Theatre

MidSummerNightsDream — *A Midsummer Night's Dream*, Fall 2021

The Division of Theatre awards graduate and undergraduate degrees in a nationally recognized training program. Graduate students receive M.F.A. degrees in Acting or Design, while undergraduates complete a B.F.A. degree in either Acting or Theatre Studies. Classes and studios combined with participation in a robust production season prepare our graduates to move successfully into the performance industry. During their time at SMU, graduate and undergraduate students often work at Dallas area theatres as well as for top regional companies.

Theatre

Undergraduate Majors/Minors	B.F.A. in Acting B.F.A. in Theatre Studies
Graduate Majors/Minors	M.F.A. in Acting M.F.A. in Design

Meet Our Faculty

Blake Hackler

Chair, Division of Theatre, Head of Acting Professor

Dawn Askew

Production Manager, Adjunct Instructor

Reiko Aylesworth

Professor of Practice

Tiana Kaye Blair

Professor of Practice, Acting and Movement

Amanda Capshaw

Adjunct Instructor

Brad Cassil

Lecturer

Robert Clare

Visiting Professor

Benard Cummings

Associate Professor

Kristi Dana

Assistant Professor

Joel Ferrell

Professor of Practice in Theatre and Inaugural Director of the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre

Carter Gill

Adjunct Instructor

Kevin Paul Hofeditz, M.F.A., AEA

Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Professor of Theatre

Bobbie Lay

Coordinator, Finance and Enrollment

Steve Leary

Assistant Technical Director, Adjunct Instructor

Cole McCarty

Professor of Practice Costume Design

Justin Mosher

Technical Director, Adjunct Instructor

Melissa Panzarello Cox

Costume Shop Manager, Adjunct Instructor

Russell Parkman

Associate Professor

Steven Piechocki

Stage Lighting Supervisor; Adjunct Instructor

Sara Romersberger

Associate Professor

Anne Schilling

Associate Professor

Gretchen E. Smith

Associate Dean for Students and Head of Theatre Studies

Kara-Lynn Vaeni

Assistant Professor

Stanley Wojewodski, Jr.

Distinguished Professor of Theatre

Steve Woods

Professor, Head of Design

Linda Blase

Adjunct Instructor

Kathy Windrow

Adjunct Instructor

Margo Jones Theatre

The Margo Jones Theatre is a 125-seat black box, with seating divided among four platforms that allow directors and designers to choose between multiple configurations. Each spring, the theatre is host for the New Visions, New Voices festival, providing student writers and directors with a flexible and intimate setting where they can workshop and perform new plays.

More Facilities

Featured Story

Regina Taylor

Actor, Playwright, Director and Activist

Alumna Regina Taylor (Theatre ’81) partners with SMU Meadows and the Division of Theatre on a yearlong initiative, the black album.

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Theatre

Camilla Frontain
Juliet - 2nd Year Character Workshop
Part of Camilla’s 2nd year Character Workshop, an exploration of Juliet from Romeo and Juliet

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Theatre

Rhett Goldman BFA ‘24 and Caleb Mosley BFA ’24
Through My Mind
A Short Film written, directed shot and performed by some of our BFA Actors

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Theatre

Shahrzad Mazaheri MFA ’23, Courtney Amaro MFA ’23, Ariel Kregal MFA ’23
Costumes, Lights and Set by MFA Design Students for SMU’s Fall production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by faculty member Kara Lynn Vaeni.

Two Meadows students smile and pose with Mustang signs at an SMU event. — Our student workers are often the first faces Meadows visitors to the school get to see, whether that's via a campus tour with Admissions or the Meadows Box Office for an event.

National Student Employment Week: Celebrating Meadows’ Student Workers

April 12, 2024

Students

In honor of National Student Employment Week, we are highlighting the various groups of student workers at SMU Meadows, from ticketing to recruitment, who help keep operations running smoothly for our school.

SMU Student Theatre Group Promotes Cross-Collaboration for Arts Majors

March 27, 2024

Students

SMU Student Theatre (SMUST) produces student-led productions that allow for interdisciplinary work between Meadows students in a variety of majors.

Theatre alum Lee Helms (B.F.A. '08) breathes new life into the opera experience as the Director of Innovation Programs at the San Francisco Opera.

Alumni Spotlight: Lee Helms

February 26, 2024

Alumni

Theatre alum Lee Helms (B.F.A. ’08) leverages his understanding of the performing arts industry and business savvy to breathe new life into the opera-going experience.

Meadows theatre students perform in one of the many stage productions put on each school year. — Meadows students look forward to many exciting opportunities in 2024, including participating in the many stage productions put on by the Division of Theatre.

Meadows Students Reflect on Their Goals and Aspirations for Spring 2024

January 21, 2024

Students

Students are focusing on pursuing personal and academic goals, as well as self-care, during the new year.

Theatre

Theatre

Meet Our Faculty

Blake Hackler

Dawn Askew

Reiko Aylesworth

Tiana Kaye Blair

Amanda Capshaw

Brad Cassil

Robert Clare

Benard Cummings

Kristi Dana

Joel Ferrell

Carter Gill

Kevin Paul Hofeditz, M.F.A., AEA

Bobbie Lay

Steve Leary

Cole McCarty

Justin Mosher

Melissa Panzarello Cox

Russell Parkman

Steven Piechocki

Sara Romersberger

Anne Schilling

Gretchen E. Smith

Kara-Lynn Vaeni

Stanley Wojewodski, Jr.

Steve Woods

Linda Blase

Kathy Windrow

Margo Jones Theatre

Regina Taylor

Student Work

Theatre News

National Student Employment Week: Celebrating Meadows’ Student Workers

SMU Student Theatre Group Promotes Cross-Collaboration for Arts Majors

Alumni Spotlight: Lee Helms

Meadows Students Reflect on Their Goals and Aspirations for Spring 2024

Upcoming Theatre Events

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