The Wichita State Performing Arts Advantage
Why Performing Arts at Wichita State?
At Wichita State, students receive more than exceptional training in the performing arts - they become part of a creative ecosystem that connects artistic excellence, professional experience, innovation, and community engagement. As a comprehensive university located in Kansas’ largest city, Wichita State combines the affordability and personal attention of the Midwest with the opportunities and connections of a thriving metropolitan arts community.
Here, students do more than study the performing arts. They perform, create, teach, lead, collaborate, and gain professional experience while earning their degree. Through close faculty mentorship, paid applied learning opportunities, guest artist residencies, community partnerships, and a powerful alumni network, students develop the skills, confidence, and connections needed to thrive in the performing arts and beyond.
Today's artists rarely work within a single discipline. At Wichita State, Theatre students in acting, dance, design and technical theatre, musical theatre, and theatre collaborate across performance, choreography, design, technology, film, management and other academic areas to develop the versatility required in today's creative industries.
Whether performing, choreographing, directing, stage managing, designing, producing, or developing original work, students learn to think creatively, communicate effectively, and collaborate across disciplines - skills that prepare them for a wide range of professional opportunities.
Wichita State offers the benefits of a major metropolitan university at an affordable Midwest cost. Students gain access to professional opportunities, cultural resources, and artistic experiences without the financial barriers often associated with larger urban arts training and programs.
This combination allows students to focus on their artistic growth while pursuing a high-quality education that delivers both value and opportunity.
At Wichita State, students gain professional experience while earning their degree. Through paid internships, applied learning opportunities, and community partnerships, students connect classroom learning to real-world practice.
Students work with theatres, dance studios, schools, cultural organizations, and arts nonprofits throughout the region. Opportunities may include teaching in local studios, performing in community settings, designing productions, arts administration, technical theatre, choreography, and other community engagement projects.
These experiences help students build résumés, develop professional skills, expand professional networks, and graduate with meaningful career experience already in hand.
Wichita's vibrant arts community serves as an extension of the classroom. Students engage with local theatres, dance studios, schools, cultural organizations, and community partners throughout the region.
Many of these organizations are led by Wichita State alumni, creating a strong professional network that supports mentorship, internships, employment opportunities, and artistic collaboration. Students graduate not only with a degree, but with relationships that help launch their careers.
Wichita State students are mentored by faculty who are active and accomplished artists, scholars, directors, choreographers, designers, performers, and arts leaders. Their ongoing professional work ensures that students engage with current artistic practices, emerging ideas, and industry expectations throughout their education.
Complementing this expertise, guest artists and industry professionals regularly contribute to classes, productions, residencies, and workshops, expanding students' perspectives and professional networks.
Together, faculty mentorship and guest artist engagement provide students with direct access to the knowledge, experience, and connections that help prepare them for success in a rapidly evolving performing arts industry.
Our production model provides extensive opportunities for students to participate in large-scale productions while also creating space for independent artistic exploration and student leadership.
Students can develop original projects, collaborate across disciplines, produce their own work, and take on meaningful leadership roles both on stage and behind the scenes. These opportunities cultivate initiative, entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and creative confidence.
At Wichita State, students are encouraged not only to perform existing works but to create new ones. Through the development of original plays, musicals, choreography, devised works, and interdisciplinary projects, students learn to be creators as well as performers.
Our diverse production and performance portfolio exposes students to a wide range of artistic practices, audiences, genres, and career pathways. From classical and contemporary works to new creations and community-based performances, students gain a deeper understanding of the breadth and complexity of today's performing arts industry.
These experiences develop the versatility, creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to navigate a rapidly evolving profession.
We believe the performing arts have the power to strengthen communities. Through outreach initiatives, partnerships, public performances, and collaborative projects, students learn how the arts can inspire, connect, and serve.
These experiences foster artistic excellence while developing civic engagement, cultural awareness, leadership, and a commitment to creating meaningful impact through the arts.
The Wichita State Difference
The Wichita State Performing Arts Advantage is built on opportunity. Students receive exceptional artistic training while gaining access to paid applied learning experiences, a vibrant arts community, accomplished faculty, guest artists, and an influential alumni network that leads arts organizations throughout the region and nation. Through an expansive portfolio of artistic experiences - including mainstage productions, new works, interdisciplinary collaborations, staged readings, film, audio productions, student-led projects, professional engagements, and community partnerships - students develop the skills, portfolio, adaptability, and professional networks needed to thrive in today's creative economy. Graduates leave Wichita State not only ready to enter the profession but equipped to create the future of the performing arts through innovation, leadership, and meaningful artistic impact.