Millikin University - School of Theatre and Dance

06/18/2026

Celebrate an incredible season with us!🎉

Comment below your favorite moments from our 2025-2026 season!
We can’t wait to share another year of magic with you in our 2026-2027 season:

📄Ordinary Days: In Concert
September 11-12 at 7:30pm 

🔮Blithe Spirit
October 8-10 at 7:30pm, October 11 at 2:00pm 

💋Cabaret
November 12-14 at 7:30pm, November 15 at 2:00pm 

☀️Solstice: A Concert of Dance
December 10-11 at 7:30, December 12 at 2:00pm 

🇺🇸POTUS or, Behind Every Great Du***ss Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive 
March 11-13 at 7:30pm, March 14 at 2:00pm

🚽Urinetown
April 23-24 at 7:30pm, April 25 at 2:00pm

06/12/2026

Congratulations to SOTAD Alum, Andie Burns on TONY Award #3. Andie has served on the Stage Management teams for 3 Broadway shows and all 3 have won TONY Awards for Best Play or Best Musical. LIBERATION - Best Play 2026, STEREOPHONIC - Best Play 2024, and STRANGE LOOP - Best Musical 2022.

SOTAD's Proximity to the 2026 TONY Awards also includes alum
Katy Atwell who served as the Assistant Lighting Designer for CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL which received a nomination for Best Lighting Design of a Musical.

These are incredibly impressive achievements and all of us at the School of Theatre and Dance couldn't be prouder of these talent alumni. Well done!

'Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman' leads with six wins, followed by 'Schmigadoon!,' 'The Lost Boys' and 'Ragtime' with four each.

06/09/2026

Congratulations to SOTAD Alum, Francesca Zacor who will be appearing in the Theatre Wit production of THE ELEPHANT MAN. The show opens this week! Well done, Francesca!

Bernard Pomerance's The Elephant Man will be presented at Theater Wit in Chicago, starring Jeff Award nominees Billy Surges and Katherine Schwartz, with direction by Conor Frank and live music.

06/08/2026

The School of Theatre and Dance sends a BIG shout out to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago who very generously offered a full-tuition scholarship for a SOTAD student or alum to attend their summer intensive. This opportunity was made possible by SOTAD Alumn, Shawn Lent who is the new Manager of Training Programs for Hubbard Street. Our thanks to Shawn and the Hubbard Street staff for making this opportunity possible.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your artistry, push yourself to excel outside your comfort zone, and train alongside elite artists—Hubbard Street’s Summer Intensives are for you. Through our inclusive environment and diverse program curriculum, you will establish lasting connections a...

06/06/2026

The cast of our Fall in-concert show, “Ordinary Days”, visited the Decatur 9/11 Memorial. They had the opportunity to hear and learn from the community members who contributed to its creation.

A special thanks to Lauren and John Axe, Riki Dial and Corey Kistner for giving us your time and stories!

We look forward to sharing this beautifully written show as a tribute to those in our Decatur community who have been impacted by the events of September 11th.

05/31/2026

Congratulations to SOTAD Alum, Keegan Colletta Huckfeldt, on his promotion to Executive Managing Director at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City. Keegan previously held the Events Director position, and in recent months, served as the Interim Managing Director before taking on the role full time. The Englert presents a broad variety of live performances, including musical and comedy acts. If you're in the Iowa City area, support the arts at the Englert! Well done, Keegan!

The Englert Theatre Names Co-Executive Directors Brian Johannesen and Keegan Colletta Huckfeldt IOWA CITY, IA The Englert Theatre has announced two Executive Directors to lead the organization effective June 1, 2026. Brian Johannesen has been named Executive Artistic ...

05/28/2026

Congratulations to SOTAD Alum, Trey DeLuna who will be back "On the Rock" in the Casa Mañana production of COME FROM AWAY. Trey appeared in the National Tour of COME FROM AWAY, as well as in CINDERELLA at the Marriott Theatre, A CHORUS LINE and SISTER ACT at Drury Lane Oakbrook. Well Done Trey!

Casa Mañana Theatre will close its Broadway season with COME FROM AWAY, a musical based on the true story of 7,000 passengers diverted to Gander, Newfoundland after 9/11, including TCU alum and local American Airlines captain Beverley Bass.

05/28/2026

Not all actors drive in one lane, which is the case for SOTAD Alum, Benny Zielke. This actor, director, writer, and advocate for LGBTQ+ issues is currently getting noticed for their role in the upcoming release of SCARY MOVIE 6. Congratulations Benny! We are looking forward to seeing how your unique voice will continue to advocate for the inclusion and representation of the LGBTQ+ QMunity.

Trans nonbinary actor and filmmaker Benny Zielke joins the cast of Scary Movie 6 as the franchise returns with the Wayans brothers.

05/28/2026

Congratulations to SOTAD Alum Emma Jean Eastlund, who will be appearing in the Music Theatre Works production of WEST SIDE STORY. Emma Jean was recently seen in the Music Theatre Works production of CATS. Way to go, Emma Jean!

Music Theater Works announced the cast and creative team for WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Sasha Gerritson with choreography by Clayton Cross and Isa Ramirez, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. All performances include Spanish supertitles.

05/28/2026

Congratulations to SOTAD Alums, Ethan Lupp, Thomas Ferro and Joshua Klaber Higgins, who will be appearing in the Uptown Music Theatre production of DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID. The show runs July 18- August 2nd. Ethan appeared in the Music Theatre Works production of CATS. Thomas was seen in the BrightSide Theatre production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and Josh was seen in the Mercury Theatre production of ME AND MY GIRL. Well done to all!

Uptown Music Theater in Deerfield, IL will present DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID this summer, directed by Tor Campbell and featuring a full cast led by Julia Aragon as Ariel, alongside a live 20-piece JAM Orchestra.