News

SMU Meadows Intern Fellowship Program Expands, Doubling Paid Internships in Year Two

Advertising Art Art History Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre Students will gain paid, hands-on experience, industry mentorship, and professional connections with nine leading Dallas arts and media organizations during the program’s second run.

January 28, 2026

Brian Stokes Mitchell photo by James Edward Alexander

SMU Meadows Honors Broadway Singer and Leading Man Brian Stokes Mitchell with Meadows Award

Events Music Theatre Brian Stokes Mitchell will receive the Meadows Award at the Meadows at the Meyerson in Dallas on March 31 where he will perform with the Meadows Choirs and the Meadows Symphony Orchestra.

November 25, 2025

Alumni Spotlight: Trigg Watson

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Trigg Watson (B.F.A. ’12) builds upon his Meadows experience to bring theatrical storytelling, technology and human connection to modern magic.

October 27, 2025

Headshots of the nine new full-time faculty members at Meadows School of the Arts

Meadows Welcomes Nine New Faculty Members for the 2025-26 Academic Year

Faculty Art Art History Journalism Music Theatre Join us in welcoming nine new faculty members to Meadows, in divisions ranging from music and art to theatre and journalism, and learn more about these new members of our community.

August 26, 2025

Silas Farley on stage accepting his award as the 2025 John Neumeier Prize for Choreography recipient.

Creative Momentum: Summer Highlights from Meadows’ Innovative Faculty Members

Faculty Art Dance Film & Media Arts Music Theatre This summer, SMU Meadows’ faculty have earned global recognition, published new works, secured new creative roles and brought bold ideas to life across a variety of disciplines.

July 29, 2025

SMU Meadows Names Kimberly Grigsby as Inaugural Music Director of Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre

Faculty Theatre Acclaimed music director, conductor and pianist Kimberly Grigsby will join Meadows’ new musical theatre program as it begins recruiting its first cohort of students for Fall 2026.

July 08, 2025

Graduates throw their caps in the air following the degree recognition ceremony

Class of 2025 Graduates Celebrated in SMU Meadows Degree Recognition Ceremony

Campus Advertising Art Art History Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Creative Technology Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre Meadows faculty and staff, along with family and friends of the graduates, celebrated the Class of 2025 in Saturday’s Degree Recognition Ceremony.

May 19, 2025

The eight graduating students of the M.F.A. Acting program pose on a staircase in colorful clothing.

Meet the Division of Theatre’s Class of 2025 M.F.A. Acting Graduates

Alumni Theatre Meadows’ theatre program has produced eight M.F.A. Acting graduates in the Class of 2025, including one who will join Dallas Theater Center’s Brierley Resident Acting Company for the upcoming season.

May 16, 2025

Senior Spotlight: Maya Fardad-Finn

Students Theatre Graduating theatre student Maya Fardad-Finn reflects on her creative growth, performance experiences and the community she found at SMU.

April 21, 2025

Theatre Chair Collaborates with Second Thought Theatre for New Play Premiere

Faculty Theatre Blake Hackler, chair of the Division of Theatre, is partnering with Dallas’ Second Thought Theatre – run by Meadows alumni – for the premiere of his new play “Healed.”

April 17, 2025

Alumni Spotlight: Tadeo Martinez

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Tadeo Martinez (B.F.A. '19) built upon the acting foundation he established at Meadows to launch his current career as a stage actor.

April 14, 2025

Meadows on the Mic: Elizabeth Akudugu – Acting M.F.A Class of 2025

Students Theatre Acting M.F.A. major Elizabeth Akudugu discusses her professional acting career and experience at SMU Meadows.

April 02, 2025

Alumni Spotlight: Tim Allis

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Tim Allis (B.F.A. '83) is a professional writer and editor who has often drawn on his passion for theatre, stoked at Meadows, for projects.

February 27, 2025

Black and white headshots of faculty award winners Cheryl Mendenhall, Kristina Nielsen, Anne Schilling, and Stephanie Langin-Hooper

Meadows Faculty Sweeps SMU Fall Teaching Awards

Faculty Advertising Art History Music Theatre Meadows faculty members win four of the biggest University-level teaching awards from SMU for the school year.

