Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance

Dear Friends and Alumni of the Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance,

I want to directly address the questions many of you have raised about our future. The direction is clear, and it is grounded in strength, purpose, and artistic focus.

We are entering a strategic expansion that elevates our work and sharpens our identity. On July 1, 2026, our BFAs in Contemporary Dance and Musical Theatre will join the Jacobs School of Music, forming dynamic, dedicated departments in Dance and Musical Theatre. On July 1, 2027, Theatre and Drama will merge into Jacobs, bringing together our BA, MFA programs, and core disciplines—History, Theory and Literature; Acting and Directing; and Design and Technology—into a single, unified department.

At the heart of this new Theatre and Drama Department is a clear vision: a collaborative collective of theatre artisans—actors, directors, designers, dramaturgs, technicians, playwrights, and scholars—working together in rigorous pursuit of human expression through plays. This integration strengthens the essential relationship between scholarship and practice, and between every artist and discipline required to bring stories fully to life on stage.

This is a merger, not a relocation. Our theatre and musical productions remain firmly rooted in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center and in our performance homes—the Ruth N. Halls, Studio, and Wells-Metz Theatres—spaces built through the dedication of generations of theatre alumni, donors, and faculty. These stages, studios, and classrooms will continue to be the engine of our work: where collaboration thrives and where bold, vital theatre is created.

Leadership is firmly in place. I will conclude my eight-year tenure as Chair and Producer on June 30, 2026, and I have full confidence in Professor Ansley Valentine, who will serve as Chair and Producer, alongside Dr. Jennifer Goodlander as Associate Chair. Together, they will lead this unified artistic community with clarity and purpose.  They have the full endorsement of the department and the expertise and experience required of outstanding leaders.

Our mission does not change—it deepens. We remain committed to rigorous training, meaningful scholarship, and the creation of theatre that reflects and interrogates the human experience. We are not stepping back—we are advancing with intention.

Thank you for your continued support.

With gratitude,

Linda Pisano, Chair & Producer