Jacob Uithoven

Mississippi State University student Jacob Uithoven loves acting, singing and performing. When he was cast as the lead, he said he was “super excited.” “I’ve never played a lead role before, so this is a whole new experience for me,” he said. The 22-year-old from Belden, is taking center stage as Wilbur in Theatre MSU’s upcoming production of “Charlotte’s Web,” premiering Friday [Sept. 27].

Beloved children’s classic ‘Charlotte’s Web’ opens 2024 Theatre MSU season this month

Mississippi State’s Theatre MSU—the production division of the Department of Communication—is launching its 2024-2025 season with a heartwarming classic, “Charlotte’s Web.” Part of the department’s Theatre for Young Adults program, the play based on E.B. White’s novel will enchant young audiences through the touching friendship between Charlotte, the spider, and Wilbur, the pig.

Award-winning Theatre MSU continues 60-year milestone with coming-of-age dramatic comedy ‘The Wolves’

Mississippi State’s Theatre MSU continues its 60th season this month with a theatrical production highlighting the chaos and confusion of teenage life. Sarah DeLappe’s award-winning “The Wolves”—a Pulitzer Prize finalist script depicting young women of a high school soccer team as they gather weekly for practice—is presented on the McComas Hall main stage Feb. 28-March 2.

Hays receives community engagement award

Mississippi State is honoring eight outreach projects with the university’s sixth annual Excellence in Community Engagement Awards. Winners, awarded in four categories for 2023, include community-engaged research, service, and teaching and learning, and scholarship of engagement.

CO Connection: David Hintz

Mississippi State University Broadcast & Digital Journalism Instructor Victoria Bailey interviews Junior Theatre Major David Hintz. Hintz discusses his experiences as co-director of Pants on Fire, the Theatre Department Children's Show, and serving as stage manager on the production Puffs. Hintz talks about his time in MSU’s comedy improv group, Lab Rats, the inspiration behind his comedic style, and the importance of learning the craft of improv. Hintz talks about what we can expect from the Theatre Department in the Spring and the hard work it takes to get these various shows up and running.

Award-winning Theatre MSU celebrates 60 years, opens 2023 season with improv

Mississippi State’s Theatre MSU debuts its 60th season this month with a play steeped in improvisation as part of its Theatre for Young Adults program. With four annual mainstage productions, the 2023-2024 season opens with “Pants on Fire: A totally made up musical for kids,” from Creede Repertory Theatre in Colorado. MSU’s Lab Rats Comedy—an improv student theatre club—also will sponsor the show.

Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Communication's Hays for contributions to the arts

Tonya S. Hays, assistant professor of theater performance in MSU’s Department of Communication, is a recipient of the Dr. Penny Wallin Lifetime Achievement in Arts Education Award for “consistently making meaningful contributions to her art form and advocating for the arts throughout her career.”

Paula Mabry directs award-winning play

Communication Lecturer Paula Mabry directed the Starkville Community Theatre play “Underneath the Lintel,” at the regional Southeastern Theatre Conference, and the performance won Best Actor and Best Director (Mabry).

Two MSU communication faculty members honored by Mississippi Theatre Association

Two Mississippi State Department of Communication faculty members took home awards from the recent Mississippi Theatre Association annual festival. Instructor Melanie Harris won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Theatre - College and University Division, and lecturer Paula Mabry won Best Direction - Community Theatre Division.

Theatre MSU brings Shakespeare classic ‘Macbeth’ to campus next week

Mississippi State’s Theatre MSU next week presents a Shakespeare classic for its final production of the year. “Macbeth,” set during 11th century Scotland, opens Wednesday [Feb. 22] and continues Friday-Saturday [Feb. 24-25] at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday [Feb. 26] at 2:30 p.m. on McComas Hall’s main stage. A special performance for school audiences also is planned.

CO Connection: Corin Davis, Communication Student (Theatre)

Mississippi State University's Department of Communication Head Dr. Terry Likes interviews Theatre MSU senior, Corin Davis. The discussion includes February’s production of MacBeth, for which he plays the lead. Also, his award-winning work as a designer, theatre conferences, Lab Rats (the improv comedy group), how one gets involved with the Theatre Honor Society (Alpha Psi Omega) along with theatre’s emphasis on plays involving social injustice and theatre’s mission in serving youth audiences.

Theatre MSU Presents: It's a Wonderful Life

Theatre MSU presents: The Light Princess

Bringing theater to all: Theatre MSU holding special performance for foster kids, families

Many say theater has a way of reaching kids and changing their lives. This is true for Tabitha Hewitt-Rafferty, a freshman at Mississippi State University and former foster child who found solace in the performing arts.

Award-winning Theatre MSU announces 2022 season, opens with children’s fantasy play

Mississippi State’s award-winning Theatre MSU debuts its new season this month with performances of from fantasy and fairytale, and nostalgia and murder.