Theatre has been a part of the cultural life of Wichita and the University for more than 100 years. The academic theatre program was initiated in 1924 by George Wilner; he continued to develop the program until his retirement in 1960. Dick Welsbacher came to WSU in 1958, was appointed director of theatre in 1960, and continued to expand the program until he retired in 1991. When theatre and dance were combined into the School of Performing Arts in 1987, Welsbacher was appointed chair; during his thirty-year tenure as director of theatre, he directed more than 150 productions and performed more than 200 roles. Leroy Clark became chair of the school in 1990.

Production is at the very center of the WSU theatre program. Presenting classical, contemporary, and musical theatre as well as original scripts, the theatre program enjoys a growing reputation for quality production and academic excellence. Students learn in a program that each year typically produces four Mainstage plays, four Second Stage productions, four Readers Theatre presentations, and three to five Summer Theatre productions. The plays are cast at open tryouts and involve some 150 students each year.

All types of plays are presented to give audiences and theatre students an understanding of the richness and variety of styles and periods which characterize the historical evolution of the theatre.

The theatre program has sponsored a national Playwriting Competition for thirty-one years and produces the winning play during the next academic year. Students thus have the opportunity to work with the authors on original scripts in creating roles for the first time.

For twenty-nine years the program has sponsored a national undergraduate Scene and Costume Design Competition, each year attracting approximately thirty designs from students across the U.S. The competition's distinguished judges have included Ming Cho Lee, Santo Loquasto, Howard Bay, Patricia Zipprodt, John Lee Beatty, Jane Greenwood, Larry King, Desmond Heeley, and Oliver Smith.

The Alumni Committee of the School sponsors a “Spotlight Series” of distinguished graduates who return to campus and share their professional interests and expertice. Lectures, master classes, workshops, and seminars by other distinguished professionals in the field are held each year as part of the educational experience. Recent guest artists have included The Aquila Company and “Barrage” (2004), actors Cloris Leachman, Hal Holbrook, Toni Gillman, and Ray Stricklyn; and designers Ben Edwards, Lynn Pectal, and J. Auburn Darnell.

The theatre program also offers more than $40,000 in undergraduate scholarships each year to new and continuing students.

Physical improvements to Wilner continue. Entrances have been rebuilt to accommodate the physically challenged, and an elevator has been installed.

The 90 seat Welsbacher Theatre at the Hughes Metroplex is increasingly well equipped. It has fine lighting and sound equipment and is now receiving new comfortable seating. It is used for Second Stage, Readers Theatre and Summer Theatre productions.