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Fall Dance Concert celebrates human connection in “Continuum”

November 9, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

The Department of Theatre and Dance will present its Fall Dance Concert, “Continuum,” Nov. 12-15 in the Credo Arts Center.

Coordinated by Assistant Professor Jessica Madden, “Continuum” is the department’s last performance in the Credo Arts Center before moving into the Reynolds Performing Arts Complex set to open soon.

The event is free and open to the public. No ticket purchase required. The Credo Arts Center is located at 931 S. Kickapoo Ave.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12, 13 and 14. A matinee performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 15.

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Faculty pieces reflect on perceptions and perspectives

For her contribution, Madden collaborated with junior BFA Musical Theatre major Zoey Ronco and dance major Hannah Christian on a contemporary duet titled, “Disrupting Dissonance.”

“The project explores the nature of communication in the contemporary moment,” Madden said. She used dance elements of repetition, shared weight, partnering and improvisation to emphasize physical representations of communication breakdowns.

Meanwhile, theatre and dance Artist-in-Residence Lorraine Stippec will present a contemporary quartet, “Perspectives, from Nostalgia.”

“[It] explores how a single experience changes over time when it is lived from opposite ends,” Stippec explained. “As relationships build in one direction and unravel in the other, four dancers bound to their own trajectories reveal how the same experience can feel entirely different, depending on where we are within it.”

Students create “narrative driven” performances

Ronco hopes audiences can see and hear the messages behind each choreographer’s creation. “This is going to be a very powerful, narrative driven concert,” she said.

Senior theatre and dance double major Piper Selah agreed. She wants audiences to appreciate the storytelling aspect of each piece.

“I hope that they think about the deeper meaning rather than just the pretty or odd movements,” Selah said. “I want the audience to take away that dance is deeper than what they see on the surface.”

Junior dance major Kate Walker described her piece, “Colors of Us,” as a “narrative of relationships and how they constantly impact us and affect our lives.” Using paint and color, Walker explores the triad nature of human relationships.

Meanwhile, senior Brodie Pratt, who is also pursuing a double major in theatre and dance, adopted a theatrical approach for his “Mothman Paranoia” piece. But he, too, is “led by narrative.”

“The power of visual storytelling is so impactful to humans,” noted Pratt. “There’s a reason we say a picture is worth a thousand words.” [Read more…] about Fall Dance Concert celebrates human connection in “Continuum”

Theatre and Dance presents “Tartuffe” Nov. 12-16

November 5, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

Missouri State’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues its 2026-2027 season with Molière’s “Tartuffe.”

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12-14 and Nov. 16, along with a 2 p.m. matinee Nov. 15. All performances are scheduled in Craig Hall’s Balcony Theatre.

Theatre and Dance Assistant Professor Nikki Ferry directs the play. This will be the final mainstage production staged by the department in the Balcony Theatre, she announced.

Mature themes and language.

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Story highlights timeless themes

Ferry described the main character, Tartuffe, as “a wandering charlatan [who] fakes extreme piety in order to trick a wealthy Parisian, Orgon, into allowing him to live in his house.” Poor Orgon is so “dazzled” by Tartuffe that he cannot see him for the hypocrite he is, she noted.

Tre Hill, who plays Tartuffe, finds the character’s duality fascinating.

“My favorite part about playing Tartuffe is working with his two-sided nature,” said Tre, a junior BFA in Acting for Stage and Screen major. “Tartuffe parades himself as a highly religious individual. But deep down, he is faking it and is actually a lustful sinner attempting to make his way up the social pyramid.”

This isn’t the first time Ferry has worked with Molière’s material. Her first graduate school performance was in his “The Learned Ladies.”

“Tartuffe,” however, particularly intrigued Ferry. Although written in 1664, the play’s satire and social commentary are timeless and relevant, she explained. “In some sense, it could be viewed as a contemporary play.”

“America Votes” Conversation Series scheduled for Nov. 9

November 2, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Political Science and Philosophy will host “America Votes: Unpacking the midterm election results” at 4 p.m. Nov. 9 in Glass Hall 101.

Part of the department’s “Conversation Series,” the event is free and open to the public.

Guest speakers Matthew Continetti and Bernard Fraga will discuss the results of America’s 2026 midterm elections. Continetti is the Director of Domestic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Fraga is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Emory University.

The discussion will adopt a “talk show” format, said Dr. Gabriel Ondetti, interim head and Clif and Gail Smart Professor of Political Science. Ondetti will serve as event moderator.