February 06, 2025

Alumni Spotlight: Emily Habeck

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Emily Habeck (B.F.A. '11) shares how her Meadows theatre degree helped her carve a career path to becoming a bestselling fiction author.

February 03, 2025

Alumni Spotlight: Bridget Melton

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Bridget Melton (B.F.A. '05) built on her experience working in the Meadows Ticketing Office to forge her own career in arts accessibility through audio description.

November 18, 2024

Meadows Theatre and Film Alumni Collaborate on New NYC-Based Play

Alumni Film & Media Arts Theatre From producing and directing to stage managing and acting, the new play “Do You Feel Anger?” is a production run almost entirely by Meadows alumni.

November 08, 2024

Meadows on the Mic: Emmet Overcarsh - Theatre Studies Student and Actor in “Carrie the Musical”

Students Theatre Emmet Overcarsh is a junior theatre studies major who is also performing in “Carrie the Musical,” a collaboration between SMU Meadows and Theatre Three.

October 25, 2024

Sophomore voice major Jordan Lage in the title role of Carrie White

SMU Meadows Partners with Dallas’ Theatre Three for Upcoming Production of “Carrie”

Students Music Theatre Meadows’ performing arts programs will collaborate with locally-acclaimed Dallas theatre T3 for an upcoming production of "Carrie the Musical."

September 27, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Todd Haberkorn

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Todd Haberkorn (B.F.A. '04) shares how Meadows helped him craft a versatile career in Hollywood, with roles ranging from actor and director to writer and producer.

September 16, 2024

Meadows Admission Ambassadors pose with Assistant Dean for Recruitment Ryan Cole

Campus Visitors Receive Warm Welcome From Meadows’ Student Ambassadors

Students Advertising Art Art History Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Creative Technology Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre Meadows Admission Ambassadors are often the first face many people see upon visiting the school and work hard to make a positive impact on visitors’ campus experiences.

September 13, 2024

Meadows has 17 new faculty members joining for the 2024-25 academic year.

Meadows Welcomes 12 Full-Time, 5 Visiting New Faculty Members for 2024-25

Faculty Advertising Art Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre Join us in welcoming 17 new faculty members to Meadows, in divisions ranging from art and advertising to dance and theatre, and learn more about these new members of our community.

September 06, 2024

Recent Theatre Alumni Debut Original Plays in Dallas and New York City

Alumni Theatre Three original plays, all created and led by recent Meadows theatre alumni, are being staged this month at NYC’s The Tank theatre and Dallas’ Festival of Independent Theatres.

August 21, 2024

A Meadows alum helps mentor a current student.

Meadows Mentor Program Provides Students with Professional Advice and Guidance

Alumni Advertising Art Art History Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre The new mentorship program created by the Office of Alumni and Career Success pairs current students with alumni and other volunteers who are willing to share career advice.

May 22, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Brian Baumgartner

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum and 2024 commencement speaker Brian Baumgartner (B.F.A. '95) honed his skills as a stage actor at Meadows before taking on the film and television industry, which included his role on the hit sitcom "The Office."

May 06, 2024

Two Meadows students smile and pose with Mustang signs at an SMU event.

National Student Employment Week: Celebrating Meadows’ Student Workers

Students Dance Music Theatre 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.

April 12, 2024

Meadows students perform in an entirely student-led production for the SMU Student Theatre group.

SMU Student Theatre Group Promotes Cross-Collaboration for Arts Majors

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

March 27, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Lee Helms

Alumni Theatre 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.

February 26, 2024

Meadows theatre students perform in one of the many stage productions put on each school year.

Meadows Students Reflect on Their Goals and Aspirations for Spring 2024

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

January 21, 2024

Five Student Organizations that Build Community and Creativity

Students Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Journalism Theatre From a theatre group to a public relations society, Meadows student organizations offer creative opportunities, networking and a sense of community.

December 19, 2023

Members of the Meadows 2050 Council gather for a meeting.

