Direction

“The mission of the Department of Performing Arts is to lay a foundation for our students in the theatrical principles, techniques and practices that will help them realize their potential not only as artists, but also as human beings.” – From the department mission statement

The art of a theatre director relies on a skill and knowledge base that is vast and deep. The liberal arts offerings at Marquette University are ideal for preparing young directors for their future careers, giving you a strong understanding and perspective on the human condition. Your theatre course work includes study of performance, history, analysis and design, along with sequenced direction course work. You gain a unique blend of global understanding within the context of theatre, building a strong foundation on which to develop as an artist.

Student directors have ample opportunities to develop their craft through student-driven productions, realized class work, and the Capstone sequence of coursework. You can get the chance to assist our directors on the main stage productions, working closely with faculty directors to gain valuable experience that often leads to a directing opportunity on the main stage. Our graduates are employed in a wide range of careers; from high school teacher, to professional theatre director, to television and sitcom work in Hollywood, they are putting their Marquette experience to work.

Debra Krajec – Directing and Costume Design Faculty

It's been said many times that art reflects life, and Deb Krajec will inform you no art does that better than the theatre. Humans have been telling stories ever since there has been a way to communicate. But there's no point in telling a story if you're not going to do it well. That's why our department offers courses in directing, which Deb teaches. The tools used when directing are just as valuable as when performing; many students discover that they are even more passionate about directing than acting. This is the case for Deb herself, who has directed more than 20 main stage performances since coming to Marquette in 1984, in addition to working as a costume designer for more than 55 productions. Whether the production is a classic by Shakespeare or Moliere, a historical drama or a contemporary comedy, Deb spends hours on end researching, reading, designing and blocking before rehearsals even begin. This level of commitment is of vital importance for both her productions and her classes. A member of Actors’ Equity and a Fellow of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Deb exemplifies a unique aspect of the Diederich College Performing Arts Department through her roles as a faculty member in both directing and costume design. Our faculty don't work in isolation from each other; they all have a strong grasp of what their colleagues are doing, and the students benefit greatly from their broad range of knowledge.