The Best School for Theatre in Virginia
For the best school for theatre in Virginia, look at UMW Theatre. Ours is a strong community of practitioners—faculty, staff, and students—who create plays and musicals that encourage conversations with our audience. Through classes, rehearsals, work calls, meetings, practical experiences, and strong faculty mentoring, our students graduate from UMW as emerging professionals fully prepared to pursue a career in the professional theatre. For this, UMW has been ranked one of the “Best Schools for Theater” in the country by The Princeton Review.
Our 2026-27 Season
The 39 Steps – September 17-27, 2026
Dear Evan Hansen – November 5-22, 2026
Eureka Day – February 4-14, 2027
The Children’s Hour – April 8-18, 2027
We believe that the strongest way to learn theatre is to make theatre; production is at the center of everything we do. Students have unlimited opportunities to learn and grow in our classrooms and studios while pursuing opportunities in Klein Theatre.
Our alumni work in the field and related industries throughout the world. There is no question that a major here, coupled with the extraordinary opportunities available to our students, have launched our graduates into successful careers. Come and join one of the best theatre schools in the nation at the University of Mary Washington!
Our classes center on our impressive production program, offering students excellent opportunities onstage, backstage, and front of house to apply what they are learning – beginning in their first year at UMW. Learning is a constant – in and out of the classroom – as students work with our faculty and staff in every aspect of production. Whether your interest is acting, scenic design, lighting design, costume design, stage management, sound design, directing, musicals, costume technology, scenic technology, education, or arts administration, we have a place for you!
Our faculty, along with the professional staff, bring an impressive array of accomplishments and experiences to their work with students. Students connect theory to practice under the mentorship of gifted faculty, staff, and guest artists. Through real world insight and professional practice, students begin building careers long before they graduate. If you compare us to other universities you ll find that our faculty are more committed to mentoring undergraduate students.