Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present the William Shakespeare classic, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2-5, 2025, in the John Goodman Amphitheatre.
Theatre and Dance Professor Sarah Wiggin directs the play.
Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. MSU students can receive special advance purchase discounts with an MSU ID.
[Read more…] about Theatre and Dance presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in JGA Oct. 2-5.
Missouri State University alum Chance Nichols, a 2017 graduate of the Department of Theatre and Dance, has been appointed Director of Network Creative and Strategy for the production company All Things Comedy (ATC).
Nichols, who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, will oversee creative development and produce new podcasts, digital series, television shows, movies and other productions for ATC.
Many of Nichols’ duties involve both creativity and management. He helps comedians, writers and producers develop new show ideas. These include podcasts, television and live events. He also reviews launch and release strategies.
At the same time, he also advises the network regarding its current productions.
“I give notes on shows currently on our network that we either originally produced or acquired to provide creative feedback and consulting,” he explained. He also advises on best practices to optimize packaging for YouTube algorithms.
“I’m really excited to help other comedians and creative people get the projects they’re passionate about made exactly how they want to make them,” Nichols said. “ATC was founded under the motto ‘by comedians, for comedians.’ I just want to honor that legacy while looking to innovate and build upon it.”
Missouri State University’s Tent Theatre opens the 2025 season with its production of “Serenade: Summer Nights of Swing and Song.”
Performances are June 12-14 and 18-21 at the John Goodman Amphitheatre. All show times are 8 p.m.
Professor Sarah Wiggin from the Department of Theatre and Dance is the show’s director.
Individual, group and season tickets are now on sale. They can be purchased by mail, calling the box office at 417-836-7678 or 1-888-476-7849 or online at MissouriStateTix.com.
On show days, Tent Theatre patrons can pick up their tickets at the will-call kiosk next to the Amphitheatre between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Food and drink concessions will be available, and patrons will have access to restrooms in Hill Hall, just north of Craig Hall.
Multiple vocalists, backed by Missouri State’s “Serenade” Jazz Orchestra, will bring to life classic tunes immortalized by Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Dean Martin and Ella Fitzgerald, along with contemporary hits from Natalie Cole, Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr. and others.
“I am loving working with the ‘Serenade’ jazz orchestra,” Wiggin said. “They are really elevating the performance of the jazz concert, and the vocalists are very enthusiastic about collaborating with them. It’s magical.”
Conducted and directed by Dr. Jason Hausback of the Department of Music, the jazz orchestra includes Missouri State students, alumni and guest artists. Heather Luellen of the theatre and dance department is the show’s music coordinator.
[Read more…] about Tent Theatre opens 2025 season with “Serenade”
Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues the 2024-2025 season with its production of “Blue Stockings.”
Professor Sarah Wiggin directs the turn-of-the-century period piece, written by Jessica Swale.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. April 3-5 and April 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students/seniors. Special advance rates are available for students with an MSU ID.
All performances will be held in Coger Theatre Craig Hall.
Set in 1896 England at Cambridge University’s Girton College, “Blue Stockings” is the story of four female students. Cambridge was a pioneer in offering university-level education to women.
In 1896, though, while women could be educated, they could not earn a degree. The play’s young heroines hope to change that.
Consequently, “Blue Stockings” explores a powerful moment in the history of women’s education. As the woman suffrage movement takes place in the background, the women struggle to gain acceptance among their male peers while confronting their own insecurities.
“The play emphasizes the value of education and encourages audiences to think critically about societal structures and injustices,” Wiggin said. “It challenges audiences to reflect on the progress made in women’s rights while acknowledging the work that still needs to be done.”
With humor and authenticity, the play addresses themes such as equality, education and fighting for one’s beliefs. “I hope the audience will be pleasantly surprised by the comedy in a play tackling such serious subject matter,” Wiggin said.
Meanwhile, although the stage setting is minimalist, “the costumes are period (1896) and should be quite stunning,” she added. “The cast is doing excellent work, and I am very excited to see all the elements come together.”
Wiggin believes audiences will find the themes in “Blue Stockings” to be relevant and universal.
“Despite being set in the past, the play raises issues that resonate with contemporary struggles for gender equality and access to education,” she said.
“I expect the audience will see that the kinds of dreams the characters have are shared by them: love, education, a place to belong.”
Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance joins the Springfield Symphony Orchestra to present “Carousel” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, 2024, at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.
As part of the Symphony’s “Lullaby of Broadway” program, the performance features a concert version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic and stars Josh Young, associate professor and coordinator of musical theatre at Missouri State.
The production includes a 55-member ensemble backed by a 60-plus piece symphony.
Springfield Symphony Maestro Kyle Pickett will conduct the entire event.
Tickets are available through the Hammons Hall box office and online at www.missouristatetix.com.
When Young joined MSU’s theatre and dance faculty in 2023, one of his first actions was to have lunch with Pickett to discuss collaboration opportunities.
“Kyle and I discussed several possibilities, including an evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein music,” Young said.
Originally, the plan was to give a performance featuring Young and his wife, Emily Padgett-Young. Both are Broadway veterans, and Young was nominated for a Tony® Award in 2012.
“However, ‘Carousel’ has always been one of my favorite musical scores,” Young said. “With the immense talent we have here at MSU, I thought, ‘Why just do a two-person evening of songs when we could create something even more special?’”
“The idea of bringing the full richness of ‘Carousel’ to life with our students, in collaboration with the Springfield Symphony, felt like the perfect way to elevate the experience for both the performers and the audience,” he added.
Since then, working with Pickett and the technical staff at Hammons Hall has been a delight, Young said. “Their professionalism and flexibility have made the collaboration seamless.”
