Overview
Areas of Emphasis: General, Acting, Musical Theater, Dance
Are you interested in pursuing a career in theater and dance? Have you found your passion and are ready to pursue it? Sheridan College’s Theater and Dance Program is ready to welcome you. The program can be tailored to suit each student’s interest in dance, performance, technical theater, or musical theater.
Students are given regular opportunities to collaborate with industry professionals. Our faculty brings a wealth of experience from across America and Europe. They specialize in contemporary performance practice, but most importantly, our faculty believes in taking care of the whole student and supporting them as they grow on their educational journey.
Why Sheridan College?
- Unlike any other program in the state, the theater and dance program at Sheridan College is based in a working downtown theater in the center of Sheridan. Our students have access to industry professionals and shows on a regular basis.
- Work with faculty who have real industry experience.
- Our students work with other industry professionals throughout the year, recent visitors include Alex Webb (playwright), Thayne Jasperson (Hamilton), Nancy Bannon (playwright and film maker), The Acting Company, Dance Iquail, Liz Dibble (BYU Dance Faculty), Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, and Ririe-Woodbury Dance.
World-Class Facilities
Sheridan College partners with the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center to provide real-world performance experiences for students. The WYO includes a restored vaudeville mainstage, a black box studio, and a fully equipped dance studio. Students also perform in Kinnison Hall in the Whitney Center for the Arts on campus, as well as a full theater workshop located at the Broadway Center in downtown that includes a costume and sewing room.
The historic vaudeville main stage at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center in downtown Sheridan. 
Kinnison Hall at the Whitney Center for the Arts at Sheridan College during the Broadway Musical Theater Intensive 
The dance studio located at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center in downtown Sheridan. 
Dance warm ups in Kinnison Hall 
Theater student performing in the Black Box theater at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center in downtown Sheridan. 
Theater students performing on the main stage at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center in downtown Sheridan.
Program Offerings
Theater: General or Acting
Our Theater students are mentored in positions of responsibility in all of Sheridan College’s productions. Students have the opportunity to shape these productions in a meaningful way, serving as actors, actresses, stage managers, designers, scene shop foremen, costume shop assistants, assistant directors, and in other vital production roles.
Theater: Musical
As a theater student specializing in musical theater, you will develop independent, creative, and responsive skills to become a bold performer. At Sheridan College, you will gain knowledge of musical theater, dramatic literature, theater history, and technical theatre production. Our program provides you with extensive training in acting processes, vocal technique, and dance technique in the styles of ballet, modern, jazz, and tap.
Dance
Our Dance students will have the opportunity to work with professional dance companies, directors, and choreographers each semester with our unique program. Students will dive deep into the understanding of movement through daily technique work, but they will also be given many performing and choreographic opportunities each semester as they are mentored through the study of their craft.
Broadway Musical Theater Intensive
Sheridan College offers a two-week Broadway Musical Theater Intensive each summer. Students have the chance to train and work alongside Broadway professionals, college faculty, and local artists. Students take masterclasses and perform alongside professionals. They train in auditioning for Broadway. Our students in the 2023 Intensive worked with Thane Jasperson (Hamilton), Eric Kunze (Damn Yankees, Miss Saigon), Sarah Uriarte Berry (Beauty and the Beast, End of the Rainbow), and Pam Phillips (Side by Side, A Chorus Line). There is the option to take this Intensive for Musical Workshop Credit. Fees and tuition apply.
Curriculum
The Theater & Dance Program is designed to prepare students for transfer to a baccalaureate program and for work in the areas of entertainment, education, art direction, design, industry, and commerce. The program provides an opportunity for students to practice their craft.
Careers
Theater & Dance graduates with specialized skills and broad liberal arts knowledge land jobs in numerous fields across the U.S. Many students graduate from Sheridan College and transfer to universities to continue their theater or dance education, while others earn internships or dance company positions and other entry-level positions in the theater, television, and film industries. Some students apply their skills to succeed in other disciplines such as business, politics, law, education, and many other job markets.