Since its initiation in 2023, the Conversation Series has explored crucial issues in contemporary American politics, Ondetti said.

“We seek speakers with diverse perspectives, but the events are not intended as debates in which one person wins and the other loses,” he noted. “Rather, they examine different arguments in a reasoned, fact-based and respectful way.”

“The point is to model the kind of political discussion we think is important in a democratic society.”

Theatre students to read Declaration of Independence on Carrington lawn Nov. 10

October 29, 2026 by Lynn Lansdown

Students in the Fall 2026 Advanced Voice and Movement class (THE 326) will give a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 10 on the lawn west of Carrington Hall.

Assistant Professor Karen Sabo teaches the class.

The event is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by Missouri State’s Department of Theatre and Dance, Public Affairs Office and the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

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History is “someone else’s now”

Sabo is a self-confessed history junkie, especially early American history. “As a theater person, I realize all that history was just someone else’s now,” she said.

She included the Declaration of Independence assignment to commemorate the document’s 250th anniversary.

“I love being able to vote, and I never miss an election,” Sabo said. “And I want to teach my students to have the same excitement and interest in democracy.”

Because she is only the second generation in her family to be born in the United States, Sabo said she was raised to appreciate living in a democracy.

“I grew up in Albany, New York, [and] both my parents at some point worked for the state government,” she explained. “So that was most of what we talked about at dinner every night. It was government, legislation, politicians, how things worked. And it’s just always been on my radar.”

Woman standing in front of classroom smiling — Assistant Professor Karen Sabo takes roll in her Advanced Voice and Movement class.

Declaration a “high stakes moment”

Consequently, Sabo is as fascinated by the Signers’ courage as she is their vision. Both are qualities student actors must understand and embody in their performances.

“Something we deal with as actors is finding the highest stakes possible in a situation,” Sabo said. “One of the most famous things Benjamin Franklin ever said was, ‘we must now all hang together or we will hang separately.’ This was a life and death situation. They could have all been tried for treason and hanged, and that would have been the end of their lives.”

A public reading of the Declaration, such as what the students will perform, captures the sensory experience of that high stakes moment.

“We hope to make it accessible to those passing by, like the town criers that would have read out the document in their communities when it was first written,” said junior BFA Acting for the Stage and Screen major Kathryn Williams. “Our performance, in a way, is a display of how common citizens back then would have received the Declaration.” [Read more…] about Theatre students to read Declaration of Independence on Carrington lawn Nov. 10

Missouri State alumni and faculty reimagine the future at international choral event

October 26, 2026 by Reynolds College

Three alumni of Missouri State University’s Chorale attended the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) World Symposium on Choral Music Aug. 23-28 in Macau, China.

Tanner Munson, Tim Pallett and Anne Copiaco reunited with their mentor, Dr. Cameron LaBarr, at the “reimagining the future” themed event.

LaBarr is director of choral studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor of Music at Missouri State. He currently serves as an ICFM board member and was also on the artistic committee for the 2026 symposium.

“It’s wonderful to see Missouri State University alumni involved in the international choral community at such a high level,” LaBarr said. “A huge part of the mission of our program is to bridge cultures across the world through choral music. This is a great example of that being put into practice.”

Munson presents on vocal pedagogy

Man giving a presentation — Tanner Munson discusses vocalization during his presentation at the IFCM World Symposium.

Munson graduated in 2024 with a master’s in vocal pedagogy. He displayed his expertise in his presentation, “The Collective Voice: Building Your Ensemble through the Vocalise.”

“Having the opportunity to present at IFCM’s international conference is an incredible opportunity,” he noted. “Being able to network with like-minded musicians across the globe is invaluable.”

In his presentation Munson, who now teaches at Missouri State, discussed what separates vocalise from other sounds. He reviewed how vocal instructors can target specific skills in repertoire and rehearsal work while empowering singers to communicate their music properly.

Specifically, Munson credits his Missouri State instructors for his success and growth. In addition to LaBarr, Associate Director of Choral Studies Dr. Erin Plisco and voice professor Dr. Chris Thompson were “essential” in helping him prepare.

“There’s no way that I could’ve done this without their guidance and without their help,” he said.

The entire symposium experience was “affirming,” Munson added. “It really helped me feel like I’m on the right path. I’m doing the right thing, I’m doing what needs to be done and I’ve got the best people possible surrounding me and helping me do it.”