Department of Theatre and Dance
You are an actor. A dancer. A designer. A stage manager. An entertainment technologist. You dream, you direct, you create. This is where you belong.
Next on Stage
A Midsummer Night's Dream
What is love? Is it a dream? A vision? Does it transform us or is it just a delusion in which we willingly participate? In the woods outside Athens, two pairs of lovers sneak away from the city. The king and queen of fairyland, Oberon and Titania, battle over custody of an orphan boy. A group of local artisans rehearse their tragedy, "Pyramus and Thisbe," which they plan to perform at the Duke's wedding. Through it all, the impish Puck concocts a love potion that misdirects characters' passion and desire; the hijinks that ensue invite us all to ask what it means to love and be in love.
Dance Program
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the art of the art of dance and develop your individual, expressive voice.
Dance faculty offer courses in dance technique, choreography, dance history, film making for dance, intermedia technology, improvisation, and performance in two, 2400 square foot dance studios with sprung wood floors and live musical accompaniment in modern technique classes.
Theatre and Dance Staff
Anthony Sirk
Costume Shop Manager
asirk@purdue.edu
Anthony James Sirk (Costume Studio Manager) has worked in management positions...READ MORE
Theatre Faculty
Mercer Aplin
Clinical Assistant Professor, Audio Technology
maplin@purdue.edu
Mercer Aplin is a passionate collaborator on a wide range of domestic and international audio...READ MORE
Ashley Bellet
Assistant Professor, Costume Design
abellet@purdue.edu
Ashley is a professional costume designer and crafts artisan and has worked for The Santa Fe Opera...READ MORE
Quetta Carpenter
Assistant Professor, Acting
llcarpen@purdue.edu
LaQuetta Carpenter is a professional stage and screen actor, director, and playwright. She earned...READ MORE
Rich Dionne
Chair, Associate Professor of Practice, Technical Direction
rdionne@purdue.edu
Rich Dionne is an associate professor of practice and technical direction specializing in scenery...READ MORE
Will Lewis
Assistant Professor, Theatre History, Literature, and Criticism
wwlewis@purdue.edu
Will Lewis is an assistant professor of theatre history, literature, and criticism in the...READ MORE
Michael McNamara
Associate Professor, Lighting Design
mmcnamara@purdue.edu
Michael McNamara is the Faculty Lighting Designer for the Department of Theatre and Dance...READ MORE
Michael Meyer
Clinical Assistant Professor, Animatronics
mcmeyer@purdue.edu
Michael Meyer, born and educated in Germany, comes to Purdue as a clinical assistant professor...READ MORE
Fan Zhang
Assistant Professor, Sound Design
zhan4748@purdue.edu
Fan Zhang is a critically acclaimed sound designer and composer for theatre, dance, film...READ MORE
Dance Faculty
Kathleen Hickey
Lecturer in Dance
hickey7@purdue.edu
A native to the Chicago area and currently based in West Lafayette, Indiana, Kathleen Hickey’s...READ MORE
Petur Iliev
Lecturer in Dance
piliev@purdue.edu
Petur Iliev is a graduate of the Bulgarian National School of Dance Art and holds a B.A. from...READ MORE
Holly Jaycox
Associate Chair, Director of the Dance Program
hollyj@purdue.edu
Holly Jaycox teaches introductory levels of Modern and Jazz. She earned a Bachelor of Arts...READ MORE
Renee Murray
Lecturer in Dance
murra113@purdue.edu
Reneé Murray, Continuing Lecturer of the Dance Program, is a Chicago native, dance artist...READ MORE