Embedded Files
Retaking The Stage: University of Delaware Reinvigorates Theatre Education And Performance
Retaking The Stage: University of Delaware Reinvigorates Theatre Education And Performance
By Tucker Rose
Throughout the year, aspiring performers at the University of Delaware take the stage on campus. Whether it's a Shakespearean play or a modern performance, the theater arts are a vibrant and essential part of UD's culture, and they are not alone in this tradition. Around 220 universities country wide offer theatre and drama degrees and courses, and the number of students enrolled in these classes has been on a steady uptick. While the arts have continued to thrive for thousands of years, lately, a disquieting trend has surfaced among independent theatres. Audience attendance has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to recover at the pace many anticipated. While independent theatres continue to struggle, the pursuit of an education in this field continues to grow. In just the last few years, attendance at live theater has dropped significantly; only 10.3 percent of American adults saw a musical in 2022, down from 16.5 percent in 2017, according to the National Endowment for the Arts. Organizations like the University of Delaware’s Department of Theatre and Dance may hold the key.
For the last few years, the University of Delaware has held a complex and, at times, uncertain relationship with the theatrical arts. While the university is now home to a continuously growing performance community, its path to establishing a sustainable theatre presence has been marked by periods of instability, funding challenges, and shifting academic priorities, said Steve Tague, the chair of the University of Delaware’s Department of Theatre and Dance. His contributions to the arts on campus go further than the academic program. The University is host to The Resident Ensemble Players (REP) and has been for some years.
It is a professional theatre composed of seasoned actors, many of whom also teach performing arts courses on campus. Originally, that was the idea behind REP: for there to be a master's program in conjunction with an active theatre troupe. “Both the professional theatre and the master's program were expensive, and it was unsustainable to have both at the same time,” said Tague. The master's program was eventually discontinued, and for many years the University of Delaware did not have any undergraduate program in the subject. This was until the Fall of 2024, with the introduction of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre Studies. Now the university offers both a learning outlet and a professional company for the first time since 2012, and with that comes a precedent that opens up new possibilities for reshaping the future of theatre on campus and beyond.
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson
Come One And All!
Come One And All!
Click here you listen to the wide-ranging interview with Steve Tague, chair of the University of Delaware’s Department of Theatre and Dance.
SteveTagueaudio.mp3
Photos By Dan Dunlop, Sanjay Pelinski and A.R. McGinty
With the University of Delaware expanding its theatre offerings, access to quality theatre education is now more available to in-state students. Tague says it is an important step in aiding the revitalization of independent theatre. However, this renewed foundation still presents challenges as members of the facility feel some students search for “an easy A” in the courses they teach. The new undergraduate program makes genuine study in the field more accessible than ever. Reintroducing a program like this to the campus allows those with a real passion for the arts to pursue a degree under the tutelage of REP’s experienced members.
While the program’s primary goal is to advance the study of theatre and the arts, Tague notes that it offers many other valuable takeaways. He said, “In the arts and humanities, you take that skillset, which is communication, community, and collaboration, and it can go anywhere.” Whether a student pursues a career in theatre or not, the skills they gain from these courses are valuable in advancing their social skills.
That is not the only widespread benefit theatre possesses, nor the only goal the REP seeks to achieve. When asked the broader impact theatre can have, Tague said, “It’s easier for people to confront complex issues within the context of something that feels like entertainment.” So many stories put on stage tell narratives that would otherwise go disregarded. The REP, for example, put on shows in the past, such as Passover, which highlights the struggles marginalized communities face in our country today, proving the human element of theatre connects with people far more than any news cast or article can, and that's something the REP fully believes. According to Tauge, “it's important every season to have one issue that's challenging, that's uncomfortable, that's difficult.” This trend will continue into their next season with their production of Every Brilliant Thing, a story centered around mental health struggles.
With issues like the COVID-19 pandemic leaving the arts deeply scarred, it can only begin to heal if it remains accessible and relevant. Institutions like the University of Delaware show that this is not only possible but increasingly achievable. As more students enroll in these types of courses, the hope is that theater strengthens on both sides of the stage and both on campus and in regional theater nationwide. Furthermore, the REP’s continued commitment to engage with audiences about modern world issues proves that there is and always will be a place for Theatre in the cultural zeitgeist.
continue to use the format elements to add to your cover page
Page updated
Report abuse