The Mississippi Theatre Association renamed two of its annual DramaFest awards in honor of longtime Mississippi State faculty members Wayne “Dur” Durst and Betty “Jo” Durst, recognizing their decades of service and lasting impact on theater education in Mississippi.

Mississippi State University’s Theatre MSU continues its 2025-2026 season this month with adaptations of “Fahrenheit 451” and “Sweeney Todd.” Spring shows begin Feb. 18-22 with the production of Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451.”

Mississippi State’s Theatre MSU is partnering with the university’s ACCESS Program to launch a “Unified Theatre” project celebrating student creativity in a collaborative performance of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Unified Theatre is a nationwide
program that unites students from all backgrounds and learning styles to create and perform productions together.

Theatre MSU is bringing a double dose of Halloween entertainment to Mississippi State this fall with a spooky fundraiser and a cult-classic performance of “Night of the Living Dead.”

Mississippi State University’s Theatre MSU opens its spring season with productions of “Medea” and “She Kills Monsters,” showcasing the two most popular genres of theater—tragedy and comedy. “Medea,” running Feb. 26 through March 1, 7:30 p.m., and March 2, 2 p.m., is directed by senior Kylie Alyse Dowd of Clinton in her directorial debut. Dowd, a fine arts major, brings a fresh perspective to a bold reimagining of the Greek tragedy.

Leaders in Mississippi State University’s theater program, part of the Department of Communication, are adding to their faculty awards this academic year, showcasing the program’s outstanding achievements in theater arts and dedication to creative excellence.