Mission:

"The Department of Performing Arts inspires and develops the intellectual and creative potential of the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of American University . We foster excellence in scholarship, artistry, and experiential inquiry within and between the disciplines of arts management, dance, music, theatre, and music theatre. By integrating the traditions and innovations of a liberal arts education in the context of the vibrant Washington , DC arts community, we cultivate citizens who actively contribute to their local and global communities and embody the moral and ethical responsibilities of the 21st century."