Theatre Department

Theatre Department

Recognized by the Kennedy Center in 2013 for distinction in theater production, Anoka-Ramsey Community College offers one of the finest two-year theater education programs in Minnesota.

Our productions are only open for participation to Anoka-Ramsey students, allowing greater opportunities in acting, design and production. Join a nearly 50-year tradition of creating engaging, exciting theater here at Anoka-Ramsey.

 

Who We Are

Our Theater degree has a generalist focus allowing Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in theater majors a variety of experiences in acting, design and production. Classroom learning offers students an introduction to practices, techniques and historical influences that are unique to our productions.

Our three show season serves as a laboratory where classroom learning is practiced and excellence demonstrated. Our productions serve as springboard for deeper learning about the craft of theater making.

Upcoming Events 
Course Descriptions
Department Directory
Admissions | 763-433-1300
Dean Hannah Oliha-Donaldson |
763-433-1186

Meet Blayn Lemke

Blayn Lemke
Meet Blayn Lemke
Instructor of Theatre
View All Faculty Profiles

Meet Holli Richgels

Holli Richgels
Meet Holli Richgels
Theatre student
View All Student Profiles

Degrees We Offer

Courses offered include a wide range of specialties with particular emphasis on performance and technical theatre.

The department offers one degree:

  • Cambridge Campus produces one production each academic year.

    Students participate in all aspects of production including acting, stagecraft, lighting, costuming, stage management and assistant directing.

    Whether you are an experienced performer or a novice, there is a place for you in the Theatre program. If you can hammer a nail, sew a stitch, or create a character onstage, we want you!

    Comedy Triple Feature


    "Comedy Triple Feature"
    "The Proposal"
    "Here We Are"
    "The Sure Thing"

    By: Anton Chekhov, Dorothy Parker, David Ives
    Directed by: Lisa Weaver


    "And Then There Were None"

    By: Agatha Christie
    Directed by: Lisa Weaver

    "The Last Night of Ballyhoo"

    By: Alfred Uhry
    Directed by: Lisa Weaver
    "Nice People Dancing to Good
    Country Music"

    By: Lee Blessing
    Directed by: Lisa Weaver


    "Fools"

    By: Neil Simon
    Directed by: Gail Kasl


    "The Dining Room"

    By: A.R. Gurney
    Directed by: Gail Kasl


    "Dinner with Friends"

    By: Donald Margulies
    Directed by: Lisa Weaver    		  

  • Our students are engaged in all areas of production. Whether performing on stage as actors or creating props and costumes in our shops or building scenery, running lights, sound, and special effects behind the scenes – we offer many exciting opportunities for everyone to get involved.

    Take a look at some of our recent work and see for yourself the variety and quality of our student’s production work here at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

     

     

    		  

    The Foreigner

    By Larry Shue
    Directed by Thomas McCarthy


    Guys and Dolls

    By Damon Runyon
    Music & Lyrics by Frank Loesser
    Book by Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows.
    Directed by Scott Ford


    The Hollow

    By Agatha Christie
    Directed by Lisa Weaver


    "Flavio Betrayed a Comedia"

    By: Scott Ford
    Directed by: Scott Ford


    HONK!

    Music by: George Stiles
    Books and Lyrics by: Anthony Drewe
    Directed by: Scott Ford


    A View From the Bridge

    By: Arthur Miller
    Directed by: Lisa Weaver


    The IT Girl

    By: Michael Small and BT McNichol
    Directed by: Scott Ford


    Las Hermanas Padilla

    By: Tony Meneses
    Directed by: Blayn Lemke


    Tartuffe

    By: Moilere
    Directed by: Blayn Lemke


    Urinetown The Musical

    Music By: Mark Hollmann
    Lyrics By: Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis
    Directed By: Scott Ford


    The House of Blue Leaves

    By: John Guare
    Directed by: Blayn Lemke


    Anatomy of Gray

    By: Jim Leonard
    Directed: Scott Ford


    Book of Days

    By: Lanford Wilson
    Directed by: Lisa Weaver


    Harvey

    By: Mary Chase
    Directed by: Jack Bibee


    HMS Pinafore

    By: Gilbert & Libretto Sullivan
    Directed by: Blayn Lemke

  • Anoka-Ramsey Community College is a great place to begin or continue your Theatre training. 

    Students of Anoka-Ramsey regularly go on to complete Theatre degrees at four-year colleges and universities such as the University of Minnesota, University of

    Minnesota-Duluth, Hamline University, Minnesota State University at Mankato and Moorhead, Winona State University, the University of  Colorado, the University of South Dakota, and many others.

    Theatre students from Anoka-Ramsey regularly appear on stage and backstage all over the Twin Cities. Our alumni have worked for the best theatres in the region including the Guthrie, Chanhassen Dinner theatres, Theatre in the Round, the Old Log Theatre and the Medora Musical. Others have appeared in television commercials and locally produced films. Some have even grabbed the national spotlight, performing on stage and television for Disney and Nickelodeon and stage managing international Broadway Tours.

  • Whether you are an experienced performer or technician or a theatre novice, there is a place for you in the Anoka-Ramsey Theatre program. We can provide you with valuable experience and training to start a career in theatre or just a welcoming environment to discover all the elements that go into a production. With two or three major productions each year at the Coon Rapids Campus, regular opportunities for involvement abound as students participate in all aspects of production; including acting, stagecraft, lighting, sound, props, costuming, stage management, and assistant directing. If you have a desire to construct scenery or costumes or create a character onstage, this is the place for you!

    Whether you become directly involved or not, be sure to see all four shows. Anoka-Ramsey students receive two free tickets for each production.

    Tickets are available online starting four weeks prior to each performance or can be purchased at the box office starting 1 hour prior to curtain each night.

  • Check out the Theatre's coloring book Fun for all ages!

More About The Department

Students Can See Free Performances

With your student ID, you can get two free tickets to any Theatre production at Anoka-Ramsey.

For more information and viewing please visit https://www.arcctheatre.com/current-production

Meet Our Students and Alumni

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  1. Meet Makya NeVilles-Sorell
    Person in a yellow Anoka-Ramsey Community College sweatshirt smiles while holding a pen and writing in a notebook, seated on a gray couch with a small white table.
    Makya NeVilles-Sorell
    Arts & Communication
    AFA Creative Writing
    Person in a yellow Anoka-Ramsey Community College sweatshirt smiles while holding a pen and writing in a notebook, seated on a gray couch with a small white table.

    "Anoka-Ramsey is close to where I live and it has a great reputation."

  2. Meet Patty Koljonen
    Person sitting at a table, wearing glasses and a purple hoodie smiling at the camera in a brightly colored room.
    Patty Koljonen
    Allied Health & Nursing
    Integrative Health and Healing
    Person sitting at a table, wearing glasses and a purple hoodie smiling at the camera in a brightly colored room.

    "The best aspect of Anoka-Ramsey Community College is the people. They simply make the learning experience enjoyable."

  3. Meet Dylan Herbst
    Medical professional in blue scrubs with stethoscope standing confidently in a clinic lobby.
    Dylan Herbst
    Allied Health & Nursing
    Nursing AS
    Medical professional in blue scrubs with stethoscope standing confidently in a clinic lobby.

    "I was quite nervous during the transition from high-school to college. The faculty here worked with me and the process was very smooth. I was sitting in class working toward my future aspirations in no time."

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