Meadows 2050 Council Advises School and Current Students on Strategy to Foster Success

Alumni Advertising Art Art History Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Creative Technology Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre The alumni advisory group strengthens the Meadows community through mentoring, career guidance and strategic planning for the future of the school and its students.

December 18, 2023

Theatre alum Mychael G. Chinn is the Director of Original Movies and Limited Series for MTV Entertainment Studios.

Alumni Spotlight: Mychael G. Chinn

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Mychael G. Chinn (B.F.A. ’07) shares how the skills he learned at Meadows took him from the stages of New York City into the world of film and television.

November 13, 2023

Theatre and film double major Sabina Arcila acts on camera in a student film production.

Film and Theatre Majors Benefit from Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

Students Film & Media Arts Theatre Students enrolled in Meadows’ film and theatre programs are given the opportunity to collaborate and enhance one another’s work.

November 08, 2023

Theatre and mechanical engineering double major Sinan Beskok performs on stage in Meadows' "Twelfth Night: the Musical."

Opposites Attract: Meadows Students Balance Contrasting Majors

Students Dance Film & Media Arts Music Theatre Students are creating custom college experiences by enrolling in seemingly contrasting majors and minors in order to prepare themselves for their dream career post-graduation.

October 25, 2023

Alumni Spotlight: Caitlin Rain

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Caitlin Rain (M.F.A. ’12) shares how Meadows' costume design program helped her build the foundational skills she needed for a career in the performing arts world.

October 09, 2023

Theatre students perform a dance number during a spring play production.

Meadows Holds Showstopping Amount of Multi-Major Students

Students Advertising Art Art History Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre With over 45 majors represented by students in the Meadows School of the Arts this academic year, it is one of SMU’s most educationally diverse schools.

October 06, 2023

The First-Year Arts Community Experience class listens to a guest speaker.

FACE Class Provides First-Year Students Skills to Navigate Life as an Artist

Students Art Dance Film & Media Arts Music Theatre Meadows’ First-Year Arts Community Experience (FACE) class provides dual-admit students a semester-long orientation developed specifically for today’s artists.

September 22, 2023

Meadows welcome nearly 20 new faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year.

Meadows Welcomes 14 Full-Time, 5 Visiting New Faculty Members for 2023-24

Faculty Advertising Art Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre Join us in welcoming 19 new faculty members to Meadows, in divisions ranging from art and theatre to journalism and film, and learn more about these new members of our community.

September 08, 2023

Black and white promotional poster for SMU students' one-person show, "LINO."

Theatre Alumni Perform Original Work at Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Alumni Theatre Two recent alumni from the Meadows’ Division of Theatre have been selected to perform an original work at the prestigious international arts showcase, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

July 28, 2023

Adjunct professor Hope Endrenyi teaches choreography to her musical theatre class.

Hamilton Performer and Meadows Alum Returns to Teach Musical Theatre

Alumni Dance Music Theatre Hope Endrenyi (B.F.A. ’16) returns to Meadows as an adjunct professor to teach musical theatre class.

March 07, 2023

Intimacy Training Prepares Theatre Students for SMU Productions and Beyond

Faculty Theatre With the concept of intimacy choreography becoming more widespread in the industry, Meadows gives students the tools to navigate intimate scenes with workshop training.

October 17, 2022

Meadows Alum Dylan Guerra Commissioned by Playwrights Horizons

Alumni Theatre

August 26, 2022

Next Narrative Monologue Competition Winner Hails From SMU-Sponsored Dallas Region

Campus Theatre Artistic Director of Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre Jamil Jude conceptualized a new competition: the Next Narrative Monologue Competition (NNMC)

July 29, 2022

Persistence Pays

Alumni Theatre

March 14, 2022

This Week At Meadows, January 31-February 6

This Week At Meadows Theatre Artists Lecture: Maiko Sugano, The Crucible, and more

January 31, 2022

collaborate hero banner - black album mixtape

Actor Regina Taylor Partners with SMU on the black album

Theatre Project explores intersection of performance, activism and Black identity

