Theatre Department | Nebraska Wesleyan University

NWU Theatre opens its 2024 performance season

NWU students rehearsing Romeo and Juliet in preparation for the spring 2024 performance set.

Published

January 25, 2024

Nebraska Wesleyan University theatre students are ushering in the 2024 season with a pair of show-stopping performances.

Alumni and Friends

Theatre Department

NWU alumna’s unified theatre program grabs national attention

Students from Millard West High School in Nebraska, with NWU alumna, Brooke Phillips, in New York City.

Published

December 4, 2023

A Nebraska Wesleyan University alumna is helping high school students break barriers and unleash their creative capabilities through unified theater performances.

Theatre Department

Music Department

Elf the Musical

NWU Theatre bucks national trend of declining audience attendance with sold-out shows

Published

November 16, 2023

The Nebraska Wesleyan University Theatre has sold out all performances of Elf the Musical marking the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that it’s reached the milestone.

Theatre Department

Act II theater renovations take center stage

Published

October 31, 2022

Last week, Nebraska Wesleyan launched “Act II” of the theater building renovation project.

Modern Languages Department

Theatre Department

NWU senior receives Gilman Scholarship for Argentina study abroad

Published

November 9, 2021

The study abroad experience looks a little different for NWU senior Sierra Smith. Smith, a recent recipient of the Gilman Scholarship, is spending her semester taking classes virtually through the University of Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Theatre Department

Students Team with NYC Composers for New NWU Theatre Production, "Fresh Voices"

Published

October 20, 2020

The bright lights of New York City — darkened by the pandemic — will be felt on Nebraska Wesleyan University’s O’Donnell Auditorium stage when the Theatre Department opens its first musical cabaret, “Fresh Voices.”

Theatre Department

NWU Grad Didn't Let Obstacles Stand in Way of Degree

Published

August 6, 2020

Connor Standridge vividly remembers that winter day when he first toured Nebraska Wesleyan University.

The temperature was mild to most Midwesterners but rather chilly for the Houston, Texas native.

Weather aside, Standridge recognized immediately that NWU was where he wanted to pursue his theatre degree.

Theatre Department

Playwriting Class Helps Children Make Sense of Pandemic

Published

May 15, 2020

Like other NWU professors, Rebecca Boesen found herself in unfamiliar territory when she was asked to pivot mid-semester into a distance-learning model.

Boesen approached the new challenge first with caution and concern for students enrolled in her Playwriting II course.

Theatre Department

Theatre Professor Named Faculty Mentor of the Year

Published

November 19, 2019

A Nebraska Wesleyan University theatre professor has been recognized for his work in mentoring his peers.

Theatre Department

OnStage Blog Ranks NWU Theatre Among Nation’s Best

Published

November 13, 2019

OnStage Blog, a popular theatre website known for ranking college-level theatre programs nationwide, has recognized two of Nebraska Wesleyan University’s theatre programs among the best in the country.

Theatre Department

NWU Receives $1 Million for Theatre Renovation Project

Sunderland Foundation Grant-McDonald Theatre

Published

October 29, 2019

A $1 million grant has raised the curtain on Nebraska Wesleyan University’s next facility renovation project.

Theatre Department

Musical Theatre Major Balances “Newsies” With National Performance Opportunity

Senior Noah Tierney; Mathew Puckett, composer and writer of "Rebel Genius"

Published

September 27, 2019

It’s a balancing act.

Theatre Department

With Deafness a Central Issue of the Play “Tribes,” Theatre Students Embrace Challenge of Learning Sign Language

Published

May 3, 2019

Last year when Anna Sell studied abroad in London she made a visit to a local bookstore where she skimmed through plays hoping to find inspiration for the play she would direct the following year.

Theatre Department

Bright Lights, Big City Leads to Big Experiences for NWU Theatre Students

Theatre students, spring break in New York City

Published

April 3, 2019

It comes as no surprise that the bright lights of Broadway intrigued a group of Nebraska Wesleyan University theatre students to spend their spring break in the Big Apple.