Performance
Students who study areas of performance (dance, acting, music theater, choreography, directing, etc.) use their artistic, professional, and personal skills to work in the arts. To be a successful artist in the 21st century, it’s important to develop yourself as a “whole artist”, integrating interests, knowledge, and perspective from within the field as well as from other disciplines. Performance careers include:
- Actor: Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional, Cruise Ships, Tours
- Acting Coach
- Dancer (Company, Commercial)
- Director
- Choreographer
- Movement Coach
- Voice and Speech Coach
- Dialect Coach
- Fight Director/Choreographer
- Teaching Artist
- Voiceover Artist
- Dramaturg: Stage and Media (i.e., film, video games, theme park entertainment)
- Playwright
Business
Students of theatre and dance often find careers focused on building and shaping the future of the arts and entertainment industries. Utilizing the skills and knowledge from a degree in Theatre, Dance, or Music Theatre, students pursue careers in:
- Arts Administration
- Artistic Director
- Agent: Theatrical, Film and Television
- Booking Agent
- Box Office Manager
- Accounting
- Business Manager
- Company Manager
- Development Associate/Director
- Digital Content Producer
- Publicity/Marketing
- Entertainment Law/Attorney
- Events Coordinator
- Production Manager
- Producer
- Studio Owner (Dance)
- Casting Director
- Entertainment Journalist
- Executive Director, Arts and Cultural Organizations
- Literary Agent
- Literary Manager
- Managing Director
- Marketing Director
- Outreach Coordinator
- Theatre Critic
- Press Agent
Design/Production
Design and Production students are interested in the creative act of design and execution for live performance and employ a wide range of skills and interests to combine art and technology to explore and advance how artistry is experienced. Students find career opportunities in a wide range of positions in the field of theatre, dance, digital media, production, and beyond, including:
- Artist-in-Residence
- Carpenter
- College Professor/Academia
- Company Manager
- Costume Designer
- Director: Stage, Film, Media Entertainment
- Draper
- Electrician
- Lighting Designer
- Makeup Artist/Designer
- Projection Designer
- Property Designer
- Set Designer
- Sound Designer
- Scenic Artist
- Special Effects Technician
- Stage Manager
- Technical Director
- Theatre Teacher
Education
Theatre and Dance students often, directly or indirectly, apply their creativity, critical thinking skills, and expertise to educational opportunities, both in traditional classrooms and beyond. Many students will become certified educators in K-12 and collegiate environments, and others will find ways to share their artistic passion through various teaching and educational experiences. Educational careers include:
- Artist-in-Residence
- College Professor/Academia
- Community Outreach Programming
- Dance historian/writer
- Dance notator
- Dance teacher
- Dialect Coach
- Dramaturg
- Human Services Agencies
- K-12 Teacher (Dance, Theatre, beyond)
- Literary Manager
- Recreation Programs
- Voice/Speech Coach
Health/Wellness
Exploring the performing arts includes an exploration into human nature, the physical, mental, and emotional. Work related to this may be include working with people with illnesses, older adults, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and trauma survivors, as well as the exploration of mind-body practices through research and practice. Students who study theatre and dance find they can utilize their skills and passion for the arts to help improve the lives of others through such careers as:
- Artist-in-Residence
- Care Coordinator
- Chiropractor
- Dance therapist
- Drama Therapist
- Human Services Worker
- Occupational Therapist
- Physician
- Physical Therapist
- Pilates Instructor
- Psychologist/Psychiatrist
- Sports Trainer
- Yoga Instructor
Scholarships
We have additional scholarship opportunities available for Theater & Dance students to further offset college costs. Click on the accordion below for more detailed information.
Theater & Dance Scholarships
Scholarship Award Options
- Theater or Dance Major: Full tuition Scholarships available up to $6,000 per school year
- Theater and Dance Part-time scholarship (take a minimum five credits per year in the department): $500-$2,000 per school year
Audition Instructions: To book auditions, the student can contact us individually, or an instructor can book a grroup of students.
Theater: Acting or Musical Theater
To book an audition slot for Theater, you must email Lauren Graffin Estrada at
lgraffin@sheridan.edu. Students should prepare a 3-minute monologue for performance, if the student is interested in specializing in Musical Theater, they can also prepare a short song (16 bars). There is an option to complete a Zoom audition or to send a recording of your monologue and song. Please contact Lauren for more details.
Theater: General
The student should bring a portfolio and/or resume discussing their experience in technical theater or other areas of interest. During the audition, instructors will ask the students questions about their work, their previous designs, and goals for the future. The student is welcome to talk through their resume and/or portfolio.
Dance
To bookan audition slot for Dance you will need to email Stephanie Koltiska at:
skoltiska@sheridan.edu. You can perform in-person or send a recording of a one-minute solo dance performance; any genre of dance is accepted. Please also include a short Plie and Tendu combination at the end of your recording. If the audition is done in-person a Plié and Tendu will be taught to you.
Financial Aid
Let us help you navigate the numerous financial aid opportunities available.
Faculty
Our faculty at Sheridan College are passionate theater and dance professionals who enjoy teaching. With their extensive and successful professional backgrounds, Sheridan College theater and dance faculty know how to train students for the practical realities of the entertainment industry. Our faculty members also have vast networks of professional contacts, which can help students land meaningful theater or dance jobs and opportunities after graduation.
Community
As a student at Sheridan College, you will have access to incredible faculty, facilities, and resources. Sheridan College partners with the WYO Theater, the Mars Black Box, the Carriage House Theater, the Sheridan Civic Theater Guild, and more to provide you excellent, practical learning opportunities. The Sheridan College Theater Club also provides you with the opportunity to develop student-led productions, visit transfer schools, and attend professional productions.
Events
-
Oct 03A Tribute to Yazoo, by SC Music Tech & Dance
- 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Kinnison Hall @ the Whitney Center for the Arts
- Tickets are free.
-
Oct 04
A Tribute to Yazoo, by SC Music Tech & Dance
- 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Kinnison Hall @ the Whitney Center for the Arts
- Tickets are free.
-
Nov 07SALT Contemporary Dance Company
- 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Kinnison Hall @ the Whitney Center for the Arts
- 10 – 30
-
Nov 21Sheridan College Theater Production
- 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- WYO Theater
- TBD
-
Nov 22
Sheridan College Theater Production
- 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- WYO Theater
- TBD
Related Programs
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