Theater

Most years a student director is chosen to direct a show in Haugen Theater the following spring.
Students who are completing directing classes and have the appropriate background can apply. Applications are due in the main theater office on March 1. For an application click here. If chosen you will be asked to sign a student director contract. For a copy of that contract click here.

Student designers work on several theater productions each year. These positions include stage managing, scenery/props, costume, lighting and sound. If you want one of these positions, you have to apply. Applications are accepted in May for design positions awarded for the following year. For an application and list of prerequisites click here.

The theater department hires students with work awards for the work positions of scenery, props, lighting, sound, costumes, house management, tickets sales and publicity. Not a theater major? No problem. You can still work in the theater. Most positions are filled at the beginning of the academic year. Remaining open positions are hired on an on-going basis. If you are interested in working for the theater department please complete a student work application and bring it to the main office – room 117 in the Theater Building.

Alpha Psi Omega (Zeta Mu Chapter).  APO (Zeta Mu) is a nationally recognized honor society which initiates members on an annual basis after they have accrued a certain number of points from theater and theater service involvement. For more information checkout their Facebook page.

Deep End Productions is a student run faculty advised theater group at St. Olaf College. It strives to produce inspiring student theater that supports the theatrical ambitions of St. Olaf College students. Whether interested in acting, directing, playwriting, stage management, scenic/costume/lighting/sound design, or arts administration, Deep End productions has an opportunity for you!  Students of all experience levels are encouraged to become involved. Production and project proposals are accepted on a rolling basis through the completion of the Deep End Directing App. Most often, shows are proposed by a director but Deep End encourages students of all interests to bring project ideas to the table. In addition to sponsoring productions, Deep End produces an annual first year showcase, titled Fresh Faces and periodic play readings of both new and existing works. For more information check out their Facebook page.

InBlack is St. Olaf’s premier sketch comedy group. They are an audition group consisting of 8 members who put on a show in the Pause at the end of the year. They write and perform 28 original sketches and monologues that relate to life at St. Olaf. Auditions are held at the beginning of second semester and practice/writing sessions are 2 to 3 times a week. For more information contact inblack@stolaf.edu.

Muse Project is a theater group dedicated to the exploration of gender and sexuality in performance. The Muse season consists of one show in the fall semester and one in the spring, with additional events throughout the year. Typically the main shows are a classical play and a contemporary one. They are open to students of all levels of theater experience. Beginners are welcome! For more information check out Presence and their Facebook page.

Red Brick Theater Company is a student theater organization dedicated to creating and producing innovative theater productions within a company setting, where “equal membership means equal voice.” This group offers new opportunities within the campus theatrical community by allowing students to work and play with a tight-knit group of theater-makers throughout their college experience, participating in two Red Brick Theater productions each year. Red Brick Theater Company is committed to creating an inclusive community welcome to all students throughout campus, and encourages all class years and majors to audition. Once accepted into the company, students are a member for the remainder of their time at St. Olaf. Auditions are traditionally held at the beginning of each school year. Please contact redbrick@stolaf.edu with any questions.

POC Ole Theater ensemble is a space for students of color to gather and empower one another in creating theater art works in spaces that represent their identities, their beliefs and backgrounds, and to learn theatrical practices that are made for them. The organisation was created to bridge the gap between searching for spaces and identity, to finding a solid ground to practice and represent their voices through theater. POC Ole Theater is dedicated to creating an accepting community for all people of color and improving the lack of diverse representations at St. Olaf. For more information please email pocoletheater@stolaf.edu.

Scared Scriptless is an open and non-audition improv group that aims to entertain the St. Olaf community (as well as the greater Northfield community) through improvisational performance. Scared Scriptless gives St. Olaf students the opportunity to perform improv theater regardless of their amount of previous experience. Practices are twice a week on Sunday and Wednesday nights from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in Viking Theater. They host 3 performances each semester and 1 during interim. For more information email scaredscriptless@stolaf.edu.

• The theater interest email alias is a great way to find out about auditions, positions available, and all things theater. Contact the main office to be added.
• There are four department-produced productions a year along with a one-act play festival directed by the students of the upper-level directing class.
• Audition for an acting role. Participate in production – work on scenery, properties, costumes, lighting, sound, or publicity. Students can work on productions for .25 lab course credits.  For more information check out our audition page, lab page or contact the main theater office.
• Anyone can be involved in theater productions, audition or work on a crew — not just majors.
• Theater rehearsal time doesn’t conflict with any major musical organizations. Rehearsals generally are five nights a week for four to six weeks before a show opens.
• 20 student design positions are available every year in all production areas, as well as some assistant positions.
• For those who have a work award, there may be student work jobs available with the theater department.
• Alpha Psi Omega (Zeta Mu Chapter).  APO (Zeta Mu) is a nationally recognized theater honor society that initiates members on an annual basis after they have accrued a certain number of points from theater and theater service involvement.
• There are several student-run theater organizations that perform and sponsor student productions throughout the year. For more information, see our Student Involvement section on the main page.