It's worse than you imagine possible, apparently. Some courses are MANDATING attendance. All the colleges listed, IIRC, are providing funding for the performances.
I'm sure you're mistaken. Universities typically don't mandate extra-curricular activities.
Perhaps drama students are required to participate in theater productions or something along those lines.
>>I'm sure you're mistaken. Universities typically don't mandate extra-curricular activities.<<
That's simply very, very false. Hell, nowadays most SCHOLARSHIPS and ADMISSIONS mandate outside-the-classroom activities.
>> Perhaps drama students are required to participate in theater productions or something along those lines. <<
Go do a search on the topic. Attendence has been required for everything from Theology classes to sociology classes to women's studies classes.