UNH Department of Theatre and Dance

- Paul Creative Arts Center, 30 Academic Way, Durham, NH 03824

For residents and aspiring artists across New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Department of Theatre and Dance represents a cultural and academic cornerstone. Located in Durham, this dynamic academic department, housed within the Paul Creative Arts Center (PCAC), is the heart of performance training, creativity, and public art engagement on the Seacoast. It offers not only rigorous training for students but also a vibrant, year-round season of performances that enriches the cultural landscape for the entire community.

The Department of Theatre and Dance is committed to providing superlative training for its students within a broad liberal arts context. This means that while future actors, dancers, designers, and educators are developing their craft, they are also honing the critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills—the "5 Cs"—that are essential for success, both on and off the stage. This dedication to holistic education and supportive faculty is frequently cited by patrons, who note the "Passionate students and faculty" and praise the "experienced faculty" for being "very supportive of students." This supportive environment is designed to prepare students effectively for "life after college," a focus that resonates deeply with the goals of a New Hampshire-based academic institution.

The department serves as a vital bridge between rigorous academic study and real-world professional practice. It emphasizes hands-on experience, involving students in every aspect of production from directing and stage managing to designing, writing, and, of course, performing. The busy production schedule—which includes faculty-directed main-stage plays, dance concerts, touring productions, and numerous student-led projects—provides unparalleled opportunities for public performance, allowing local New Hampshire audiences to witness the development of the region's top emerging talent.

Location and Accessibility

The UNH Department of Theatre and Dance is centrally situated on the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham, a location easily accessible from major routes across the New Hampshire Seacoast and beyond. The department’s main operations and performance spaces are housed within the impressive Paul Creative Arts Center (PCAC), a dedicated facility for the fine and performing arts.

The official address for the department is:

• Address: Paul Creative Arts Center, 30 Academic Way, Durham, NH 03824, USA

Accessibility and convenience for both the university and local community members are key considerations for the facility:

• Wheelchair Accessible Entrance: The building is equipped with accessible entry points, welcoming all visitors and patrons to performances and events held within.
• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot: Dedicated parking is available to ensure convenient access for those with mobility needs.
• On-site Parking: Ample on-site parking is provided at the Paul Creative Arts Center, simplifying the logistics of attending a performance or meeting with the department. While this convenience is appreciated, local users should note that navigating the larger Paul Creative Arts Center building can be "very confusing," as noted in a review, so allowing extra time for finding specific venues is advisable.

Comprehensive Services Offered

As an academic department, the UNH Department of Theatre and Dance offers a multi-faceted suite of services focused on education, creative development, and community outreach through performance.

Key services and academic offerings include:

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degrees: Providing comprehensive undergraduate majors in Theatre with options tailored for various career paths, including Acting and Directing, Dance, Design and Theatre Technology, Musical Theatre, Secondary Theatre Education, and Youth Drama.
• Minors and Cognates: Offering focused studies for non-majors or double majors through programs such as a Dance Minor, Musical Theatre Minor, Theatre Minor, Arts Administration Minor, and cognates in Studies in Fashion and Design.
• Professional Performance Season: Annually producing a full calendar of public performances—including six faculty-directed main-stage productions, three touring shows (like the popular Little Red Wagon), and more than 20 student-directed works—that allow students to showcase their talents to the New Hampshire community.
• K-12 Licensure Pathways: Unique five-year Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) or Master of Education (M. Ed.) programs that combine a B.A. in Theatre or Dance with a fifth year of study and internship to achieve K-12 teaching certification in the state.
• Diverse Curriculum: Coursework in specialized areas such as aerial dance (UNH was an early pioneer in offering this), puppetry, playwriting, costume construction, stage lighting design, and history/criticism of drama, ensuring a well-rounded and contemporary skill set.

Distinctive Features and Highlights

The UNH Department of Theatre and Dance stands out in the region for its commitment to both academic rigor and professional performance experience, creating a high-impact environment for its students and a rich cultural resource for New Hampshire residents.

Notable features and highlights of the department include:

• Professional Performance Venues: The department utilizes two primary, fully equipped theaters in the PCAC: the 667-seat proscenium Johnson Theatre for major productions and the flexible-seating Hennessy Theatre (a black box) for more intimate and student-driven works.
• Pioneering Dance Programs: UNH was one of the first universities to integrate Aerial Dance into its curriculum, and the department also offers extensive training in Ballet and Theatre Dance (tap and jazz) in dedicated facilities like the Newman Dance Studio.
• Experiential Learning Focus: Students gain hands-on production experience by fulfilling mandatory practicum requirements across all technical and performance areas, ensuring comprehensive preparation in sets, costumes, lighting, box office management, and marketing.
• Commitment to New Work: The department actively supports new theatrical writing through annual programs like the Undergraduate Prize Plays (UPPs) and administers prestigious writing competitions such as The Woodward International Playwriting Prize, fostering the creation of new works for the American stage.
• Award-Winning Faculty: The program is led by an experienced, award-winning faculty with local, national, and international professional credits, ensuring students receive training that meets industry standards and prepares them for success in the competitive performing arts world.

Contact Information

For those in the New Hampshire community interested in enrolling in a program, supporting the department, or attending a performance, the primary contact information is:

• Address: Paul Creative Arts Center, 30 Academic Way, Durham, NH 03824, USA
• Phone: (603) 862-2919

What is Worth Choosing the UNH Department of Theatre and Dance

For New Hampshire residents, choosing to engage with the UNH Department of Theatre and Dance—whether as a prospective student or as a patron—means supporting a high-quality educational and cultural institution that is fiercely dedicated to practical excellence. For students, the department offers a unique combination of a broad liberal arts foundation with intensive, focused training across multiple disciplines, including the distinct advantage of specialized programs like Aerial Dance and comprehensive K-12 education licensure tracks.

For the local New Hampshire community, attending a UNH Theatre and Dance performance is an opportunity to experience professional-level artistry at a value-conscious price point. The busy season provides continuous access to diverse programming, from Broadway musicals and classical plays to cutting-edge student-written works and dynamic dance concerts. While one review noted the common challenge of resource allocation in education—wishing for more investment in the physical theater—the department’s core strength lies in its "passionate students and faculty" and its commitment to student-focused, experience-based training, ensuring a high-quality artistic product on its stages. Supporting this department helps sustain a critical resource for the arts on the New Hampshire Seacoast, ensuring that the next generation of creative professionals receives the excellent training they need to thrive.

UNH Department of Theatre and Dance

Paul Creative Arts Center, 30 Academic Way, Durham, NH 03824, USA