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Welcome to Doane College Theatre Department

On and off the stage at Doane, you’ll find leadership opportunities in a variety of areas:

acting
directing
scenic design
lighting design
costuming design
technical direction
props
sound
publicity
stage management
makeup
house management

In addition to students and faculty, you’ll also have the chance to collaborate with professional writers and directors on original productions. 

Theatre Major

You will learn about theatre through both academic and extracurricular experiences. Classes cover a broad range of topics such as:

acting
directing
film making
scenic design
costume design
lighting and sound design
stage craft
costume construction
theatre business management
history of theatre
script analysis
playwriting
makeup

Students are prepped for professional experience thought not only the course work, but professional internships at regional theatres and by participating in one of the four main stage productions each year, along with student-produced shows.

Certification for Public School Teaching

You’ll be prepared to teach in secondary education while giving you the resources to direct or teach theatre in a school setting.

Theatre Minor

Provides theatrical experiences to prepare you for graduate school or to complement your chosen career.

Scholarships

There is money in the arts!  Scholarships (link to: www.doane.edu/theatre-scholarships) are available in theatre by audition or interview with the department.

Interested in acting? 

Prepare a 1-2 minute monologue from any play you wish. Interested in technical theatre? Complete an interview with faculty. All applicants – whether interested in acting or technical theatre – are encouraged to bring a portfolio of your work including:

a personal photo
résumé listing any previous work and/or special skills
two letters of recommendation
photos of your work or roles performed

Our open audition dates are listed at doane.edu/theatre, or you can call the Office of Admission at 800.333.6263.

More Benefits! Through our faculty’s connections, you’ll enjoy internships across the country and abroad, from New York to London. The department offers summer research opportunities and regular trips to New York, Chicago and London. To help with the cost of travel, you can take advantage of the $1,000 travel scholarship (link to: www.doane.edu/travel-scholarships) given to every student.

Theatre Awards

Risk taking – combined with solid training—is part of the creative process at Doane. And the payoff is clear: 

2011 KCACTF Meritorious Achievement Awards:

Best Sound Design – Dead Man’s Cell Phone
1st Place Barbizon Award for Scenery – The Odyssey

2010 KCACTF Meritorious Achievement Awards:

Best Acting Ensemble – A Dream Play
Best Directing – Book of Tink
Best Scenic Design – Book of Tink
Best Scenic Design – Evil Dead the Musical
Best Stage Management – Evil Dead the Musical
1st Place national Sound Design Award – Book of Tink
2nd Place Regional Prop Design– Evil Dead the Musical
2nd Place Barbizon Award for Scenery – Evil Dead the Musical

2011-2012 Productions

The 39 Steps
Cyrano
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labor’s Lost

Facilities

Depending on our production – and our mood – Doane theatre performs in all three places. The “Con” Whitcomb Lee Conservatory, better known by students as “the Con,” is a fitting home for both theatre classes and performances. Renovated in 2005, this national landmark retained its character while adding state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, making it a charming yet modern venue. The Cassel Theatre: Lush trees, a glistening pond and a large lawn make Cassel Open Air Theatre a
gorgeous backdrop for special performances. Heckman Auditorium: Heckman Auditorium is a classic proscenium-style stage with seating for 500, making this a quality performance facility. 

Faculty

What do The Late Show with David Letterman, The Drew Carey Show, and The Bold and the Beautiful all have in common? They are just three of the television shows our faculty have worked on! That’s in addition to numerous Broadway productions, festivals, theatres, museums, commercialsand films. If you have a specific interest in theatre, our experienced professors have done it and are still doing it. They are award winners, mentors and artists. 

 Robin McKercher

Robin started his theatrical career as an actor in six national tours with the Nebraska Theatre Caravan. As a member of the United Scenic Artists in New York, he painted more than 35 Broadway productions and served as the charge artist on the Tony Award-winning design of: The Secret Garden, Beauty and the Beast, The Red Shoes, Aspects of Love, Grand Hotel and Tommy.

His numerous TV and feature movie credits include: The Late Show with David Letterman, Kate and Allie, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Hannah and Her Sisters and Radio Days.

After earning his M.F.A. in Directing from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Robin directed original productions such as A Christmas Carol, Romantic Rhapsody and A Salute to Pearl Harbor at the Lied Center. He served as the artistic director at the Lincoln Community Playhouse; and associate artistic director of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and the Fulton Theatre (LORT C). He teaches acting, directing and theatre history and directs the majority of the main stage season.

 Jeff Stander

Jeff earned a bachelor of fine arts in theatre arts and design from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, followed by a M.F.A. in Design and Technical Theatre from San Diego State University in 2004. He earned numerous scene design awards while at San Diego State. He was selected for the 2001 Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Student Internship Program, and worked on television shows such as "The Drew Carey Show" and "The Bold and the Beautiful." Jeff was a scenic designer with Rogue Music Theatre and the Gene Autry Museum. As assistant scenic designer, he worked with the prestigious Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

He has designed for: Arizona Theatre Company, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Minneapolis Children's Theatre , San Diego's Old Globe Theatre , Utah Shakespeare Festival and Des Moines Playhouse. Jeff also taught entry-level theatre design and technical theatre labs for two years at San Diego State University.

Careers

When the lights dim on your Doane careers, you’ll be ready – just like other theatre alumni – for a new spotlight in theatre, film, television, video and themed entertainment. Careers like: Producers, Playwrights, Sound designers, Directors, Choreographers, Makeup artists, Actors, Scene/lighting designers and Acting coaches.

But don’t just take our word for it. Read about a few of our talented alumni like Mike Dale. CLICK HERE!

Contacts

Robin McKercher, Assistant Professor & Director of Theatre
Robin.mckercher@doane.edu
402.826.8280

OUR IMPORTANT LINKS!

Theatre Department Website

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