» School of Fine and Performing Arts
Pursue your passion for theatre at Theatre Northwest! Explore positions in acting, directing, design, stage management, lighting, costuming, makeup, scenery, properties, sound, publicity, house management, and more.
Whether it is your goal to become a professional theatre artist in one of those areas or a theatre teacher, you are in exactly the right place at Theatre Northwest! With more than a dozen productions each year, you will have numerous opportunities to dive headfirst into roles and positions that will provide you with authentic profession-based experiences working with and learning from a talented and experienced theatre faculty. And a special experience at Theatre Northwest is the annual First-Year Showcase, performed entirely by first-year students. This mainstage play provides you with the opportunity to perform in or work in a technical/design position beginning in your very first week as a Bearcat. Productions, classes, guest artists, and internships will prepare you for the job market immediately upon graduating. Think creatively. Think marketability. Think Theatre Northwest!
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
This visit day is for high school students interested in learning more about theatre programs available at Northwest. Take the opportunity to observe classes, meet with faculty and students, tour facilities, and learn about internship and career opportunities. You will also have the opportunity to audition for a scholarship!
Are you ready to apply, schedule a visit or want to know more about Northwest?
Theatre scholarships at Northwest are awarded annually to new, first-year theatre majors, including transfer students, and returning theatre majors and minors.
“I chose the speech and theatre education program at Northwest because of the many exciting theatre opportunities given to me and how my education can be crafted to fit my personal interests. In my first year, I acted in several productions and have already had the opportunity to be associate director of a mainstage production.”
Billie McCoy
Speech/theatre education major
The First-year Student Showcase introduces audiences to Theatre Northwest’s new performing arts majors while orienting the students with the people and practices of the theatre program. The production is performed by an all-first-year student cast with tech by new Bearcats as well
APO is a national honor society for theatre majors. Highlights for this group are an annual touring children’s show that donates proceeds to local charities and sponsorship of the annual year-end theatre awards banquet.
Northwest students have opportunities to create theatre in up to five venues. Venues in the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts include the Mary Linn Auditorium, which seats 1,000; the Studio Theater, which provides flexible seating for up to 150; and the Black Box, which is an intimate space that seats up to 50. In addition, Northwest offers the 500-seat Charles Johnson Theater in the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building and an outdoor amphitheater, Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion.
Each spring, Theatre Northwest students at all levels have the opportunity to select and direct a play to present as part of a series of staged readings. Shows can range from short one-acts to full-length productions.
The School of Fine and Performing Arts coordinates numerous guest artist presentations throughout the year, including choral ensembles, jazz musicians, studio artists, comedians, one-person shows, workshops, and other outstanding shows and networking opportunities. Many guest artists also use Theatre Northwest’s technical theatre group, often in paid positions, for everything from sound and lighting to props to makeup to scenic work.
