Whether you are interested in the creative and critical study of theatre, rhetoric and media; discovering your passions in dance, music or art; or performing on stage as part of the College’s Playshop Theatre, Allegheny encourages you to explore your artsy side.

Allegheny offers majors and minors in several aspects of the arts, as well as lessons, clubs and organizations that allow you to express your artistic talents.

Explore Allegheny’s arts opportunities in the following areas:

Music

The strength of Allegheny’s music program can be measured by the way music pervades the campus: one out of every 6 students is actively involved in a vocal or instrumental performance group. The department is deeply committed to the continuing musical education of majors and non-majors alike.

Art

At Allegheny, we believe that art is fundamental to liberal arts education. Allegheny’s art programs are designed to develop a broad intellectual grounding in the traditions of the visual arts through an understanding of studio and art history, coupled with knowledge from other disciplines. Students learn the processes of production, interpretation and evaluation, and to think creatively about all aspects of artistic problem solving.

Playshop Theatre

The Playshop Theatre at Allegheny College was started in 1929. In the intervening 85 years, the Playshop has produced over 500 plays including classic works by Shakespeare, Molière, Shaw, Williams, and O’Neill, contemporary playwrights such as Sam Shepard, Tom Stoppard, Suzan-Lori Parks, Wendy Wasserstein, Tina Howe, and Tony Kushner, and musicals including The Pirates of Penzance and Carousel, as well as original works by faculty, students and visiting artists.

Art Galleries

Allegheny’s Bowman, Megahan, and Penelec Art Galleries are major exhibition facilities for northwestern Pennsylvania, offering a lively and varied exhibition program with an accent on contemporary art. Additionally, field trips to the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, or the Carnegie Museum of Art, Andy Warhol Museum, and the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh each provide students with opportunities to explore world-renowned art collections.

Communication Arts

The Communication Arts and Theatre Department is dedicated to the creative and critical study of communication, with special emphasis on theatre, rhetoric, and media. Students engage in production, performance, and critical cultural studies and are encouraged to develop habits of engaged citizenship, thoughtful professionalism, and a meaningful private life.

Dance and Movement Studies

Dance and Movement Studies provides an experiential program that explores the relationship of movement to self, culture, and environment. Dance and Movement Studies courses are available to all students. Some choose to include the dance experience in their academic program by becoming dance and movement studies minors. Some dance as they fulfill distribution requirements. Others dance to enhance prior study in the field, and still others come to the studio to explore dance and movement for the first time. All are welcome.

Student Organizations

Student-inspired and -directed organizations and activities help students develop leadership skills and make a lasting impact on Allegheny’s campus culture. Our students create, laugh, dance, play, explore and serve together every day. As they make their mark on Allegheny’s rich campus life, they’re also developing the combinations of interests that drive them to learn and succeed.