Conservatory of Performing Arts Fact Sheet

About the Conservatory of Performing Arts

Point Park University's dance and theatre programs were established in 1968 as part of the Department of Performing Arts, which was later renamed the Department of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts. The department evolved into the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA), which became one of the institution's schools in 2003 when Point Park received university status.

COPA currently consists of three departments: dance, theatre and cinema arts. Admission to COPA's dance and theatre programs is among the most competitive in the nation. Only 10 percent of those who apply are accepted.

In addition to a full-time faculty that possesses outstanding credentials, COPA students also have the opportunity to work with and learn from guest artists, such as Ann Reinking, Jane Alexander, Robert Cuccioli, Robert Miller, Michael Rupert, Anthony Newley, Robert Battle and Stephen Flaherty. Guest speakers have included Jimmy Miller, founder and manager of Mosaic Media in Los Angeles, New York Post dance critic Clive Barnes and performance legend Elaine Stritch. Marvin Hamlisch was the 2011 Distinguished Master Artist in Residence.

COPA Highlights:

Point Park purchased the Pittsburgh Playhouse in 1968. In fall 2018, the Pittsburgh Playhouse opened on Forbes Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh, a 90,411 square-foot theater complex.
Dance program founder Nicolas Petrov, a retired professor of dance, was a founder and artistic director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in the late 1960s. The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre was housed at Point Park College in the late 1960s through 1973.
COPA's annual New York City showcase provides outstanding graduating theatre majors with the opportunity to audition before industry agents, managers and personnel.
The low-residency M.F.A. in Writing for the Screen and Stage Program launched in fall 2014.
The growing cinema arts program began as one of the few all-digital film programs in the country.
International Summer Dance is a six-week, pre-professional, intensive program that attracts more than 200 students from across the United States and around the world.
Point Park University's Pittsburgh Playhouse maintains a rigorous performance schedule with 18 major productions and 235 performances entertaining more than 30,000 patrons annually.
Dance students annually compete on the regional level of the American College Dance Festival. On eight separate occasions, students have been invited to participate in the National Festival at the Kennedy Center. In addition, Point Park dancers have participated in the finals of the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition.
The low-residency M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts launched in winter 2024.
The Dance Department will host the 2025 National High School Dance Festival, welcoming high school dancers from around the world.

Website

www.pointpark.edu/copa

Enrollment (Fall 2024)

Undergraduate: 849
Graduate: 13

COPA students represent 44 states and territories, and seven foreign countries.

Degrees

The Department of Cinema Arts offers B.F.A. degrees in Animation, Cinema Production and Screenwriting, as well as a B.A. in Cinema Arts. Additionally, the department offers a Low-Residency M.F.A. in Writing for the Screen and Stage.

The Department of Dance offers B.F.A. degrees in Ballet, Jazz and Modern and a B.A. in Dance Education.

The Department of Theatre offers B.F.A. degrees in Theatre Arts, Acting, Musical Theatre and Theatre Production.

The Conservatory of Performing Arts offers a Low-Residency M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts.

Fast-Track Master's Programs

Companies

COPA has student companies - Conservatory Theatre Company, Conservatory Dance Company and Bridges Theatre Company.

Facilities

The George Rowland White Performance Center
The LEED Gold-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building is one of Downtown Pittsburgh's newest buildings and one of the few green arts facilities in the region. The 44,000-square-foot complex includes dance studios and a convertible performance space. Studio details include:
- George Rowland White Performance Studio
  Named for longtime University trustee and supporter Dr. George R. White, the studio has intimate audience seating for 188 and a 40' x 30' performance space, the second largest in Downtown Pittsburgh. The black-box theater can be converted into a flexible performance space and is available to rent for public events.
- Hilda Willis Tap Dance Studio
  Students in the dance and musical theatre programs use this 40' x 50' facility, located on the lower level, which was made possible by a generous contribution from the Hilda M. Willis Foundation.
- George Rowland White Dance Studios Two Through Seven
  Studios on the first, second and fourth floors average 60' x 60' in size and have extra high ceilings, offering the dancers maximum space for grand allegro, circular formations and lifts.
- Point Park University's Pittsburgh Playhouse
  Point Park University's Pittsburgh Playhouse is the performing arts center of Point Park University and the Conservatory of Performing Arts.

Leadership

Garfield Lemonius, artistic director and dean, Conservatory of Performing Arts
Kiesha Lalama, managing and artistic director, Pittsburgh Playhouse

Faculty

Cinema Arts

Andrew Halasz, chair
Laura Boyd
Nelson Chipman
Elise D'Haene
Kelly Donnellan
Jason Georgiades
H Haden Hammond
Rick Hawkins
Fred Johnson
David Morrison
Geoff Munn
Hanjin Park
Kyu Park
Matt Pelfrey
Jonathan Trueblood

Dance

Susan Stowe, chair
Beverly Bautista
Norbert de la Cruz
Julia Erickson
Jesse Factor
Crystal Frazier
Colleen Hooper
Jae Man Joo
Daniel Karasik
Kiki Lucas
Jason McDole
Robert McKee
Marc Spaulding

Theatre

Teresa Gregory, chair
Milia Ayache
Aaron Bollinger
Zeva Barzell
April Daras
Richard Keitel
Tim Marquette
Stephanie Mayer-Staley
Sheila McKenna
Samuel Munoz
Colin Ruffer
Jennifer Scheier
Robin Walsh
Cat Wilson
Phil Winters