Performing Arts




You want to perform!
It’s in our blood too! We dance. We act. We compose and practice and play. It’s about connecting with an audience, and setting the stage. The College of Arts and Architecture’s majors, minors, and graduate programs will prepare you to succeed in the limelight.
Undergraduate
Degrees
Undergraduate
Minors + Certificates
Graduate
Degrees
Alumni Spotlight
You’ve gotta work hard to play hard. Sure, some people can skirt by without working as hard as others, but that will only take them so far.

Alumni Spotlight
Brinie Wallace
B.F.A. in Musical Theatre 2016Brinie Wallace is currently an ensemble member in the North American tour of The Book of Mormon after premiering the musical in Australia. She says her Penn State education reinforced in her the need to be “present and persistent” in the musical theatre profession, so you are ready to take on whatever challenges come your way.

Venues Galore


Eisenhower Auditorium

Pavilion Theatre

Penn State Downtown Theatre

Playhouse Theatre

Recital Hall
In the spotlight...
Faculty Spotlight
John Simpkins
Head of Musical Theatre
John Simpkins is head of Musical Theatre and the Nagle Family Endowed Chair at Penn State. He is also a professional director who recently directed the world premiere of Tony-nominated Joe Iconis’ Love in Hate Nation, which was commissioned by Penn State Musical Theatre as part of its New Musicals Initiative.
His recent new musical credits include the World Premiere of Legendale (music by Andrea Daly, words by Jeff Bienstock) at Fredericia Teater in Denmark and the subsequent American Premiere at Human Race Theatre Company. Recent new plays include the World Premieres of Raging Skillet (by Jacques Lamarre) at Theaterworks Hartford, The Bus (by Jim Lantz) at 59E59 Theaters and For Better, For Worse (by Reed Arnold). Regionally, he has directed at Sacramento Music Circus, Lyric Theatre Oklahoma, North Carolina Theatre, the Engeman Theatre, and Sharon Playhouse (where he also served as Artistic Director).

Events
Go. Explore.The Sustainability Teaching Roundtable Series Session 7: SoVA Studio for Sustainability and Social Action
ZoomNews from A&A
Theatre alumna's MODE Studios recognized for supporting live events during pandemic
MODE Studios founder, CEO and executive producer Colleen Bonniol was awarded the 2020 Live Design Pandemic Pivot Prize. Live Design, a digital resource for live event production technology, awarded the