Theatre

Two women are standing in an indoor setting. One looks concerned with her hand on her forehead, while the other gently touches her shoulder, offering comfort.

Medical Simulation Center Transformed into Immersive Theatre Production

June 3, 2026

For a recent theatre production presented by members of the Department of Theatre at Michigan State University, audience members became part of the performance, one that transformed a healthcare simulation center into a deeply intimate, immersive theatrical experience that blurred the line between actors and audience. This production of "Mary Jane" was not confined to the stage, nor was the audience confined to their seats.

An energetic outdoor theatrical performance takes place on a stage featuring a backdrop shaped like an open, illustrated children's book. In the foreground, an audience seated in lawn chairs raises their arms to mirror the choreography of the actors on stage.

Theatre

Summer Circle Theatre to Offer Free Outdoor Performances at MSU June 4-21

May 26, 2026

Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre is preparing for the 2026 Summer Circle Theatre season, which runs June 4-21 and will feature three productions, along with pre- and post-show performances, including lively cabarets and improv. This marks the 64th year Summer Circle Theatre (SCT) has offered free outdoor performances for the public to enjoy. "In the past six decades,…

A bustling science fair with diverse participants discussing poster presentations. The venue is filled with detailed posters and engaged attendees.

AAHD / Award / English / Event / French / Linguistics / News / Research / Student / Student / Theatre

College of Arts & Letters Students Earn First-Place Awards at Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum

May 11, 2026

Eight students whose primary majors are in the College of Art & Letters received first-place awards for their research and creative scholarship presented at Michigan State University’s 28th annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF). Several other MSU students who received first-place awards were mentored by faculty within the College of Arts & Letters.

A smiling group poses indoors; a man stands between two women wearing light blue "scholar" sashes. A colorful "Thank you" sign is in the background.

Citizen Scholars / English / Graduating Senior / News / Student / Student / Study Abroad / Theatre / Women’s and Gender Studies

Citizen Scholars First to Complete Reflective Leadership Certificate

May 5, 2026

When the College of Arts & Letters’ Citizen Scholars Program at Michigan State University introduced the Undergraduate Certificate in Reflective Leadership in the Arts and Humanities in 2023, the goal was to give students a structured way to translate their study of the arts and humanities into the kind of leadership the world is asking for: thoughtful, ethical, and grounded…

A composite of four headshots. Top left: Smiling woman with curly brown hair, wearing a mesh cardigan over a gray top. She has a nose ring and a necklace, set against a plain background. Top right: Young man in a green graduation gown and tie stands smiling in front of a tree. He wears a pink stole and yellow honors cord, conveying achievement. Bottom left: Man in a striped shirt stands beside artwork titled "M.E.L.T.T." on a gallery wall. Bright abstract painting in the background. Calm expression. Bottom right: Smiling young adult male with short hair, wearing a patterned button-up shirt against a soft blue background. Mood is friendly and welcoming.

AAHD / Art, Art History, and Design / Award / Citizen Scholars / English / Film Studies / Graduating Senior / Linguistics / News / Student / Student / Theatre

Four Graduating Seniors Honored as the 2026 Louis B. Sudler Prize Winners

April 27, 2026

Four graduating seniors were awarded this year’s Louis B. Sudler Prize, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the performing and creative arts, including fine arts, music, creative writing, theatre, and electronic/photographic arts. Presented each year by the College of Arts & Letters, recipients must be members of the senior graduating class and demonstrate outstanding achievement in the performing or creative arts and show promise for future achievement.

Two young women sit on a stage, one comforting the other by holding her face. Both wear casual summer outfits. The woman on the right holds yellow flowers, conveying emotions of support and tenderness.

Arts MSU / Faculty / Faculty / Lansing-East Lansing Impact / News / Performance / Production / Student / Student / Theatre / U.S. Impact

MSU Premieres New Musical, Exploring Caregiving, Resilience, and Mental Health

April 15, 2026

Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre invites audiences to experience Dandelion, a 23-song original musical based on a true story that will resonate with families everywhere. Brought to life in just months with limited resources and running April 23-26, 2026, at Studio 60 in the MSU Auditorium, this new musical tells the story of a daughter who longs to leave…

Three people in historical costumes stand in a corridor with arched windows. The mood is formal and posed, with warm lighting highlighting their attire.

Theatre

Slow-Burn Romance and Drama: ‘Jane Austen’s Persuasion’ Comes to MSU

March 31, 2026

If you love slow-burn romances, second chances, and just the right amount of yearning, Jane Austen’s Persuasion is sure to draw you in. From left to right: Karen Law, playing Anne Elliot; Ben Larson, playing Young Frederick; and Arielle Olkhovsky, playing Young Anne, in the MSU Department of Theatre production of Persuasion. (Photo by Nicole Merchant) MSU’s Department of Theatre…

A film promotional graphic for "When We Get There." The top half features a cinematic sunset over a landscape with the film title in large yellow block letters. It shows the main cast members—Alek Kristopher, Chris Heeder, Alfred Molina, and Jamie Lien—interacting in character. The bottom half is a grid of four character portraits showing Chris Heeder, Jamie Lien, Alek Kristopher, and Ryan Patrick Welsh.

News / Theatre

How an MSU Theatre Professor Turned an Abandoned Film Project into a Feature Film Streamed Worldwide

March 25, 2026

As the world cautiously emerged from pandemic lockdowns in spring 2021, Ryan Welsh, Associate Professor of Theatre at Michigan State University, was ready to direct his first feature film. He had assembled a crew and secured time to shoot when the project unexpectedly fell through. But rather than completely abandoning the opportunity, he made a bold decision to write, cast, and produce an entirely new film in a matter of a few weeks.

Eight cast members of RA-Holes posed on and around a brown leather couch against a light blue background. Four students stand in the back row while four others sit in front, displaying a range of exaggerated and comedic expressions.

Arts MSU / Faculty / News / Performance / Production / Student / Student / Theatre

MSU Production Blends Theatre, Digital Storytelling, and TV for Live Studio Audience Experience

March 19, 2026

MSU’s Department of Theatre invites you to step into the excitement of a live sitcom recording where lights blaze, cameras roll, and the laughter is real. This spring, audiences have an opportunity to experience that electric atmosphere firsthand as a WKAR studio becomes the stage for a one-of-a-kind theatrical event. Recorded in Front of a Live Studio Audience: THIS RA…

A two-by-two grid of headshots featuring four MSU faculty members. Top left is Jonathan Choti in a blue blazer; top right is Philip Effiong in a green sweater and round glasses; bottom left is is Peter Glendinning in a blue blazer holding a camera; bottom right Stephen Esquith in a dark blazer and purple tie.

AAHD / Art, Art History, and Design / Faculty / Faculty / Grant / Linguistics / News / Philosophy / Programs / Student / Student / Theatre

Faculty and Students Engage in Cross-Cultural Teaching and Learning Through COIL Program

March 12, 2026

Four College of Arts & Letters faculty members are part of the third cohort of the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Faculty Fellows Program-Africa, pairing them with faculty from an African country with the goal of engaging students in meaningful global learning experiences. An online cross-cultural teaching and learning method, the COIL program links university courses, faculty, and students in different countries,…