If you would’ve asked Al Corley what his future would look like when he was a freshman at Missouri State, a life in theatre wouldn’t have made it on the list.

“Missouri State was the beginning of everything for me. I hadn’t even seen a single play before coming here. Who would I be if I hadn’t come to MSU?” He went on to star in the 1980s hit “Dynasty,” which led to a career in acting and producing.

ENTERING UNIVERSITY AS A BASKETBALL BEAR – THEN, AN INJURY CHANGES HIS PATH

Corley grew up in the small town of Waynesville, Missouri, and came to MSU on a basketball scholarship. Corley fondly remembers his time on the team, though it was cut short by a severe leg injury in his sophomore year.

“Basketball was my life,” Corley said. “I thought my life was over; I had no idea what to do for the rest of my college career.” Luckily, life in theatre was waiting for him in the wings.

HOW HE ENTERED THE “STRANGE AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF THEATRE”

Corley went on a blind date with a theatre student shortly after his injury.

“She saw that I wasn’t sure where to turn next and suggested I take an acting class,” Corley said. “At first I thought that seemed crazy, but she convinced me that I might like it. Turns out I did.”

Corley’s first show was a Tent Theatre production of “Godspell.” He was instantly hooked.

A friend introduced Corley to John Goodman, fellow athlete and “theatre kid.” A senior when Corley was a sophomore, Goodman — who had been a football Bear — showed Corley the possibility of moving from athletics to performing arts.

“John was a mentor to me, though he had no idea the impact he had,” Corley said. “I looked to him when first trying to navigate this strange and wonderful world of theatre. I dove in feet-first… and head-first. I entirely changed my life trajectory from pre-law to theatre.”

“The first half of my life revolved around basketball, my fraternity and girls,” Corley said. He was in Tau Kappa Epsilon and played on their intramural football team. “The second half of my life happened as if the first half never existed. Theatre was my everything.”

In his final two years at MSU, Corley focused on art, literature, music and theatre.

STARRING ON “DYNASTY” AND CREATING A PRODUCTION COMPANY

After his time at Missouri State, Corley went backpacking around Europe. He then began a life in New York City, once working as a doorman at Studio 54 to pay for lessons at the Actors Studio.

“I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from a few of the greatest acting teachers of all time: Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler,” Corley said. He was a theatre actor in New York, then moved to Los Angeles.

He became famous for his role as Steven Carrington on the television show “Dynasty.” While he enjoyed his time in the limelight, Corley thought it best to have a backup plan. This led him to create the production company Code Entertainment. Through it, he’s produced many films and worked with numerous stars.

“I attribute all of my success to Missouri State,” Corley said. “Everything I do and everything I’ve done is because MSU gave me the opportunity to be great. It all started here.”

ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP TO HELP FUTURE MISSOURI STATE THEATRE STUDENTS

In 2022, for the first time in 40 years, Corley returned to Missouri State — in fact, he was here twice in the same month.

He attended the John Goodman Amphitheatre dedication in October 2022 and reconnected with campus. He returned three weeks later for a basketball reunion. The trip tied together both halves of his college career.

“I’d lost connection with my roots,” Corley said. “I realized that I wanted to give back to the place that gave me everything.”

Corley decided to establish the Al Corley and Family Scholarship in Theatre. It is open to undergraduate students with majors in acting, musical theatre or theatre.

“I know how hard it was to be a full-time student who still needs to eat and pay for things. I just thought, if I could help a student in the theatre department and make it a little easier for them, it’s the least I can do. I have the funds to give back, so I am. It’s as simple as that,” Corley said.

“There are an endless amount of people from Missouri State who’ve made a mark on my life. I want to do my part to help create a similar experience for others. When you get older, you look back more than you look forward. And when I looked back, I saw the shining impact Missouri State had on my life.”

Corley hopes students who apply are fervent in their endeavors and have a deep love for the arts. “Love it, man. You gotta love it,” Corley said. “If you don’t, then it’s not worth pursuing.”