Theater, Dance, and Film Studies Department

Students performing

Theater, Dance and Film are essential forms of human expression that celebrate creative collaboration and dynamic engagement with our world. Our department provides an introduction to performance, production and history and literature in order to help student engage with and reflect on the world in which they live. Through the critical study of the history of theater, dance and film, and through the embodied practice of these art forms, students will: analyze a diverse array of performances and texts, develop flexible problem-solving methods, cultivate diverse communication skills, practice collaborative processes, and create art.

Learning Outcomes

Through the study of the practice and history of theater, dance and film students will:

  • Develop aesthetic appreciation for art and culture
  • Learn flexible problem-solving methods
  • Acquire diverse communication skills
  • Employ collaborative processes
  • Create art

Department Info

  • Theater Department/Lenfest Center
    100 Glasgow Street
    Washington and Lee University
    Lexington, Virginia 24450

Jenefer Davies

Department Head

Sophia Kocevar

Administrative Assistant

Upcoming Events

Bentley Musical: "The Prom"

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, March 12-14 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 2 pm

W&L Repertory Dance Company

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, April 9-11, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Aerial Dance

Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 12:30 pm and 9 pm and Friday, May 23 at 2 pm

Theater, Dance, and Film Studies News


W&L Presents Shakespeare Adaptation “Hamlet 50/50”

The production runs from Nov. 19-21 in Johnson Theatre on the W&L campus.

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‘A Night of Miigis Moments’ Brings Indigenous-Led Performance To W&L

The Oct. 8 event is presented by Red Sky Performance and is part of the Lenfest Center’s Outreach & Engagement Series.

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Indigenous Artist Sandra Laronde to Deliver Lenfest Center Series Keynote Address at W&L

An authentic Indigenous dinner will accompany Laronde’s talk on Oct. 7 and is part of the Lenfest Center’s Outreach & Engagement Series.

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Owen Collins Publishes Article in the Theatre Design & Technology Journal

The article “Organic Dance Designs” tells the story of the theatrical work of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin Fellowship.

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The Lenfest Center Presents an Evening of Poetry Reading with Rena Priest

Washington’s first indigenous State Poet Laureate will deliver a reading on Oct. 1 as part of the Lenfest Center’s Outreach & Engagement Series.

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W&L’s Lenfest Center for the Arts Presents 2024-25 Season, ‘Expand the Arts!’

Tickets for the entire season will be available to purchase beginning Sept. 9.

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‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Jenefer Davies

In this month’s episode, professor Davies talks of creating and building W&L’s dance program to be a place where preconceived notions dissipate and the liberal arts education flourishes.

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Theater Washington Term

All the World’s a Stage

A Washington Break trip to New York City opened students’ eyes to future possibilities in theater.

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Jordan Peimer Selected as Next Lenfest Center Director

The former executive director of ArtPower at the University of California, San Diego will begin his new role in July.

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W&L Presents ‘Begets: Fall of a High School Ronin’

Performances of the high school samurai tale run April 3-5.

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This Year’s Bentley Production is Opera ‘Dido and Aeneas’

The iconic myth comes to life March 21-22 in Wilson Concert Hall.

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Stella Adamopoulis '27 performs in Speech & Debate in the Johnson Theater

The Space to Be Brave

W&L’s recent staging of ‘Speech & Debate’ brought its cast, crew and audience an opportunity to engage with an innovative, collaborative approach to theater.

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