Theatre

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Fall 2021

The Division of Theatre awards graduate and undergraduate degrees in a nationally recognized training program. Graduate students receive M.F.A. degrees in Acting or Design, while undergraduates complete a B.F.A. degree in either Acting or Theatre Studies. Classes and studios combined with participation in a robust production season prepare our graduates to move successfully into the performance industry. During their time at SMU, graduate and undergraduate students often work at Dallas area theatres as well as for top regional companies.

Theatre

Undergraduate Majors/Minors	B.F.A. in Acting B.F.A. in Theatre Studies
Graduate Majors/Minors	M.F.A. in Acting M.F.A. in Entertainment Design

Meet Our Faculty

Blake Hackler

Chair, Division of Theatre, Head of Acting Professor

Dawn Askew

Production Manager, Adjunct Instructor

Reiko Aylesworth

Professor of Practice

Tiana Kaye Blair

Professor of Practice, Acting and Movement

Joel Ferrell

Professor of Practice in Theatre and Inaugural Director of the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre

Joel Ferrell

Professor of Practice in Theatre and Inaugural Director of the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre

Margo Jones Theatre

The Margo Jones Theatre is a 125-seat black box, with seating divided among four platforms that allow directors and designers to choose between multiple configurations. Each spring, the theatre is host for the New Visions, New Voices festival, providing student writers and directors with a flexible and intimate setting where they can workshop and perform new plays.

More Facilities

Featured Story

Regina Taylor

Actor, Playwright, Director and Activist

Alumna Regina Taylor (Theatre ’81) partners with SMU Meadows and the Division of Theatre on a yearlong initiative, the black album.

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Theatre

Camilla Frontain
Juliet - 2nd Year Character Workshop
Part of Camilla’s 2nd year Character Workshop, an exploration of Juliet from Romeo and Juliet

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Theatre

Rhett Goldman BFA ‘24 and Caleb Mosley BFA ’24
Through My Mind
A Short Film written, directed shot and performed by some of our BFA Actors

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Theatre

Shahrzad Mazaheri MFA ’23, Courtney Amaro MFA ’23, Ariel Kregal MFA ’23
Costumes, Lights and Set by MFA Design Students for SMU’s Fall production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by faculty member Kara Lynn Vaeni.

Figure 1: Theatre alum Tadeo Martinez is a member of the revered Royal Shakespeare Company, now on his third production with the organization.

Alumni Spotlight: Tadeo Martinez

Alumni
Theatre alum Tadeo Martinez (B.F.A. '19) built upon the acting foundation he established at Meadows to launch his current career as a stage actor.

April 14, 2025
Figure 2: Theatre alum Tim Allis (B.F.A. '83) has written for publications like People and InStyle Magazine, as well as writing his debut book that was published last year.

Alumni Spotlight: Tim Allis

Alumni
Theatre alum Tim Allis (B.F.A. '83) is a professional writer and editor who has often drawn on his passion for theatre, stoked at Meadows, for projects.

February 27, 2025
Figure 3: Meadows faculty members Cheryl Mendenhall, Kristina Nielsen, Anne Schilling and Stephanie Langin-Hooper each received an award from SMU.

Meadows Faculty Sweeps SMU Fall Teaching Awards

Faculty
Meadows faculty members win four of the biggest University-level teaching awards from SMU for the school year.

February 06, 2025
Figure 4: Theatre alum Emily Habeck started her career in the film industry before publishing her first book and becoming an author.

Alumni Spotlight: Emily Habeck

Alumni
Theatre alum Emily Habeck (B.F.A. '11) shares how her Meadows theatre degree helped her carve a career path to becoming a bestselling fiction author.

February 03, 2025

Theatre

Meet Our Faculty

Margo Jones Theatre

Featured Story

Regina Taylor

Student Work

Theatre News

Upcoming Theatre Events