Theatre Program
MISSION: Theatre is an artistic exploration and celebration of human life. We embrace risk-taking and build upon the combined and unique strengths of our artists and craftspeople.
A National Profile
The University of Southern Mississippi's theatre program in the Department of Theatre and Dance is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. It is housed in the College of Arts and Letters, one of only two dozen such colleges in the United States that is accredited in all four arts areas - dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. This ensures national standards in faculty, curriculum, facilities, and student opportunities.
Theatre at Southern Miss has been an active member of the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival at state, regional, and national levels. Out of approximately 1,000 productions entered each year nationwide, only six are chosen for the regional festival covering ten southeastern states. In 2000, only four plays were chosen from the regional festivals nationwide to advance to the national festival at the Kennedy Center. Theatre's production of "The Rimers of Eldritch" by Lanford Wilson, was one of them. This was Theatre's second production selected for the national festival in Washington, D.C. "Catfish Moon", written by Southern Miss alum Laddy Sartin, was selected for the Kennedy Center honor in 1995. Most recently, our production of "Scapin" was presented at the KCACTF Region IV Festival in February 2006.
Southern Miss student ensembles, actors, and designers are regularly recognized by the regional and national committees. Student playwrights and critics' institute participants have been honored as well.
A Team Spirit
The theatre faculty is proud of the success of its students and dedicated to the development of each individual theatre artist. The faculty pride themselves on the personal attention given to each student while still providing "real world" conditions to prepare students for the profession.
Students and faculty work together on every aspect of training. Students serve on crews every semester in a wide variety of areas at first, then in areas of particular skill and interest. All casting is open and has included freshmen through third-year graduate students. A special showcase is dedicated to new freshmen, sophomores, and transfer students. This guaranteed involvement helps new students get connected in the department. Students are evaluated by faculty regularly in a goal-oriented discussion that helps the faculty better meet the specific needs of the individual student.
The theatre program has approximately 100 "family members," who quickly get comfortable with the environment and learn to achieve and collaborate within its structure. Alpha Psi Omega, the national fraternity for theatre, is active at Southern Miss and provides spirited service to the department and a social outlet for its members.
Working Graduates
Graduates of Theatre at Southern Miss are working professionally in theatres from Los Angeles to New York, in film and television, and on cruise ships in the Mediterranean. Many are teaching in high schools, colleges, and universities across the nation and as far away as China. Some have used their theatre degrees to get into law schools and other related professions such as public relations and arts administration.
Some undergraduates have chosen to audition for graduate schools and conservatories, and recent Southern Miss graduates have been accepted into programs as pedigreed as A.C.T. in San Francisco, Northwestern in Chicago, and New York University.
Theatre hosted its first Alumni Reunion in the spring 2000 as part of the dedication of the new facility for Theatre and Dance. Alumni groups from several major cities are now forming networks to assist new graduates from Southern Miss. In this business, "extended family" can make all the difference in pursuing a successful career.
A Vibrant Season
Each season provides numerous opportunities for students in all areas of theatre. Theatre produces plays and musicals from a wide range of genres and periods every year to best educate its student designers, actors, and technicians. For those interested in musicals, the College of Arts and Letters provides advisement in areas of theatre, music, and dance coursework and productions. In addition to the musicals frequently produced in our season and in showcases, our students are eligible for productions in the School of Music through the Southern Opera and Music Theatre season. For more information on the current season of mainstage productions, go to our What's on Stage section of this Web site.
Southern Arena Theatre
The most exciting professional/educational theatre opportunity at Southern Miss is the Southern Arena Theatre, a rotating repertory of three plays that operates throughout the summer term. The opportunity is not limited to Southern Miss students and faculty. Directors, designers, actors, and technicians have been selected from SETC auditions and through auditions and interviews held on campus each February. The seasons usually include a mix of modern comedy, classics, and mysteries. Recent seasons have featured comedies by Neil Simon, Beth Henley and Noel Coward; classics from Moliére to Shakespeare; and mystery writers, both obscure and well-known, including Agatha Christie.
Department of Theatre and Dance
http://www.usm.edu/theatre
601.266.4994 (Theatre) • theatre@usm.edu
601.266.4161 (Dance) • dance@usm.edu