Theatre Department
Lightning Strikes Backstage
There are a lot more people involved in a play than just the actors on the screen. To make a production run and smoothly there is a whole team behind the scene. “The Lightning Thief” the USD’s Theatre department’s next show, is contemporary, but involves many fantasy themes and is a musical adaptation […]
Theatre Hosts Last Show of Fall Semester
USD’s theatre department wrapped up their Fall 2023 season. Their final show was “Ride the Cyclone,” which ran from Nov. 17-19 and Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. “Ride the Cyclone” is about the lives of six teenagers who die on a roller coaster called the cyclone. When they wake, they are greeted by Karnak, a […]
Graduate Student Directs Shakespeare
The USD Theater Department will be putting on Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” starting on Sept 28. This event will take place in the Knutson Theatre, until Oct. 1. Graduate student Jeffrey Larson is directing the show. Larson works with a company in Sioux Falls called the Bare Bodkins Theater Company and has done well […]
Theatre Department Hosts Rock Musical
USD’s Theatre Department will be hosting “tick, tick… BOOM!” from Feb. 16-19 in the Wayne S. Knutson Theater in the Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts. The auto-biographical musical follows Jon, a writer, as he chases his dreams of writing a rock musical while also managing the important relationships in his life, with experiences […]
Clary’s Critique: The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!
Over the weekend, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical! premiered in the fine arts building. The musical was a telling of one plot and turned into five different parodies of iconic musical theater writers. The entire plot was about tenants not being able to pay rent and having to deal with, what I think, is […]
![“[title of show]” involves audience, breaks the fourth wall](https://volanteonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2H8A8661.jpg)
“[title of show]” involves audience, breaks the fourth wall
The Department of Theatre hosts their second theatre production of the year, “[title of show],” Oct. 21-24. The musical tells the story of two men writing a musical about two men writing a musical. Assistant Director Jeffrey Larsen said the meta-theatrical show touches on the idea of wanting to create something and be one’s own […]
USD students chosen to grow talents on Broadway
Open Jar Institute, located on Broadway, New York City, is an arts institution that provides training to students specifically selected for an actor training program. Open Jar has a summer institute available to both high school and college students that offers intensive training with stars from Broadway for students to advance their acting. This summer, […]
She Kills Monsters brings empowerment and fantasy to the stage
The upcoming USD production of She Kills Monsters empowers women through adventure and growth. Premiering via livestream at the Knutson Theatre April 22-25, She Kills Monsters brings strong, complex LGBTQ+ characters to the stage. Senior theatre studies major and acting, stage management and technical directing emphasis, LD Dowell plays Tilly in She Kills Monsters. Dowell […]
“Zanna, Don’t!” turns social norms upside down on stage
USD Theatre’s newest production aims to turn the audience’s world upside down in “Zanna, Don’t!” As a social satire, “Zanna, Don’t!” reverses social and gender norms to create a parallel universe where homosexuality is in and heterosexuality is out. Director Oliver Mayes said the topsy-turvy world of “Zanna, Don’t!” will challenge audiences to think about […]
Interim dean of fine arts named full-time dean
Bruce Kelley has been named dean of Fine Arts after serving as interim dean of the college since February. Kelley arrived at USD in 2007 as an Associate Professor of Music. He was promoted to full Professor in 2013, then was appointed Assistant Provost in March of 2019 before being named interim dean of Fine […]