Recent Posts

Footlight Players Performing "Finding Nemo, Jr." and "As You Wish It"

IUP’s summer youth theatre camp, Footlight Players, will perform the musical "Finding Nemo, Jr." and the play "As You Wish It" in a double bill on July 14 and 15 on the main stage at Theatre-by-the-Grove in IUP’s Performing Arts Center. Performances are open to the public.

Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Presenting Summer Youth Theater Program

IUP’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance will offer its summer youth theater program, Footlight Players, from June 19 to July 15 at IUP. The program explores creativity through workshops and creating plays and musicals, providing four weeks of day-long performing arts programming, primarily serving Indiana County.

Theater-by-the-Grove and Music Theatre Premiere New Musical by IUP Alumnus and Writing Partner

Spring means romance is in the air. IUP’s Theater-by-the-Grove in co-production with Music Theater will present a new musical written by IUP alumnus Joe York (2012) and his writing partner Hali Alspach opening March 29 at 7:30 in Waller Hall’s main theater.

IUP to Present “Nine Days in the Sun,” Exploring Shifting the Racial Balance, Social Order

Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Theater-By-The-Grove will present Mark Clayton Southers’ “Nine Days in the Sun” at IUP. This initiative begins Theater-By-The-Grove’s association with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, where Southers is the founding artistic director. The play explores a world where dark skin is the desired tone, so the racial balance is shifted and the social order in America is turned upside down.

Ordnung, an Amish Ballet Traces Unlived Dreams

IUP Dance Theater, along with devised theater students from the Department of Theater, Dance and Performance, guest artists, and The Mahoning Valley Ballet will premiere this collaborative work on Thursday November 10, 2022, at Waller Main Stage with a free pre-show discussion with Torah Bontrager, founder of The Amish Heritage Association at 5:00 p.m.

“Carousel” Marks Musical Theater’s Return to Fisher

Shouts of delight and surprise were heard as the cast list went up Monday night, marking musical theater’s spectacular return to Fisher Auditorium in the spring semester.

Open Auditions for “Carousel”

Information about upcoming auditions and how to apply for backstage production opportunities in the spring semester musical, "Carousel."

It's All for One at Theater-by-the-Grove

Theater-by-the-Grove presents the premiere production of a new play by Pittsburgh playwright TJ Young. “The Inseparables” is an uproarious and feel-good comedy perfect for an entertaining evening (or matinee). Performances open Wednesday, November 3, and run through Sunday, November 7.

Guest Artist Holder to Offer Self-Producing Workshop

BIPOC arts instigator and early-career producer Amber Holder will speak at an IUP Theatre and Dance Forum on Friday, September 10, 4:40–5:30 p.m. in the Waller Hall main theatre.  A brief talk on creating a performing arts career with radical programming in this "gig economy" will be followed by an interview and questions from attendees.

Open Call: Auditions for “The Inseparables”

Theater-by-the-Grove invites all interested students to audition for the main stage production of a new play by Pittsburgh playwright TJ Young. Audition information is provided.

Pipkin-Hutchinson Receives Gold Medallion Award from KC-ACTF

Associate Professor Nancy Pipkin-Hutchinson in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance was presented with the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion during a virtual ceremony the evening of January 15, 2021.

Students Awarded at Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival

Closing ceremonies of Region 2 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival included awards presented to several IUP students. 

Students Present at Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival

The week before classes resumed for the spring semester, students from the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance actively participated in the Region 2 Kennedy Center–American College Theatre Festival 53.   

IUP Digital Host for Theatre Festival

The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance at IUP assisted as virtual support for Region 2 of the Kennedy Center–American College Theatre Festival, January 11–15, 2021.

Students, Faculty, and Staff Attend Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit

The 23rd Annual Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit was held virtually on January 22–23, sponsored by the Office of Social Equity and Title IX. The Summit used community dialogue to discuss the importance of critically re-evaluating our respective histories, specifically the impact of white supremacy and how it has caused widespread dehumanization and exploitation throughout global and local history.

Desoto-Jackson Appointed to Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission

Rachel DeSoto-Jackson, associate professor of Applied Theatre in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance, has been appointed to the Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission in the Mayor’s Office of Equity as a member of the review committee for RFP20000464 “Community-Based Research on Gender Equity in Pittsburgh.”

Desoto-Jackson Presents Virtually at Smithsonian Latino Center

For the fourth year, Rachel DeSoto-Jackson, associate professor of Applied Theatre, was invited to present a national master class workshop at the Smithsonian Latino Center. While this workshop had been presented in person in previous years, this year’s workshop engaged participants virtually via Zoom.

Anti-racism Virtual Workshop Led by Desoto-Jackson

Rachel DeSoto-Jackson, associate professor of Applied Theatre, was invited to lead a virtual master class workshop at the University of Pittsburgh on November 13, 2020.

Theatre Department Founding Professor and Former Chair Passes

A. Lynn Lockrow, a founding faculty member of IUP’s Theater Department in the 1970s, passed away from COVID-19 in Manteo, North Carolina, on January 3.

Auditions for Theater-by-the-Grove Spring 2021 Productions

Auditions for Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne and the musical Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon will be held via video submission the week of November 9, 2020. All students interested in theater or musical theater are encouraged to audition or participate backstage in these productions that speak to our times.

Theatre Alumna Kate Quinn Named Executive Director of Michener Museum

IUP Theatre Alumus Kate Quinn (2000) began her new position as The Michener Art Museum’s next Executive Director on July 20, 2020. Chosen by the Museum’s distinguished board of trustees, Quinn comes to the Michener from the Penn Museum in

Alumna Adams Receives Del Hughes Award for Excellence in Stage Management

IUP alumna Patreshettarlini “Pat” Adams is one of two national recipients of the Del Hughes award of the Stage Manager’s Association. The Del Hughes award is for lifetime achievement in the art of stage management.

Statement of Solidarity With Black Students, Colleagues, and Citizens

The IUP Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance stands in solidarity with communities in Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Louisville, Tallahassee, and across the nation that are fighting for racial justice.

Theatre, Dance, and Performance Announces Outstanding Student Achievement

The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance announces the awards for outstanding achievement in 2019–20. These students excelled in theater and dance courses, and accomplished noteworthy creative achievements on stage and “behind the scenes.”

New Student Audition Deadline Extended Through Summer

Due to restrictions resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic, we are extending our audition period through the summer. We accept video recorded auditions anytime for Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Dance Arts auditions.  Prospective students must first be accepted to IUP.