April 19, 2021

SMU and Clark Atlanta University Produce Original Plays

Students Theatre Students work with professionals to create plays about race and social issues

April 05, 2021

SMU and NYC’s Theatre East Present New Student Plays

Students Theatre “Wet Ink Series” showcases seven works by Meadows theatre students

March 19, 2021

Meadows and Kitchen Dog Present “Plays to End Gun Violence”

Theatre Theatres nationwide performing the plays by high school students on December 14

December 02, 2020

JudsonJones-ArtisticDirectorofTheatreEast

SMU and NYC’s Theatre East Present “Wet Ink Series”

Events Theatre Featuring livestream of student-written plays, November 9-10

October 30, 2020

Actor Regina Taylor and SMU Partner on New Project

Theatre the black album. 2020. resistance. explores what it is to be Black in 2020

October 22, 2020

Theatre Professor Blake Hackler Receives Fulbright

Faculty Theatre Grant for 2020-21 will support his teaching and research in Romania

April 29, 2020

Q&A with Kara-Lynn Vaeni, Theatre Faculty

Faculty Theatre Assistant professor discusses directing, playwriting and teaching

April 01, 2020

2020 August Wilson Competition Regional Winners Named

Events Theatre Top two winners will advance to national finals in New York on May 4

February 18, 2020

Playwrights in the Newsroom debuts at ATTPAC

Alumni Theatre Work by two theatre alumni commissioned by Ignite/Arts Dallas

February 06, 2020

KaraLynnVaeniMichaelConnollyBlakeHackler

Year in Review: Critics Praise 2019 Performances

Dance Theatre Meadows talent represented in multiple DFW “best-of” lists

January 29, 2020

2019-20 August Wilson Monologue Competition Heats Up

Events Theatre Two top Dallas Region contestants will compete in national finals in NYC

December 20, 2019

Rhonda Blair Receives 2019 Distinguished Scholar Award

Faculty Theatre Theatre professor honored by American Society for Theatre Research

November 26, 2019

Grad Student Wins National Costume Design Award

Alumni Theatre Yvonne Johnson receives Judy Dearing Award from Black Theatre Network

May 22, 2019

Meadows and Dallas Theater Center Present The Wolves

Events Theatre Majority of the 10-member cast are Meadows students and alumni

February 26, 2019

Next Stop: Broadway

Events Theatre Local winners of August Wilson Monologue Competition head to NYC finals

February 21, 2019

Year in Review: Critics Praise 2018 Performances

Theatre Meadows talent represented in multiple “best of” lists

January 17, 2019

August Wilson Dallas Regional Competition Grows

Events Theatre 20 high schools, 143 student competitors now participating

January 07, 2019

Marine Veteran Pursuing Costume Design Career

Alumni Theatre Grad student Yvonne Johnson, former ammunition tech, achieving her dream

November 01, 2018

Let Me Talk My Dreams

Events Theatre Ana Hagedorn (M.F.A. ’18) creates play about theater pioneer Margo Jones

April 27, 2018

2018 August Wilson Competition Names Regional Winners

Events Theatre Top two winners advance to national finals in New York

February 22, 2018

2018 August Wilson Competition Doubles in Size

Events Theatre Dallas Region event grows from 8 schools in 2016 to 17 schools in 2018

February 13, 2018

Meadows and Dallas Theater Center Present Frankenstein

Events Theatre Theatre faculty and students perform in Dallas premiere of hit London play

January 22, 2018

2017 DFW Theater Critics Forum Awards: Meadows Theatre Faculty, Alumni and Current Students’ Productions Honored

Alumni Theatre Best Actress, Best Actor and Best New Play Awards Recognized Meadows Talent

September 15, 2017

SMU Meadows’ Ignite/Arts Dallas Initiative and Cara Mía Theatre Co. Launch Tour of Acclaimed Play "Deferred Action," September 14-17

Theatre Free Community Conversation will be held Sept. 16 to discuss the DREAM Act, immigration reform and Latinos in politics

August 09, 2017

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