Any WKU student may subscribe to this list.  You don't have to be a major.  To join our listserv, send an email to td.students-subscribe@lists.wku.edu. The subject and body of the email can be blank. You will get a message back asking you if you meant to subscribe to this list.  Reply to this message, keeping the subject header intact (click on reply, then send.)  After we have received your request, you should get a message confirming that you are now on the list.

Every audition is open and every director or choreographer can run the audition anyway he or she wishes.  That means sometimes you may be required to do a cold reading from the script, sometimes you might be taught a dance combination and asked to repeat it, sometimes you might be asked to prepare a scene from the script with a partner, sometimes you might need a prepared monologue, song, or bit of choreography, and sometimes you just have to show up and improvise.  The specific requirements for each audition are included in the audition announcement.  In general, if the audition is for a scripted play or film, a copy of the script will be available for perusal in the Greenroom, Gordon Wilson Hall, room 314.  It's always smart to read the script before auditioning.  Auditions announcements are also posted in the Greenroom.  If you have a headshot/resume, bring it to the audition.  If not, you can just fill out an audition form when you arrive. 

Think of show tickets as course materials that you need to purchase in order to adequately complete the course with a passing grade, just like a textbook.  Our theatre and dance productions are financed entirely through ticket sales. The university does not provide funding for any of our production costs.  All costumes, sets, props, lighting and sound, as well as royalties and licensing, are paid for through ticket sales.  We do try to keep the ticket prices as low as possible, and we do offer special discounts for Theatre and Dance Appreciation students.