Department of Theatre Freshman Showcase Kicks Off Tonight

Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre will present, as its Freshman Showcase, a magical production ofGiants Have Us in Their Books and Other Works by Jose Rivera, giving the new voices in the Department of Theatre an opportunity to shine. Directed by Department of Theatre Specialist Dionne O’Dell, this collection of short, fantastical, "children's plays for adults" is infused with magical realism and…

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Mapping the Sounds of Religion

What does religion in the Global Midwest sound like? Where should one go to hear it? How might we understand religious diversity in the global Midwest if we begin by listening? The Religious Soundmap Project invites broad public audiences to experience the religious diversity of the Midwest through sound. The hope is to invite new ways of thinking about religion in the global Midwest.

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Department of Theatre to Present ‘The Misanthrope’

The MSU Department of Theatre is proud to present Molière’s The Misanthrope in a lively verse adaptation by Constance Congdon, based on a translation by Virginia Scott. Directed by Dan Smith, this biting comedy of manners brings rococo elegance and philosophical flair to the Arena Theatre November 10-19.

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Students and Broadway Professionals Collaborate on New Musical

Anna Birmingham, a junior double majoring in Theatre and Social Relations and Policy with a minor in Musical Theatre, has spent the last two weeks working with Broadway professionals as part of the imáGen collaboration between MSU’s Department of Theatre and Wharton Center Institute for Arts & Creativity. Each year, since 2014, imáGen invites Broadway writers, actors, and dramaturges to…

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Student-Created Independent Film to Premiere April 25

Students in the Fiction Filmmaking minor have been hard at work all year creating a short film that will premiere next week. The film, titled On the Way Up, tells a touching story of a woman who, after the attempted suicide of her boyfriend who has bipolar disorder, is forced to reevaluate not only her life, but their relationship. On the…

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Divergent Voices Theme of 2017-2018 Department of Theatre Season

In a time where debate may be equivalent to yelling, where respect means only similar points of view, where we all seem to only agree on disagreement, theatre must do what it was created to do: offer an outlet for “Divergent Voices.” With the theme “Divergent Voices,” the MSU Department of Theatre 2017-2018 season will offer chances to examine topics, characters, and…

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Art Professor Retires After 49 Years at MSU

After 49 years of teaching at Michigan State University, Professor James Lawton will retire on May 16, 2017. Lawton first joined the Department of Art, Art History, and Design (formerly the Department of Art and Art History) in 1968, where he has taught all levels of sculpture and ceramics. Since the beginning of his MSU career, Lawton has contributed significantly…

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Film by MSU Professor to Air on National TV

Music can be much more than just a catchy lyric or a smooth melody, something to distract and entertain while you’re in the car. It can evoke emotion, spread a message, and sometimes like fine art, it can reveal a story about the American soul. Peabody award-winning filmmaker and Michigan State University Professor of Practice John Valadez, who has a…

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