Mission Statement
The Viterbo University Theatre and Music Theatre Department:
- supports and embraces the mission statement of Viterbo University, a Catholic Franciscan, liberal arts institution;
- bases its curriculum on a liberal arts foundation while providing all students with a series of "theatre core" foundation courses in the various aspects of the theatrical art, including history and criticism, literature, performance, directing, design, technical production, theatre education, and music theatre;
- strives for high degrees of excellence and professionalism in its diverse academic and production offerings;
- accepts encourages, and guides interested theatre students of all faiths, cultures, socio-economic levels through its diverse academic, production, and advising programs;
- provides group-oriented problem-solving opportunities for students which encourages research, collaboration, and cooperation, while also encouraging individuals to realize the importance of self-exploration, self-discipline, and creative expression;
- prepares students for a service-oriented life which celebrates the theatrical arts as an effective forum for exploring issues of self, community, diversity, human dignity, and respect for the world;
- promotes among its local community a greater awareness and appreciation for the role, function, and value of the theatrical arts in society.
Production Philosophy
Throughout its extensive theatre production programming, the Viterbo University Theatre and Music Theatre Department strives to:
- fulfill the missions, goals, educational objectives, and professional aspirations of this progressive liberal arts, Catholic Franciscan University and the Theatre and Music Theatre Department through a variety of integrated academic and production-oriented theatre offerings;
- select, research, design, cast, rehearse, stage, and market a wide variety of theatrical presentations which effectively and reasonably challenge, stimulate, and expand the knowledge, skills, talents, creative abilities, and professionalism of our theatre and music theatre students, staff, and faculty;
- stage and present a wide range of dramatic works of recognized artistic or literary merit from a variety of periods and genres, including classical and contemporary dramas, comedies, tragedies, musicals, operas, and other distinctive styles;
- present consistently high-quality educational theatre productions and related programming to an ever-increasing public audience from the University and greater La Crosse communities;
- to utilize guest artist/educators and partnerships with regional professional theatres to further expand and enhance our educational programming and production opportunities;
- provide the members of the artistic production team and the members of our audience with engaging, entertaining, creative, intelligent, thought-provoking theatrical experiences which encourage and challenge us to consider and reflect upon the fullest possible spectrum of human actions, thoughts, philosophies, beliefs, values, prejudices, and diversities;
- provide both artists and audience members the opportunity to "walk in the shoes of others," to invite them to see and appreciate life from a multiplicity of historical periods and cultural perspectives, and to facilitate dialogue, interaction, and mutual learning as a result of active participation in the live theatrical experience;
- inform and educate our audience through pre-show publicity whenever we produce theatrical works of significant artistic and/or cultural merit which contain mature themes, situations, language, or material which may be considered offensive by some members of our audience.