Messiah University Department of Theatre and Dance

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Alumni Spotlight! Today’s alumni spotlight features Erin Shellenberger!Erin Shellenberger graduated Messiah University i...
03/18/2026

Alumni Spotlight!
Today’s alumni spotlight features Erin Shellenberger!

Erin Shellenberger graduated Messiah University in 2018 with a Theatre Major and a Youth Ministry Minor. After graduating, Erin worked as an Actor/ Manager at Gamut Theatre Group where her favorite roles include Mrs. Beaver in “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”, Catherine Stockman in “An Enemy of the People”, and Jane Bennett in “Pride and Prejudice”. Currently, Erin is producing “King Lear” in Harrisburg, PA, which runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until March 29, 2026.

Tickets for “King Lear” at Gamut Theatre Group are available at https://www.gamuttheatre.org/lear

Thank you to Erin for sharing with us!

📷Photo credits: Headshot by Lauren Altheah Photography. Production photos by John Bivins.

Season Announcement!The Department of Theatre and Dance is thrilled to announce our 2026-2027 season! We hope you'll joi...
03/18/2026

Season Announcement!
The Department of Theatre and Dance is thrilled to announce our 2026-2027 season! We hope you'll join us in the 2026-2027 academic year as we explore themes of creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling!

Continue to follow us for more details on next season, our department, and the rest of our productions this season, including our upcoming spring opera production of “Hansel & Gretel” on March 26-29!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Department of Theatre and Dance! 🍀Whether it is wearing green today or exploring Irelan...
03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Department of Theatre and Dance! 🍀
Whether it is wearing green today or exploring Ireland as part of our enrichment program to the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, we are definitely in the spirit!

Stay tuned for the Department of Theatre and Dance 2026-2027 Season announcement this week!
03/16/2026

Stay tuned for the Department of Theatre and Dance 2026-2027 Season announcement this week!

Alumni Spotlight!Our alumni spotlight for today features alum Ryan Wong! We checked in with Ryan for an update and his a...
03/12/2026

Alumni Spotlight!
Our alumni spotlight for today features alum Ryan Wong! We checked in with Ryan for an update and his advice for our current students.
“I am currently playing Elmer in Argyle Theatre’s production of “Newsies” out in Long Island, NY. Other notable recent works include “The King and I” at La Mirada Theatre in LA, Mary Poppins at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Centre.”

Advice to current students: “Find the balance between confidence and curiosity. Go into every space knowing your strengths and at the same time know where you can learn from others. In the middle of it all you will/must learn to discern what doesn’t work for you too. All of this will shape you into a grounded artist. Also please for the love of all that is good find something outside of theatre and dance that will fulfill your life ie. hobbies, community, travel, something that will make you happy. I promise your life will be more rich.”

Thank you to Ryan for sharing with us!

📸Photo credits: Headshot- Talitha Jones Photography
Stage photo “Newsies” at Argyle Theatre- Richard Termine

Alumni Spotlight!Our next alumni spotlight features alum Hannah Beecher! We checked in with Hannah for an update and her...
03/11/2026

Alumni Spotlight!
Our next alumni spotlight features alum Hannah Beecher! We checked in with Hannah for an update and her advice for our current students.

“Before and after graduating in 2020 I was working in regional theatres around the east coast. For the past 2 years I have been consistently touring working on “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, “Shrek the Musical”, “Fraggle Rock”, “Back to the Rock Live”, “Sesame Street Live”, “Say Hello” Tour, and am currently working on “Gabby's Dollhouse Live” as the Head of Wardrobe/Wigs. And during my time with “Shrek the Musical” I was able to be the Associate Costume Consultant during our retech in 2024.”

Advice to current students: “Stay calm while under pressure. Staying calm during turmoil is the best thing you can do. There are too many times during shows and in life, that curveballs come our way and instead of freaking out, keeping yourself to keep others calm is the best thing that you can do. It makes others feel at ease and able to think through the current problem.”

Thank you to Hannah for sharing with us!

Happy closing to the cast and crew of the Spring Senior Series! Congratulations on a wonderful run of shows!
03/02/2026

Happy closing to the cast and crew of the Spring Senior Series! Congratulations on a wonderful run of shows!

Happy Opening to the cast and crew of the Spring Senior Series!!February 27- 28 at 8:00 p.m.; March 1 at 3:00 p.m.Poorma...
02/28/2026

Happy Opening to the cast and crew of the Spring Senior Series!!

February 27- 28 at 8:00 p.m.; March 1 at 3:00 p.m.
Poorman Black Box Theater, Climenhaga Building

Last on our Senior Series Spotlight…“Moral of the Story” created by Clara Bellot and Eleanor Mund!Morality has been a co...
02/26/2026

Last on our Senior Series Spotlight…“Moral of the Story” created by Clara Bellot and Eleanor Mund!

Morality has been a confounding topic in humanity for all its existence. What is it? How do we decide? How do we put it into action? Eleanor and Clara invite you to join them on this journey, examining these questions through the lens of Aesop’s Fables. What happens when the characters from these short stories, meant to wrap morals up in a neat bow, begin to ask these questions of themselves?
A passion project born out of a desire to dig deeper into the foundations of morality, Eleanor and Clara challenge the audience to use this opportunity to reflect on their own perceptions of morality and place in the world. But they leave it up to you to decide the moral of the story.

Next up in our Senior Series Spotlight…”Drama and Dragons” created by Julia Itson!Travel through the forgotten realms wi...
02/25/2026

Next up in our Senior Series Spotlight…”Drama and Dragons” created by Julia Itson!

Travel through the forgotten realms with these three adventure-seeking nerds as they explore what life could be like after high school.

Our first Senior Show Spotlight…Adahlee Schroeder!!The Stories We Tell is an introspective play about how reading fictio...
02/24/2026

Our first Senior Show Spotlight…Adahlee Schroeder!!

The Stories We Tell is an introspective play about how reading fiction can both support and hinder a person’s growth. Imaginary friends and childhood memories go hand-in-hand as a young woman explores the connection between a cherished novel and her own past.

Opening this weekend…The Spring Senior series!! Get your tickets now!!February 27- 28 at 8:00 p.m.; March 1 at 3:00 p.m....
02/23/2026

Opening this weekend…The Spring Senior series!! Get your tickets now!!

February 27- 28 at 8:00 p.m.; March 1 at 3:00 p.m.
Poorman Black Box Theater, Climenhaga Building

Advisor: Daniel Inouye

“The Stories We Tell”
Created by Adahlee Schroeder
Performances: Friday, February 27 & Sunday, March 1

“Drama and Dragons”
Created by Julia Itson
Performances: Friday, February 27 & Saturday, February 28

“Moral of the Story”
Created by Clara Bellot & Eleanor Mund
Performances: Saturday, February 28 & Sunday, March 1

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One University Avenue
Mechanicsburg, PA
17055

Telephone

+17177965045

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