Webb's diverse performing and visual arts curriculum exposes students to exciting, groundbreaking work from around the world and throughout history -- and then challenges them to create their own. Whether it's translating Hindu myths into puppetry or composing original Greek tragedies based on the rules of Aristotle's Poetics, Webb art classes encourage students to find unique, unconventional ways to express their ideas, as they hone their understanding of theory and technique.

In our orchestra, woodwinds and strings work separately with master teachers to help develop their skills and repertoire in small ensembles. They then come together as they learn the intricacies of playing in a full orchestra, performing in candlelight concerts in the chapel or alongside talented actors in the spring musical. Serious music students pursue individual and small group lessons in our afternoon program through our wide network of private tutors including faculty at the Claremont Colleges. Supervised practice time during evening labs enables students the opportunity to grow as musicians. Webb’s singing groups – the Webb chorus and chamber singers – perform alongside the orchestra, displaying their own vast repertoire and growing talents.

While most arts electives are co-ed, the introductory theater courses are single-sex, with lesson plans tailored to capitalize on boys' natural competitive drive and support girls' creative problem-solving abilities, while giving both sexes the space to express themselves more freely. Advanced students can continue their studies in electives such as Shakespeare through Performance, or try out for one of the three theatrical productions staged each year. 

Visual arts studio will find an exciting world in our well-equipped studio, a large open expanse with interior and exterior spaces--the perfect classroom arrangement to encourage student artists to experiment with mixed-media and collaborate with other artists.

Webb's Fine Arts program teaches students to turn knowledge into action, preparing them and empowering them to transform themselves and the world around them.

Fine and Performing Arts students at Webb have facilities to learn and develop skills across a broad spectrum of visual, dramatic, musical and digital arts.

Copeland Donahue Theater and Digital Media Studio

Created through a gift by Jim '42 and Lin Burke, the Copeland Donahue Theater is truly “unbounded” in many ways. The theater is a type often called a Black Box because of its plain, black interior. This style allows for a more flexible performance space and is a favorite for non-traditional theater productions. In addition, the theater holds a hi-tech digital media studio for creating cutting-edge digital works. Yet perhaps even more forward-thinking than these features is the design of the theater itself. From concept through construction, both the building and grounds were planned with sustainability  as a priority. The theater and the art installation on the adjacent hillside each won on an Excellence in Design Award from the City of Claremont in 2009.

The theater has quickly become a new center for the Fine and Performing Arts at Webb. It has hosted plays, concerts, art shows and guest artist lectures as well as theater arts and digital media classes.

Art Studio

Visual arts students use drawing, painting, sculpting, ceramics and other techniques to explore and reflect upon their world with creativity. The art studio also includes wood-working equipment, a smelting furnace, a ceramics wheel, a kiln and student gallery space.

Susan A. Nelson Center for the Performing Arts

With an expanded emphasis on arts in the curriculum comes a need for more modern and functional spaces for the visual and performing arts to rehearse, experiment, create, perform and display their work. A reconfigured and renovated Mudd Building will complete an entirely new Performing Arts Center to be dedicated in 2012.