The West Virginia University School of Theatre & Dance invites the Morgantown community to enjoy a free live premier screening of their film version of Shakespeare’s most powerful play King Lear, Sunday March 6 at 7 p.m. in WVU’s Canady Creative Arts Center’s Lyle B Clay Theatre. The film was shot in 2021 in partnership with West Virginia Public Broadcasting and will be broadcast on WVPB channels starting March 13. To find the WVPB channel near you, visit https://www.wvpublic.org/.

The idea for the filming and broadcasting of King Lear came out of necessity for Jerry McGonigle, professor of acting and directing. “Covid hit and it became very clear that we were not coming back in the fall,” McGonigle said about WVU’s 2020-21 academic year. “There was not going to be public audiences for performances.”

He currently serves on the board of directors of NDEO and has previously served on the board of directors of the American College Dance Association (ACDA). He is the faculty advisor and chair of the WVU Rhodes Scholar Selection Committee, serves on the WVU Fulbright Advisory Committee and was appointed several times to serve on the US Scholar as well as the Student Fulbright National Screening Committees. He is a Fulbright Scholar in his own right.

Kaddar is the recipient of the Martha Hill Award for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Dance from the Juilliard School. He recently is a recipient of the WVU Outstanding Faculty/Staff Advisor – Lifetime Achievement Award and most recently the WVU Office of Global Affairs Virtual Exchange Award. He has been invited to serve on the New York State Foundation of the Arts Choreography Panel, the National Society of Arts and Letters dance competition and the Pennsylvania Dance Masters scholarship auditions.

Dear College of Creative Arts students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends,

I want to address recent concerns and misunderstandings that have been circulating regarding the future of some academic programs within the College of Creative Arts here at West Virginia University.

Students from West Virginia University School of Theatre & Dance are coming back to the stage with ‘35mm: A Musical Exhibition’ Sept. 30 - Oct. 3.

The production is a collection of songs and transitions by Ryan Scott Oliver based on photographs from Matthew Murphy. The musical is entirely sung for the 75-minute run time.

I teach MUSC 120: The History of Musical Theatre, THET 355: Junior Musical Theatre Studio, THET 455: Senior Musical Theatre Studio, and I am co-directing 35mm: A Musical Exhibition with two undergraduate BFA Musical Theatre Students (opening September 30th!)

Growing up in West Virginia I never anticipated going to school in-state but after touring 8 other institutions nothing felt right. I had actually taken a few classes with Prof. Steven Neuenschwander at the two previous WV State Thespian Festivals and loved working with him so I took to Google to find where he taught and it led me here. After asking some questions, taking a tour or two, and having lunch with a school ambassador, it felt more like home than anywhere else. From the facilities to the hands-on learning atmosphere, I just knew this was the place for me.

Summer camps will be offered this year at the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts. Many of the camps have both in-person and virtual options.

Viola Bootcamp

The West Virginia University College of Creative Arts has selected its annual faculty awards.

Each year, the college presents awards for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity; Outstanding Teacher; Outstanding Service; and Adjunct Faculty Excellence.

Fifty-five students in the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts made up the inaugural cohort for the college’s Creative Consultants program.

The program matches outstanding creative arts students with extraordinary professionals in the fields of art and design, music, theatre, dance, and arts education, administration and industry. Consultants are alumni and friends of the college.