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.

CO Connection: Cameron Mayer, Communication Student (Theatre)

Mississippi State University's Department of Communication Head Dr. Terry Likes interviews Cameron Mayer, a senior with a theatre concentration, talks about all things theatre for the 2022-2023 season. The discussion includes the children’s production The Light Princess, It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play, the spring production of MacBeth and more. Cameron is also reprising his role in “Anne and Emmett,” which TheatreMSU will take on the road and perform in Birmingham in November.

Communication senior wins Kennedy Center regional award for work on Theatre MSU original production

A Mississippi State senior has bested applicants from more than 10 states in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival competition, winning the top prize in technical drafting for his lighting design in MSU’s fall production of “Banner: A Sea Turtle Saga.”

Theatre MSU hosts world traveler, Shakespearean clown as actor-in-residence

Mississippi State’s Theatre MSU is hosting former student and Shakespearean and commedia clown actor Jarrod Bates on campus April 18-22 for a week of performances, acting lessons and lectures as actor-in-residence.

Theatre MSU Presents: Once on This Island

Student-directed production put spotlight on social awareness, injustice

Vernell L. Allen, a senior communication major with a concentration in theater from Brookhaven, has worked in different areas of theater throughout his college years, but directing All American Boys was a new experience for him.