Spotlight – Theater and Dance

Everyone is a star in ‘Everybody’

Sammy Weidenthal '27 — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:57:22 +0000

�ֲ��ý Theater’s production of Everybody sold out every performance at Gannett Theater last week — waitlists at the door, eager audience members finding out they’d gotten seats five minutes before curtain — and the room earned that anticipatory urgency.

Introducing Emily Culbreath, Assistant Professor of Dance

Liz Coyer — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:08:42 +0000

We are thrilled to introduce Emily Culbreath, who will be joining the department as Assistant Professor of Dance for Fall 2026!

Beloved and brilliant Martin Andrucki, Dana Professor Emeritus of Theater at �ֲ��ý, dies at age 80

Jay Burns — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:59:23 +0000

Andrucki’s arrival at �ֲ��ý for the 1974–75 academic year coincided with theater becoming a major for the first time. Yet the department, which at the time housed both theater and rhetoric, was at a low point due to retirements and departures. “It was on the verge of expiring,” recalled Andrucki in 2021. Some at the college were openly questioning the legitimacy of theater as a liberal arts discipline.

We’re ready for Winter 2026!

Liz Coyer — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:10:08 +0000

Check out our upcoming events, faculty updates, 2026-27 play proposals, and more!

Everybody in the Pool: The Making of Metamorphoses

Mary Pols — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:48:04 +0000

Shortly after Courtney Smith joined �ֲ��ý in the fall of 2024 as an associate professor of theater, he floated an idea for a production that was both over-the-top ambitious and absolute catnip to his colleague Sally Wood, a visiting lecturer in theater who was trying to decide what play to direct in the fall of 2025.

Meet the 2026 Repertory Artists

Liz Coyer — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:04:53 +0000

We are thrilled to introduce our 2026 Repertory Artists: Jenna Riegel,��Alfonso Cervera, and Ogemdi Ude!

2025 Green Innovation Grants Support Greater Sustainability for Theater

Liz Coyer — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:41:37 +0000

Staff and faculty from the Department of Theater and Dance hope that their Green Innovation Grant initiative will inspire more sustainable paint practices both within their department and around campus.

Six �ֲ��ý Dance Students Receive Major Honor from ACDA & Jacob’s Pillow

Liz Coyer — Fri, 23 May 2025 20:06:22 +0000

We are thrilled to share that six �ֲ��ý Dancers have been selected to perform their piece “Sounding Fray” as part of the in August!

After performing at two American College Dance Association conferences this year, including being selected to represent New England at the National College Dance Festival in DC in May 2025, these dancers have been further recognized and chosen by a curatorial panel to perform at Jacob’s Pillow this summer!

Congratulations to the �ֲ��ý Dancers (Adelle Welch ’25, Lydia Frew ’25, Lola Buczkowski ’25, Jane Drumm ’25, Liz Nahigian ’26, and Ellie Stevenson ’27) on this INCREDIBLE achievement! Your hard work and joy radiates throughout this piece!

Thank you to �ֲ��ý Dance Festival Artist-in-Residence Christina Robson and Assistant Professor of Dance Tristan Koepke for their continuous support of these students, and to the whole �ֲ��ý Dance community for celebrating this achievement with us!

“SOUNDING FRAY”
Performers: Adelle Welch ’25, Lydia Frew ’25, Lola Buczkowski ’25, Jane Drumm ’25, Liz Nahigian ’26, and Ellie Stevenson ’27
Choreographer: Christina Robson
Costume Designer: Rebecca Armstrong
Lighting Designer: Courtney Smith

Photo by Carly Philpott ’26

Announcing the 2025-26 �ֲ��ý Theater + Dance Season

Liz Coyer — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:15:06 +0000

We are thrilled to unveil our 2025-26 Theater + Dance Season, a dynamic lineup of exhilarating performances! Whether you’re a theater lover, dance enthusiast, or simply someone who craves unforgettable experiences, there’s something for everyone in this season.

Stay tuned for more details and ticket information, coming in September!

Gesel Mason, “En Route”

Liz Coyer — Mon, 12 May 2025 13:45:21 +0000

Marcy Plavin Spring Dance Concert 2025
�ֲ��ý College

Artistic Director: Tristan Koepke
Lighting Director and Designer: Courtney Smith
Costume Director and Designer: Rebecca Armstrong
Technical Director: Justin Moriarty
Stage Manager: Kendall Jones ‘25
Associate Stage Managers: Ananya Rao ‘25, Zi Li ‘28
Company Managers: Jane Drumm ‘25, Elizabeth Nahigian ‘26

En Route

Choreography: Gesel Mason
Dramaturgy and Voice Over: Yunina Barbour-Payne
Assistant (to the) Choreographer: Love Muwwakkil Estes
Music: “Showers of Ink” by Loscil, “Ghosts” by MAD NOISE
Performers: Charlotte Bernhard ‘28, Bella Daly ‘27, Scarlett Downes ‘28, Jane Drumm ‘25, Rosanny Estrella ‘26, Lydia Frew ‘25, Hazel Krinsky ‘27, Sophia Levine ‘27, Adrian Madanes ‘25, Aaron Martinez ‘26, Kiara McGinness ‘27, Bryn Murray ‘25, Elizabeth Nahigian ‘26, Amarachukwu Ogbonna ‘26, Ruslan Peredelskyi ‘25, Emma Randels-LaRocca ‘28, Lilah Rousso ‘25, Aliza Savin ‘27, Sarah Senator ‘25, Ellie Stevenson ‘27, May Whelan ‘25, Danny Zuniga Zarat ‘25
Understudy: Misaki Fukushima ‘25*
Choreographer’s Note: En Route is inspired by The Portland Freedom Trail, which highlights 13 key sites along the Underground Railroad in Maine. These locations played a vital role in secretly helping formerly enslaved people find freedom, with routes extending north into Canada. En Route honors the 19th-century Black Mainers who led the fight against slavery, as well as all those who continue to forge pathways toward justice and equality.

Filmed 4/6/25
Videography by Garrett Glasgow ’25