At its heart, professional wrestling is a form of performance art. A Pennsylvania-based school took that to heart, offering a class that included a field trip to an All Elite Wrestling show.
For the 2024 fall semester, first-year students at Lycoming College could sign up for a “Theatre of Professional Wrestling” seminar. The class is led by Matt Ripa, M.F.A., visiting assistant professor of theatre. They dove into the theatrical nature of wrestling, its history, and what it does today in a live TV setting.
“The class explores the theatrical nature of professional wrestling, from its roots in circus, vaudeville, and wild west shows to the sports entertainment on TV today,” said Ripa in an interview with the college. “We learn about acting, stage combat, character, and scriptwriting.” The class offers a lecture three times a week. There, students complete projects, such as creating their own wrestling personas, as well as deep dives into the earliest forms of wrestling and its counterparts.
“It has been said that ‘wrestling is Shakespeare for the masses’ in that it has all of the drama, storytelling, twists and turns, and action that one would want out of the best Shakespeare production.”
As part of the seminar’s lesson, the students and class took a “field trip” to Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes Barre, PA. The group saw a taping of AEW Dynamite and Rampage on September 18, 2024. The class also got to speak with a costume designer for pro wrestlers. They also explored things like match scripts and the art of wrestling. This culiminated in the students orchestrating their own wrestling matches.
It’s unclear whether or not Lycoming College will offer the seminar again. However, those looking for more information can head to their website to learn more.
