Title Photo

About Us

Community Partners

Department of Theatre Community Partners are essential to the development and growth of our program.  The Department of Theatre is committed to collaborating with and supporting our regional arts organizations and being their partner of first choice.  Examples of this collaborative engagement include:

  • IPFW provides rehearsal and performance space for several regional arts groups who are “in residence” at IPFW, including 24 Hour Playhouse in Studio Theatre. 
  • VPA supports Fort Wayne downtown and community development through multiple presentations, including performances during the Art United Festival and the run of our summer musical, both a part of the Three Rivers Festival.
  • Theatre provides reduced price high school student matinee performances throughout the season for teachers and their students.
  • VPA initiated an arts consortium of northern Indiana college arts programs to expand our community of learners and provide more arts education opportunities for the students of all northern Indiana colleges.
  • Theatre faculty and students work independently and collaboratively with other local arts organizations including the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre, Arena Dinner Theatre, First Presbyterian Theater, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Fort Wayne Dance Collective and the Fort Wayne Youtheatre.

 

The Department of Theatre is also committed to engagement with a variety of non-arts organizations to provide educational opportunities for our students while enhancing economic development and providing artistic services through:

  • IPFW Community Arts Academy year-round programming for at-risk students of partner organizations, including United Hispanic Americans, Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Child Protective Services, and the League for the Blind and Disabled.
  • Sign language interpreted performances during each Thursday night performance in Williams Theatre and providing Braille and large print program books.
  • Faculty outreach program to local high school teachers, conducting workshops and presentations for teachers and students of K-12 in the Fort Wayne Community Schools and East Allen County Schools.
  • Working collaborative on theatrical presentations in association with events at the History Center and with the Fort Wayne Jewish Federation.

Our partners benefit from the expertise of Theatre faculty and students, as well as through recognition in VPA Visions, and advertising in VPA program books. 

To find out more about how you can become a community partner of the Department of Theatre, contact Chair John O'Connell at oconnelj@ipfw.edu or call 260-481-6551.