Washington University offers a wide variety of different performing opportunities. Whether you’d like to make your voice heard as a member of an a cappella group or act out a play in the performing arts department, you can guarantee you’ll find the spotlight on you at Washington University. Nearly two thirds of the campus is involved with performing arts.

Below is just a sample of the many performing opportunities available on the Washington University campus:

A Cappella
With more than a dozen a cappella groups on campus, there is something for everyone. Washington University a cappella groups such as The Amateurs and The Mosaic Whispers have even recorded with musician Ben Folds. Just to name a few more, Wash. U. is home to the Greenleafs, an all-female group; the Stereotypes, an all-male group that has consistently performed in the ICCA college a cappella tournament; and Staam, a Jewish group. Students can even sing their favorite Disney tunes with the Aristocats! A capella groups perform at campus events and put on shows throughout the year.

Improv Comedy
Washington University hosts a bundle of improvisational groups, giving students a chance to think—and be funny—on their feet. The comedy troupes bring laughter and joy to the entire campus and students can audition for, or just go to watch, Mama’s Pot Roast, KARL, and Suspicious of Whistlers. Both Mama’s Pot Roast and KARL specialize in short-form improvisational skits, performing in a style similar to what’s seen on the television show “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” Suspicious of Whistlers is a long-form improv troupe, performing in a more scene-motivated manner.

Student Theatre
It has been said that “All the world is a stage,” and the Washington University Quadrangle is no exception. Each April, the members of the student group All Student Theatre turn the Quad into an outdoor student-run theater. Every aspect of the show—be it producing, designing or performing—is done by students. Recent productions include Footloose and Peter Pan. Another fully student-run performing group is Thyrsus, the oldest student group on campus. Thyrsus puts on an annual day-of-shame performance where they write direct and perform a series of short plays within a twenty-four hour time span. The University also puts on a set of plays and musicals through the Performing Arts Department.

Wash. U. Dance
Wash. U. JIVE is Washington University’s dance team. WU JIVE provides half-time entertainment at the Bears football and basketball games, as well as performing at various events on campus during the year. The group also works to involve students in dance who may not necessarily be interested in performing arts or cheerleading.

WUSauce is Washington University’s salsa dancing group. Along with dancing at University events such as Dance Marathon, the group offers free salsa lessons and hosts a dance-off to showcase all of the Washington University dance groups every spring.

WU-Slam
WU-Slam is the premier spoken word group at Washington University. The core of WU-Slam is the Performance Crew, which consists of the executive board and a traveling performance group.  However, WU-Slam also hosts a weekly poetry workshop, Inklings, that is open to all students, as well as monthly poetry slams, or spoken word competitions. The Grand Slam, held every fall, draws huge crowds to the Danforth University Center to watch students compete for spots on Wash. U.’s National Slam Team.