At the heart of the department is our commitment to putting learning into practice. We do so through our performance companies:

Through these companies, the department has presented:

  1. Over 150 main season productions under the auspices of Theater-by-the-Grove
  2. Over 30 major dance productions by the IUP Dance Theater Company
  3. Hundreds of student-written, -directed, and -designed one-act and full-length plays, including many experimental and original products, presented under the auspices of the “Acorn Projects”
  4. Children's theater productions presented to the community through the summer company, Footlight Players
  5. Touring productions in both theater and dance to regional schools

Theater-by-the-Grove

A professionally modeled, resident theater producing a main season of plays and musicals for the university and community.

IUP Dance Theater

A professionally modeled, touring company based on a modern style producing dance concerts.

Simulated Patient/Applied Theater Ensemble

SP/ATE is an ensemble that gives our students experience in the emerging field of simulated applied theater. We currently provide simulations for nursing and allied health, food and nutrition, and large-scale trauma and crisis response, as well as community-based improvisational performances developed to address specific social issues.

The Acorn Project

An incubator for production development, usually student-directed, and often short works minimally produced.

Footlight Players

A summer theater-for-youth program directed by theater faculty, IUP alumni, and upper-division majors.