Theatre has been called the most collaborative of all the arts. At UW-Superior, the theatre program emphasizes personal attention and active student participation.
We offer a diverse range of courses to our students and provide opportunities for participation in other theatres throughout the Twin Ports area.
Facilities
The Theatre Program is located in the Holden and Applied Arts Center, which has multiple performance spaces and the capability to support many different styles of dramatic productions. All of the rooms described below are located in the Holden Fine Arts Center, which is also home to the Music and Art departments.
Spring Theatre Production
Ride the Cyclone: The Musical
By Brooke Maxwell & Jacob Richmond
Directed by Sean Naughton
TICKETS: www.uwsuper.edu/ridethecyclone
Performance Dates
- April 12, 13, 20th @ 7:30pm (Special WEDNESDAY performance April 17th @ 7:30pm)
- April 14th & 21st @ 2:00pm
In this hilarious and outlandish musical, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. This popular musical is a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived!  In this hilarious and outlandish musical, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. This popular musical is a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived! 
Almost, Maine
By John Cariani
Directed by Josh Porter
TICKETS: www.uwsuper.edu/almostmaine
Performance Dates
- May 2, 3, 4th @ 7:30pm
- May 5th @ 2:00pm
Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.
The Manion TheatreÂ
Our main stage performance venue is a 237-seat proscenium theatre with an asymmetrical layout to both the audience seating and the stage itself. A hydraulic orchestra pit can be raised/lowered for the productions, and the main playing area is trapped. In addition, 32 counter weight line sets allow for flying scenic elements out of view; grid height is 60 feet. The proscenium opening is 40 feet by 20 feet. A lighting designer has access to four electrics on the main battens, several floor pockets, two catwalks and four cove positions. The numerous lighting options available make the Manion Theatre a very flexible venue for lighting designs.
The Experimental Theatre
This venue, also referred to as the Black Box, can seat over 100 patrons and measures 33 feet by 50 feet. This flexible space is used for rehearsals, as a classroom space, and as a venue for special student projects, and occasionally hosts our main stage productions.
The Scene ShopÂ
Our modern scene shop is located directly between the two performance venues, with over-size doors that allow scenery to be built in the shop and then moved to the main stages. A loading dock immediately adjoins the shop. Besides a wide selection of standard power tools and cordless tools for wood working construction, the scene shop is also set up for welding. It has a modern dust collection system and a hooded paint area.
The Green Room
Our Green Room connects directly to the backstage of the Manion Theatre and also serves as a general meeting area for students throughout the year.
Costume Shop & Make-Up
Our Costume Shop area also serves as the general storage area for all fabrics and previous costumes; it is outfitted with multiple sewing machines, sergers and complete laundry facilities. It connects directly to our Make-Up Room, which can easily accommodate a couple of dozen actors at a single sitting.
Design Room
Our Design room is a work in progress, putting the latest technology within reach of students. Currently, it houses five computer stations loaded with VectorWorks design software for scenes and lighting, and Audition software for sound design work. We’re also adding a 36″-wide plotter to enable students and designers to realize their work in an oversize format.
Control Booth
Our control booth for the Manion Theatre offers an unparalleled view of the stage for the Stage Manager and board operators. Six-foot-tall windows allow a grandstand view of the playing area, including infrared monitoring of the stage. Sound and light operators utilize modern computerized equipment to run the shows.