Theatre Department

Meet Hamlet: NWU’s Prince of Denmark is a Woman of Infinite Zest

Senior Natalia Spengler plays the lead role of Hamlet.

Senior Natalia Spengler and Professor Jack Parkhurst work through the vision of Hamlet.

Published

January 11, 2019

Natalia Spengler isn’t interested in likely stories. Give her a tale that twists. Make it vast. Have it kink and kick and contradict. That’s when you know you have something.

Theatre Department

Theatre Major Finds Solace on Stage Following Houston Hurricane

Adelaide Daniel performs in "Mamma Mia."

In fall 2017, Adelaide Daniel left school and the stage to help with recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey, which hit her hometown of Houston.

Following her graduation in May, Adelaide Daniel plans to work in theatre and pursue a master's degree in dramaturgy and dramatic criticism.

Adelaide Daniel spent the spring semester 2018 in Milan, Italy, where she studied abroad.

Published

November 29, 2018

When the curtain opens on Nebraska Wesleyan University’s production of “Mamma Mia”, it will mark Adelaide Daniel’s first major role.

Theatre Department

Study Abroad

Actress Ready to Perform Shakespeare Following London Study Abroad Experience

NWU junior Natalia Spengler studied abroad at the London Academy of Music and Art where she studied Shakespeare and refined her acting style. She will perform in the fall production of "Comedy of Errors."

In addition to acting classes, Spengler visited the Globe Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, and attended performances at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Published

July 20, 2017

Long hours. Endless work. Tough criticism — experiences a budding Nebraska Wesleyan University actress from Juneau, Alaska, takes seriously.

Theatre Department

Study Abroad Experiences Inspire Student’s Show at World Theatre Festival

Senior Olivia Finnegan performs her solo show at the Fringe World Festival in Australia.

Olivia Finnegan takes a selfie at the Fringe World Festival in Perth, Australia, where she performed her solo show, "Hostel Environment."

Olivia Finnegan's solo show, "Hostel Environment," was based on her many study abroad experiences during her NWU academic career.

Published

March 15, 2017

Her love for theatre, travel and humanity followed her 1,500 miles to Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she will graduate in May with a theatre degree and experiences in 14 countries.

Theatre Department

Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Education Department

Three Passions - Three Majors: Sophomore Says Support Helps Him Balance

Sophomore Eric Kimberly decided to pursue all of his academic passions: theatre, math, and education and is majoring in all three. He is also a peer assistant in Plainsman Hall.

Published

November 7, 2016

Nebraska Wesleyan University sophomore Eric Kimberly discovered his love for theatre in high school. So it was no surprise when he decided to major in theatre in college.

Theatre Department

Nebraska Wesleyan to Open “Boeing Boeing”

Published

September 19, 2016

One of the world’s most performed French plays opens at Nebraska Wesleyan University on September 29.

Theatre Department

Cabaret Weekend Features Sock Hop Theme

Published

September 2, 2016

Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Theatre Department will kick off its cabaret season with a sock hop.

Attendees will step into a 1950s diner to enjoy stories and music from the musicals “Grease,” “The Buddy Holly Story,” “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Always, Patsy Cline,” and more.

Theatre Department

Physics Department

Senior Combines Love of Theatre, Physics for Research in Acoustical Engineering

Published

October 31, 2014

Seeking to find a way to combine both academic interests, Brill discovered the field of vocal acoustics.

Undergraduate Admissions

Theatre Department

An Early Start: New Students Perform in First Theatre Production

Published

August 14, 2014

It’s not unlikely that the students performing in the theatre season opener, “The Wedding Singer,” had a few butterflies on opening night.

Theatre Department

NWU Student Stars in Major Motion Picture “Devil’s Knot”

Published

May 2, 2014

James Hamrick could be walking the red carpet on May 3, but he’s opted for the McDonald Theatre stage instead where he plays Marius in the musical sensation, “Lés Miserables.”

Theatre Department

Weekend Cabaret Will Feature Music From Children’s Stories

Published

February 24, 2014

Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Theatre Department will present a weekend cabaret with the theme, “Once Upon a Time: Music, Magic and Mystery.”