University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year beginning September 1, 2025. 

UW-La Crosse offers an invigorating and fresh approach to undergraduate theatrical and dance training. Our degree programs allow a wide range of opportunities while creating a focused and individual area of study for each student. We strive to balance vigorous classroom learning with practical production experience allowing for a well-rounded college experience with an emphasis on the collaborative and creative process. The theatre and dance curriculum allows concentrations in six distinct areas of study: multidisciplinary theatre, design/ technical, performance, musical theatre, stage management, and arts administration as well as a dance minor. Students at UW-La Crosse can choose to major in one theatre emphasis area while minoring in another thus enhancing their educational opportunities and professional marketability.

One-on-one contact with our teaching faculty is emphasized and students are guaranteed a degree of personal attention rarely available in programs that accept higher numbers of students. In addition to its full-time faculty, the department frequently brings guest artists to campus from professional and educational theatre. The atmosphere within the Department of Theatre and Dance is supportive, positive, collaborative, and artistically stimulating. Students are involved in theatre productions each year as backstage crew, technicians, designers, stage managers, performers, and front of house staff.

The performance stage is the natural extension of the classroom experience. Students receive a tremendous amount of hands-on experience through classroom projects and realized productions. The UW-La Crosse Department of Theatre and Dance produces 6-7 performances each academic year allowing students to demonstrate, refine and expand the skills they've learned in the classroom. Additional production work is available through classroom projects, senior recitals and designs, undergraduate research grant-funded productions, and other student laboratory productions.

If you are interested in only minoring in theatre or minoring in dance, please complete the Free Interest Form.  Minors are not required to go through the Acceptd interview/application process.  By completing the Free Interest Form, we will be able to send you information about our minors, course requirements, etc. 

Acceptance to UW-La Crosse is highly competitive, so we encourage all prospective students to apply early.

1. Submit your University application for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at University of Wisconsin Online Application.

1. Submit your UWL Department of Theatre and Dance application and schedule your audition/interview on Acceptd.
   1. Applicants who may require assistance with the Acceptd application fee can contact Acceptd directly for potential application fee scholarship.
   2. Interviews with the UWL Department of Theatre and Dance is required and can be done either in person or via Zoom (see dates below).
   3. All interested theatre students must schedule an interview upon completing their Acceptd application.  Interview dates listed below.  (Once you submit your Acceptd application, you will be prompted to select an interview date and time.)

Audition/Interview Dates:

Friday, October 17, 2025 (in person)*
Friday, November 7, 2025 (in person)*
Friday, November 14, 2025 (Zoom)
Friday, December 5, 2025 (in person)*
Friday, January 30, 2026 (Zoom)
Friday, February 20, 2026 (Zoom)
Friday, April 3, 2026 (in person OR Zoom)
Friday, April 24, 2026 (in person)*

Musical Theatre Interviews
Saturday, March 7, 2026 (in person)*
Friday, March 13, 2026 (in person)

In person interview days may include a tour of the theatres/facilities, meeting theatre and dance faculty, having lunch with current students, sitting in on a theatre/dance class, and seeing a performance/rehearsal...depending on your availability. If you are interesting in staying to see an evening performance, please let Nic Barilar (nbarilar@uwlax.edu) know once you have scheduled your interview.  In person interview dates with an available evening theatre performance are indicated with an asterisk (*) above.  You can check out our performance schedule at www.uwlax.edu/theatre-and-dance/performances--box-office/season-listing/

Thank you so much for your interest in Theatre and Dance at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  We are excited to have you join our community of theatre artists.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Nic Barilar (nbarilar@uwlax.edu) or Krista Shulka (kshulka@uwlax.edu).

For technical questions, please visit the Acceptd Help Desk.