Jessie Lillis ’13 returns to Ripon for summer residency, presentation of Shakespeare plays
When a series of free performances of plays by William Shakespeare is presented in the Ripon/Green Lake area this summer, Jessie Lillis ’13 will be […]
Ripon College offers a major and minor in theatre with education accreditation also available. We strive to develop theatre artists and scholars who have an understanding of all the areas of the theatre from onstage to backstage, from drama and history to technology and artistry. While our students are able to specialize in their areas of interest in the theatre, they also understand the process of theatre and learn how to collaborate with other artists in the theatre.
The Department of Theatre is invested in nurturing artists and teachers for the theatre, but we are open to the whole student community. Auditions and crew calls are open to the entire college, and we expect and plan on students with majors other than theatre to take part in our productions.
When a series of free performances of plays by William Shakespeare is presented in the Ripon/Green Lake area this summer, Jessie Lillis ’13 will be […]
Assistant Professor of Theatre Lillian Brown will take her solo performance of “The OREO Complex” to Washington, D.C., in May and June for 10 performances. […]
The annual One-Act Play Festival, featuring short plays directed by students, will be held April 14 and 15 at Ripon College. Performances will begin at […]
Professor Emeritus of Theatre, Doreen '73 and David Chemerow Chair in Theatre
Assistant Professor of Theatre
Professor of Theatre, Chair & Chemerow Chair of Theatre Department
Associate Professor of English
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers. Our collaboration with Student Support Services provides tutoring and additional academic and skill development, as well as tools to help with note-taking, exam preparation, goal-setting and time management. Likewise, Mentors in the Franzen Center provide in-depth, one-on-one or group mentoring for students about class projects and college-level writing, and can share problem-solving strategies to overcome academic obstacles.
Advising at RiponRequirements for a major in theatre: THE 101, 131, 231, 232, 255,, 512; two courses selected from THE 200, 260,248, 268, 300, 301, 352, 362, 363; English 360 (one elective must be at a 300 level); a minimum of four credit hours in THE 202 and/or 210 and/or 212.
Requirements for a teaching major or minor in theatre: Electives must include THE 301
Requirements for a minor in theatre: THE 101, 131, 255; two courses selected from: THE 202, 248, 260, 268, 300, 301, 352, 362, 363, 512; minimum of four credit hours in THE 200 and/or 210 and/or 212.
Requirements for a teaching minor in theatre: Electives must include THE 301
Alumni of the department include stage and movie actors Spencer Tracy ’24, Harrison Ford ’64 and Frances Lee McCain ’66. More recent graduates have earned master’s of fine arts degrees in acting, children’s theatre and design. Positions obtained by our graduates include education, associate production manager, musical tour stage manager, various roles in regional theatre companies, playwright, actor, costume designer and sound engineer.
Benstead Theatre is located in the C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts, home to music, fine arts and theatre. The theatre is an innovative flexible-space black-box. It includes a proscenium opening, stage deck and a fly gallery, allowing plays to be staged in arena, thrust, environmental or proscenium depending upon the director and designers’ creative vision. The facility is dedicated to the theatre department so rehearsals and construction occur right in the space. First-year students who have experienced only proscenium staging in high school find Benstead Theatre a new and exciting place to perform and work.
The theatre is supported by lighting and sound control boards that are replaced with the latest equipment on a regular rotation; fully equipped scene and costume shops; a design studio; an acting studio; and a makeup room large enough to double as a rehearsal space.
The Ripon College Theatre Department features collaboration. High-quality theatre demands close collaboration, and in the Ripon Theatre Department collaboration is a way of life. Students who are part of the production team as stage managers, assistant directors and designers are full members of the creative team at weekly production meetings, contributing to the discussion the director and the designers have in working out the details, designs and staging. Many of our Certificates of Merit from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre festival are related to the strength of the production ensemble and production unity.
Selected titles from the theatre department’s most recent production history:
by Yasmina Reza
by Larissa Fasthorse
by Betsy Kelso and David Nehls
by Zoe Kazan
by Branden Jacob-Jenkins
by Anton Chekhov
by Edgar Lee Masters
by Brian Friel
by William Shakespeare
by Robin Rice
by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
Major: English
Minor: Theatre, education
Graduate Degree: Master's of arts in theatre for youth, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin (in process)
Employment: English teacher and drama director, Waukesha, Wisconsin, South High School; and Cambridge (Wisconsin) High School (through spring 2010)
"When I tell other theatre educators about my experiences at Ripon, they are amazed that I was able to work on every show and do everything from acting to directing to props to costumes. No one leaves Ripon without truly understanding that everyone in the theatre is valuable."
Majors: Theatre, business administration
Graduate Degree: Master's degree in advertising, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (in process)
Post-Graduate Theatre Experience: Associate production manager (12-show season) and later subscriptions coordinator (14,000 annual subscribers), Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, Massachusetts
Employment: Senior accounts analyst, Boston University
"My training at Ripon allowed me to jump in (to my first job at the Huntington) without hesitation, impress my peers and make strong connections to professionals in the industry."
Major: Theatre
Minor: English
Graduate Degree: Master's of fine arts in acting, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin (in process)
Post-Graduate Theatre Experience:
Employment: Teaching assistant, acting; University of Wisconsin Theatre Department, Madison, Wisconsin
"I have talked to many people in the professional theatre community who know of Ripon and regard it as a top-notch undergraduate theatre program. I am so fortunate to have been a part of such a dedicated and inspiring program."
Major: Theatre
Minors: French, K-12 teaching certification in theatre & French
Graduate Degree: Master's of fine arts in theatre for youth, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Post Graduate Theatre Experience:
Employment: Free-lance teaching artist, playwright, dramaturg, actress and puppeteer
"My professors (at Ripon) were concerned with mentoring the whole artist, someone who knows something about every aspect of the theatre. My theatre education was personal and meaningful, and the impact of those four years has deeply affected my life as a theatre artist."
Majors: Self-designed mass media management
Post-Graduate Theatre Experience:
Employment: Radio air talent for Mountain Dog Media: News-Talk 1450 KFIZ and K107.1 WFON, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
"The small class sizes and individualized education really helped launch me into the career I possess today."