The Department of Theatre fills the academic calendar with four large and several small productions a year. All of our students, regardless of major or class year, are invited to audition or to serve in a technical capacity.
From day one, our students work closely with faculty in practical production positions. Even first-year students can work as assistant designers and assistant technical directors for main stage productions. And experienced students often serve as lighting or scenic designers, under faculty supervision.
Main Stage
The Fall Musical
A time-honored event of Susquehanna University’s Family Weekend celebration, productions have included: The Sound of Music, The Full Monty, Oklahoma!, Hello, Dolly!, Guys And Dolls, Little Shop of Horrors, Into The Woods and A Catered Affair.
The Advanced Acting Workshop Production These productions showcase more advanced dramatic acting techniques. Stagings have included: The Importance of Being Earnest, Dracula, Enchanted April,The Seagull and Amadeus.
The Student-Directed Play A fully-realized main stage production directed by one of our most accomplished senior students, selected from such plays as The Hot L Baltimore, Blithe Spirit and The MissFirecracker Contest.
The Spring Production A play is selected from the canon of world dramatic literature for the large spring production. Past productions have included: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, OurTown, The Grapes of Wrath, The Winter’s Tale, I Remember Mama and The ThreepennyOpera.
Second Stage
The Experimental Acting Workshop Production
This production challenges students with demanding roles in a bare-bones acting environment to bring out their best talent in a no-frills, cutting edge performance experience.
24-Hour Play Festival
Student teams conceptualize, write, rehearse and perform exciting new short works in the span of a single day.
The Student Directing Showcase
Traditionally held late in the fall semester, this free-of-charge event features one-act plays and scenes crafted by students in the Directing class presented to a public audience.
Shakespeare Club Production
This annual audience favorite is an energetic large-cast excursion into the work of the Bard, often characterized by whimsical staging and “found objects” design.
A Sample of our Theatre Productions
Main Stage
Mermaid of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
by Rebecca Dietsch September 23 – 25 at 7:30 PM, September 26 at 2:30 PM. Degenstein Center Theater. Directed by guest artist Courtney Self.
Far and Away
and
Escaped Alone
by Caryl Churchill October 22 – 23 at 7:30 PM, October 24 at 2:30 PM. Degenstein Center Theater. Directed by Dr. Anna Andes.
Urinetown
by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis November 11 – 13 at 7:30 PM, November 14 at 2:30 PM. Degenstein Center Theater. Directed by Aaron White.
A Cycle: Short Climate Change Plays
by various playwrights. February 24 -26 at 7:30 PM, February 27 at 2:30 PM. Degenstein Stage. Directed by Dr. Jeanne Tiehen.
Smaller Floods
by Evan Peterson April 7 -9 at 7:30 PM, April 10 at 2:30 PM. Degenstein Center Theater. Director TBA.
An Enemy of the People
byHenrik Ibsen, adapted by Anna Andes April 28 – 30 at 7:30 PM, May 1 at 2:30 PM. Degenstein Center Theater. Directed by Dr. Anna Andes.
Second Stage
A collection of mostly student-generated productions focusing on bare-bones performance of challenging works in unconventional spaces.
24-Hour Play Festival
October 9 at 7:30 PM. Isaacs Auditorium.
Student Directing Showcase
December 9 – 10 at 6:30 PM. Isaacs Auditorium.
A Night on Broadway CABARET
February 18 at 7:30 PM Isaacs Auditorium.
Shakespeare Club Production
May 7 at 7:30 PM. Degenstein Center Theater
2020-21
Trifles & The Outside Three Sisters Laramie Project Lobsters Men in Love Marisol Golden Hour: A Musical Revue of 1920s Radio
2019-20
Working Bram Stoker’s Dracula Last Summer at Bluefish Cove Seeds
2018-19
Doubt Pippin Silent Sky She Stoops to Conquer
2017-18
Dead Man’s Cell Phone She Loves Me The Mineola Twins Blue Stockings
2016-17
The Addams Family Vinegar Tom Almost, Maine Translations
2015-16
A Catered Affair Her Naked Skin Dog Sees God Orpheus Descending The Memory of Water
2014-2015
Tales of the Lost Formicans Guys and Dolls Blithe Spirit The Threepenny Opera
2013-14
Little Shop of Horrors Uncle Vanya Miss Firecracker Contest Romeo and Juliet
2012-13
Amadeus Into the Woods Student-directed production The Birds
2011-12
The Lion in Winter Funny Girl The Laramie Project The Student-Directed Mainstage Production Diana of Dobson’s
2010-11
The Diary of Anne Frank The Full Monty The Student-Directed Mainstage Production Blood Wedding
2009-10
The Sound of Music Les Liaisons Dangereuses The One Act Play Festival A Midsummer Night’s Dream
2008-09
Fiddler on the Roof The Night of the Iguana The One Act Play Festival The Man Who Came to Dinner
2007-08
The Importance of Being Earnest The Pajama Game The One Act Play Festival Richard III
2006-07
Dracula Oklahoma The One Act Play Festival Our Town
2005-06
Enchanted April Seussical The One Act Play Festival I Remember Mama
2004-05
Dancing at Lughnasa Hello Dolly! The One Act Play Festival A Dybbuk
2003-04
On the Town The Seagull The One Act Play Festival The Winter’s Tale
2002-03
Chicago Waiting for Godot The One Act Play Festival The Lark
2001-02
Titanic The Little Foxes The One Act Play Festival The Grapes of Wrath