ESU's Theatre Program is housed in King Hall where you will find the Karl C. Bruder Theatre, the ESU Theatre offices, classrooms, and the Design Studio. The Ronald Q. Frederickson Theatre and the Inez P. Friesen Studio are in Roosevelt Hall while Albert Taylor Hall is situated in Plumb Hall.

The theatre program is one of three artistic programs within the School of Visual and Performing Arts. Classes and theatre productions were part of the academic program at Kansas State Normal beginning in 1913. Albert Taylor Hall, located in the Administration Building, now called Plumb Hall, was the home of major productions beginning in 1916. The program moved into its new home, the Humanities Building, in 1966. In 1981, the Humanities Building was renamed King Hall to honor former President John E. King, and the College Theatre was renamed the Bruder Theatre, to honor Professor Karl C. Bruder, long-time Chair of the program. The theatre program has always been an active participant in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. The program has twice hosted the regional festival, taken productions to several regional festivals, and performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.