September 3, 2024

For Athens, Georgia, native Lou Walker, one visit was all it took. 

Her search for the right university to continue her life-long love of theatre and transform it into a career led her in many potential directions, including Columbus State University. On her first visit to campus, she learned about the touring shows within the Department of Theatre & Dance—and she was hooked. 

Walker’s full-circle moment arrived when she participated as a senior in the spring 2023 touring show of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Her graduation in December 2023 with a bachelor of arts in theatre focusing on costuming and directing led to a semester-long position as the department’s assistant costume shop manager—followed by spending the summer of 2024 as a teaching artist with the Tony Award-winning and Atlanta-based Alliance Theatre.

This fall, Walker has taken her place as the costume shop assistant manager with the Florida Repertory Theatre in Fort Myers. 

As a child, Walker filled notebooks with her costume doodles and ideas; now those ideas are becoming a reality, thanks to her time at Columbus State. Looking back at her academic experience, she credits the Department of Theatre & Dance faculty with her development. 

“While you’re there, the faculty builds you up and prepares you for what you want to do, where you want to go,” Walker said. “When you graduate, you know you have the skills you need. You’re prepared. You’re pushed to be independent and unafraid to take chances, to step out of your comfort zone and learn life skills along with theatre skills. My professors took what I had to offer and showed me how to do it better, to be better. It’s not about holding your hand; it’s about figuring out the next steps together and teaching me the problem-solving skills I need to step out on my own.”

When a small group of friends from her high school followed her to Columbus State after hearing about her experiences, Walker realized that size matters when it comes to theatre programs. 

“In a program the size of Columbus State’s, you’re not oversaturated by too many students,” she recalled. “There’s space to grow and work together with other theatre students at all levels to build a great experience. At CSU, you can reach your creative potential.”

Several months out of college and starting her career, Walker now fully understands the effort it takes to produce a show. Whereas before she might look at the entirety of a show, now she’s acutely aware of various elements like sound, lighting and costuming and how they combine to drive emotion and create an overall experience.

Walker, who counts “Hadestown” and “Bright Star” among her favorite shows, desires to become a teaching artist eventually. But until then, she is well aware that, thanks to Columbus State, she is “literally living the dream!” 

STUDYING THEATRE AT COLUMBUS STATE

Based in the College of the Arts, the Department of Theatre & Dance prepares undergraduate students for acting roles on stage and production roles behind the curtain. Students can pursue bachelor of arts and bachelor of fine arts degrees in theatre, theatre performance, and theatre design and technology.

The department also hosts the University System of Georgia’s only undergraduate programs in theatre education; master of education and master of arts in teaching degrees in theatre education are also available. Students can deepen their interests and studies in musical theatre and dance through certificates and minors. 

Year-round productions serve as workshops where students put their acting, directing, producing and design talents center stage. Productions vary in genre, subject and audience, benefit from the department’s dedicated RiverPark Campus facilities, and are a cornerstone of the community’s vibrant arts and entertainment sector.

Prospective students must participate in an audition and interview before being admitted. Those are scheduled during the fall, spring and summer semesters. Visit the department’s webpage or Instagram account for more information about studying theatre and dance at Columbus State.

---

Story contributed by Kim Drew, APR

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu