Wagner College

Staten Island, NY

Wagner College

Staten Island, NY

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Performing Arts Profile


Performing Arts at Wagner College

About Wagner
Wagner College, a four-year private college, is known for its innovative curriculum connecting liberal arts education to practical learning experiences throughout New York City. Set on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and New York Harbor, Wagner’s 105-acre park-like campus is only a ferry ride away from the cultural, intellectual, and professional heart of America—Manhattan.

At Wagner, students “learn by doing” through a challenging, broad-based liberal arts curriculum that is anchored in the real world. Through the Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts, students become involved in fieldwork directly related to their courses in their very first semester. Learning communities help students connect to their studies, to their professors, and to each other. Internships—required for all students—provide valuable real-world experience before graduation. Wagner’s small class sizes and experienced professors, who teach both introductory and upper-level courses, are other features of its nationally acclaimed curriculum.

Beyond the classroom, Wagner offers a full spectrum of student activities—including more than 90 student clubs and organizations—that not only enrich the undergraduate years but also serve to prepare students for the challenges of life after graduation. As an NCAA Division I institution, Wagner offers 11 men’s and 15 women’s sports. Intramural programs and the College’s 93,000- sq. ft. sports and recreation center provide all students with athletic opportunities.

Performing Arts Programs at Wagner

Arts Administration, BS
Arts Administration is a multi-disciplinary major that combines courses in Business Administration with intensive study in the Arts. Students complete a set of foundational courses in Arts Administration, a series of Business courses, and a series of courses in their chosen Art field. Toward the end of their time at Wagner, students complete a full-time, semester long internship in Arts Administration.

Dance Education, BS
The Dance Program offers a Minor in Dance and a Major in Dance Education. The Dance Program works to foster excellence in dance and the best values of a citizen-artist.

The program offers study in a range of disciplines, including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Tap, as well as courses in Pedagogy, Movement Analysis, Choreography, History, and Criticism. Professional dancers and choreographers regularly offer guest workshops and are hired to participate in the program.

The Major in Dance Education cultivates dance artists of the highest caliber who will be multidimensional in their scope of dance studies and pedagogy, and who will work towards building a diverse and inclusive dance community. The student will master the clear and defined fundamental knowledge of Dance Studies, Somatic Studies, Dance Education and Dance Pedagogy.

Theatre, BA
Theatre at Wagner College provides students with a broad liberal arts background combined with intensive training, particularly in Musical Theatre, through a rigorous combination of classes and public performances. By linking theory with practice, the department seeks to foster leadership, a sense of community, artistic integrity, intellectual expertise, and the best professional values to serve students in their chosen profession.

Wagner offers a BA in Theatre and Speech. Students can elect to concentrate in Performance, Design/Technology/Management, and Theatre Studies, or complete a Dual Major in Theatre and Education. The Performing Arts Department is also home to Bachelor of Science programs in Arts Administration and Dance Education.

ACCOLADES

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Wagner College was ranked among the top 23% of northern regional universities in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Colleges rankings

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For the fifth year in a row, Wagner College was included on the list of “Best Value Schools” among northern regional universities by U.S. News & World Report

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Wagner College Theatre program ranked #3 on the list of the country's Best College Theaters | The Princeton Review

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Wagner College Theater has ranked among the Princeton Review's top five collegiate theater programs in the United States since 2004

Location

The New York Connection

New York City is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world, and Wagner students and visitors get to explore the rich diversity of museums, cultures, arts, sports, and attractions in all five boroughs. From campus, a free shuttle takes you to the world-famous Staten Island ferry, a well-recognized icon of New York City transportation and a free ride into the heart of New York City.

Performing Arts Student Clubs

The Theatre Advisory Board (TAB) is a student-based organization, which acts as a liaison between the student body and the faculty of the Wagner College Theatre Department. At first glance, TAB can be looked at as the “student council” for the theatre department. This organization is open to the entire student body and is funded by Student Government as a chartered student club. The club is led by elected members from each academic class. TAB leadership meets throughout the school year with the Department Head or Theatre faculty members to help resolve departmental issues. Each year the student leadership board schedules social activities as well as workshops, cabarets, parties, and fundraisers.

Completely Student Productions (CSP) provides quality theatrical productions facilitated by all-student production teams. Our goal is to create performance and leadership opportunities, CSP Logoallow students to apply in-class training and produce theatrical entertainment for the student body to enjoy! While we focus on creating great theatre, our ultimate priority is to offer a hands-on learning experience while also having fun!

Run Musical Theater (SRMT) was founded in Spring 2011 to give all students on campus an equal performance opportunity regardless of major, class, or experience credits. SRMT produces quality theatre productions for the community all over campus. SRMT does not charge for performances, but rather asks for donations, in which a large percentage, if not all of the proceeds are donated to fundraising organizations such as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Make-a-Wish, to name a couple. SRMT has made a large impact on the Wagner College campus and will continue to do so in all future endeavors.

Wagner College Dance Club provides an environment for students to expand their knowledge and enjoyment of dance beyond Wagner dance classes. This is a club directed towards everyone regardless of skill level or major. We aim to use dance as a way to educate students of different cultures, which helps us expand our worldviews. Dance Club is a low-pressure, welcoming environment for members to try something new, get comfortable in their bodies, and to just enjoy moving!

Shakespeare on the Oval (SOTO) is Wagner College’s resident outdoor theatre club putting up by Shakespeare and other Shakespearean era playwrights. SOTO also takes pride in producing adaptations of their works. Recent shows include “Romeo and Juliet”, “Kit Marlowe’s Edward II”, “Cleo and Tony: A Toxic Rock Opera”, “A Winter’s Tale”, and “Beth: An Imagining”. Shakespeare on the Oval strives to reinvent the plays of Shakespeare to appeal to modern audiences and captivate them with the Bard’s work.

Wagner Work in Progress strives to provide a space for ideas in any stage of development. We seek to encourage cross-discipline cooperation and collaboration, as well as provide workshop, production, and performance opportunities for Wagner College students of all talents and artistic backgrounds.

The Spin Cycle is Wagner College’s PREMIERE improv club! We do all types of improv from scenes to musicals and everything in between. We are a performance-based club that does multiple live shows a semester. Any major is encouraged to audition and attend shows!

An Inside Look