General Information

Auditions:

Auditions are open to all UWL Students (See audition Policies). 

Casting Policy
Casting decisions are made primarily by the production director and by the Department of Theatre Arts chair when necessary.  The department supports the principle of non-traditional casting.  Non-traditional casting is the use of ethnic minority actors, (African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, etc.), female actors, and physically challenged actors in roles where race, ethnicity, gender and/or physical capabilities are not absolutely essential to the character’s development.

Audition Policy

• Any UWL student enrolled with at least 3 credits are eligible to audition for Department of Theatre Arts productions.
• The nature of auditioning is competitive and the faculty perseveres to cast from the efforts of a specific audition and not past histories, accomplishments, or previous roles.
• Majors are ineligible to audition with a G.P.A. below 2.0.
• All students cast in a production must maintain University eligibility requirements.
• All Theatre Arts majors are required to audition.  See the THA260/THA360 guidelines for specific requirements.
• UWL faculty members may be cast if the qualities
• demonstrated are deemed necessary for a production.
• Members of the La Crosse community may audition with prior approval of the Department of Theatre Arts.
• In productions requiring children, the director will establish procedures with the department chair for auditioning child actors.
• In the rare instance when a role cannot be cast through the audition process, the department will determine procedure for filling the role.

Monitoring Student Progress

• Assessment of student progress is an important part of the Theatre Arts program.  A file is maintained on each student where written evaluations, self evaluations, 260/360 records, casting and design assignments will be kept.  Records of all departmental & extracurricular activities will be kept here as well.
• All majors and minors attend both Majors/Minors Meetings each semester where department philosophies and requirements are discussed.
• Each student is required to take Acting I and Theatrical Production courses where the basic tenants of our program are laid out.
• At the end of each year students are required to attend an evaluation session with the Theatre Arts faculty.
• At the end of the freshman and junior years a self evaluation is required from each major in the program.
• Written evaluations from the faculty advisor for each THA 260/360 assignment each semester.
• Finally each student is required to complete a senior project culminating in a completed project and a senior thesis detailing the project and process.

Toland Theatre Season Selection Process
The department seeks to create performance seasons of high educational and artistic value representing a broad range of forms and styles which will maximize the artistic and critical
development of our students.  Beyond this overriding goal, the department strives to present plays which will contribute to the social and cultural life of the University and the La Crosse
community.

In November of every year, requests for submissions for the coming season of plays are solicited from faculty and students.
In January, the Play Selection Committee compiles a list of prospective plays.  These plays are read and evaluated by members of the committee based on the following criteria:

• Student Performance/Production Opportunities
• Artistic/Educational Quality
• Male/Female Casting Ratios
• Production Requirements
• Production Requirements
• Potential Interest in the University and the Community

The Department of Theatre Arts is committed to developing seasons that reflect the multi-cultural focus of the world around us by presenting works from from authors of different historical periods, styles, nations, ethnicity's, and genders.

For further information, Contact
Dr. Beth Cherne                                                                                       Admissions Office
Chair of The Department of Theatre Arts,                                                115 Main Hall
153 Center for the Arts                                                                            UW-La Crosse
UW-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601                                                    La Crosse, WI 54601
(608)785-8521                                                                                        (608) 785-8067
FAX: (608) 785-6719
E-mail cherne.beth@mail.uwlax.edu
 
November 14, 2007