<p>What's the program like? Are the major productions inclusive to non-majors? Are there many student-run projects? How many performances are there a year?</p>
<p>I've been admitted to Wellesley 2013. :) I'm an avid actress/designer, and I really want to continue my involvement in the performing arts, but I do not want to major. I know that Wellesley has a professional theater running in the summer, but what's activity like from September to May?</p>
<p>Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Theater is pretty big at Wellesley. The Shakespeare Society performs Shakespeare productions each year, one per semester, about 9 performances each. You can only act in those productions if you are a member of Shakes, but you can tea for Shakes starting your first semester at Wellesley!</p>
<p>There is also Upstage, which is a student group that makes their own productions. Any student can audition for their performances and they have multiple performances throughout the year – both longer and shorter pieces, all different styles. I don’t think any of the theater performances are restricted to majors only.</p>
<p>And yes, hsvanni, there is a professional theater running in the summer as well.</p>
<p>Nope, Upstage is open to all students, including cross registered ones. They do about 3 shows a semester and there is always a show that rehearses over Wintersession. Alumnae Hall (which is being renovated at the moment) has a large theater ~1000 seats, the “Barstow”, and a smaller black box theater ~100 seats, “The RNJ (Ruth Nagle Jones)”. Upstage has done Shakespeare, plays with 4 actors, modern plays, musicals, plays where the audience was on the stage with the play, plays translated by the director from the Japanese, and I didn’t go to as many as I would have liked, so I’ll stop there. Upstage is a student effort from start to finish, and the all-women aspect makes Wellesley theater unique in two ways: one is that only women are involved in the heavy lifting, building and shop stuff often dominated by guys, the other is that women play male roles. I only know of one Upstage play where an outside male actors were found to play male roles (“Nine” in Spring 05).</p>
<p>I also know a student who acted in some Olin pays as well. You are also totally free to take theater classes without majoring.</p>
<p>Oh yes, Olin productions are totally open to Wellesley students as well. They often look for people to audition in their productions at Wellesley. I know lots of people who have participated in productions at Olin. It’s a great way to be more involved with theater, while also getting off campus and meeting more people.</p>
<p>Some male Olin student have also appeared in Upstage productions. Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of opportunities to cross dress (you know you want to paint on a nice beard with black makeup and bind your breasts).</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>