» School of Fine and Performing Arts
Pursue your passion for theatre in our community, which includes performers, designers, directors, stage managers, and creators. Learn from experience and faculty who are working professionals active in their fields.
Theatre Northwest is like a family business and a home to students who are perfecting their craft with each performance as well as in the classroom and labs. Theatre majors successfully find work as professional actors, directors, and designers. Students jump into productions during their first year to accelerate their profession-based learning experiences. First-year students have the opportunity to participate in a mainstage play during their second week of classes.
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
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.
