Sands College of Performing Arts at Pace University

10/24/2026

Sometimes the work you do in the room opens the next door.

Acclaimed director Saheem Ali recently joined Sands students for a candid Q&A on his career, artistic process, leadership, and the path that brought him through some of New York theatre’s most influential spaces.

He spoke about the choices that shape a directing career, the value of staying open to new forms of collaboration, and the importance of being seen through the work itself. He also reflected on a formative Pace experience that helped shift his professional trajectory.

“I actually got my first Public Theater show because of doing Hair at Pace. That’s how I got Twelfth Night. That was my first show.”

It was a meaningful conversation about craft, opportunity, and the moments that can change the direction of an artist’s career. 🎭

10/23/2026

Another reason to celebrate at Sands. 🎭

Backstage has named Pace University one of the “29 Acting Colleges You Should Know,” recognizing the training, experience, and industry exposure that prepare our students for careers on stage and screen. The feature highlights our bicoastal training, professional opportunities, working faculty, and new performing arts spaces at One Pace Plaza East.

We are incredibly proud of the students, faculty, and alumni who bring this work to life every day. Strong training. Bold artists. Real connection to the field.

Read the full Backstage feature:

Considering an acting degree? These 29 undergraduate B.A. and BFA programs offer aspiring actors a range of approaches to training, experience, and industry exposure.

10/22/2026

What happens when cruelty meets consequence? 🩸

This November, Sands College of Performing Arts presents “Carrie: The Musical.”

Music by Michael Gore
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Book by Lawrence D. Cohen
Based on the Novel by Stephen King
Musical Director: Analise Levesque
Director and Choreographer: Rebecca Murillo

Power. Isolation. Cruelty. The pressure to belong. Based on Stephen King’s novel, “Carrie” follows a young woman as she struggles to find her place while navigating family, fear, and the painful realities of growing up. But this is not simply a story of good versus evil. It explores the choices people make, the harm those choices can cause, and what happens when inner demons break through.

📍 Garden Theater at One Pace Plaza East
November 9–10, 12–14 | 7:30 p.m.
November 8, 14–15 | 2:00 p.m.

Open to the public. Student discounts available.
Get your tickets at www.pace.edu/carrie.

10/19/2026

See what’s next in theatre.🎭

“IPE New” returns this fall with two original productions created and performed by the BFA in Performance Making Class of 2029.

Directed by Michael Williams and Katie Kay Chelena, this annual showcase is all about fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and new theatrical voices.

Come see tomorrow’s performance-makers today.

Tickets:

Presented by the International Performance Ensemble Class of 2029First Performance Director: Michael WilliamsSecond Performance Director: Katie Kay Chelena

10/16/2026

Known to steal the scene. 🎭💙

And yesterday, we did just that.

Three years in the making, One Pace Plaza East is officially OPEN! 🎉 We celebrated with a ribbon cutting, a surprise flash mob from our Sands Commercial Dance students, live performances by Tonal Recall, and a whole lot of Pace pride.

New theaters. New creative spaces. A new chapter for Pace. And a whole lot of reasons to be excited about what's next.

New York City is our stage. And we're just getting started. 💙

10/12/2026

A new chapter for Sands starts here. ✨

Join us on October 15 as we celebrate the grand opening of One Pace Plaza East and our new performing arts spaces at Sands College of Performing Arts!

📍 12:15 p.m. | Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
📍 3:25 p.m. | Grand Opening Celebration

Come explore our spaces and enjoy student performances, giveaways, Pace swag, and more as we celebrate this exciting milestone in our NYC Campus community.

This is a moment worth celebrating! 🎭

Celebrate the grand opening of One Pace Plaza East on Thursday, October 15! Join us at 12:15 p.m. for the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, then come back at 3:25 p.m. for the Grand Opening Celebration, featuring student performances, giveaways, Pace swag, and plenty of surprises.

10/09/2026

Get ready for “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.”

Inspired by a scandalous slice of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, Dave Malloy’s electrifying musical brings Natasha and Pierre into a world of longing, chaos, reinvention, and hope.

This production reimagines the story through the energy of a late-night Moscow rave in the early 1990s, with Malloy’s bold electropop score driving the journey.

Directed and choreographed by Phil Colgan, with musical direction by Angela Ortiz.

📍 Schimmel Theater
1 Pace Plaza, 9 Spruce St. entrance
🗓️ October 16–18 at 7:30 p.m.
🗓️ October 17–18 at 2:00 p.m.

Student discounts are available.

🎟️Get your tickets:
https://pace.ludus.com/show_page.php?show_id=200543556

10/01/2026

A new stage. A powerful story. 🎭

Join us in the Garden Theater for "Water by the Spoonful" by Quiara Alegría Hudes, directed by Debbie Saivetz.

The play follows Elliot, a young Iraq War veteran, and a group of recovering addicts whose lives become unexpectedly connected through an online support community. Funny, moving, and deeply human, it is a story about addiction, loss, forgiveness, and the family we find along the way.

Performances:
October 2–3 and 6–10 at 7:30 p.m.
October 4, 10, and 11 at 2:00 p.m.
📍Garden Theater, One Pace Plaza East

Discounted tickets are available for students.
Come experience the work in our new performing arts spaces.
https://bit.ly/4xX4DOj

09/18/2026

The doors are open. The stages are ready. 🎭💃 One Pace Plaza East is officially here—and the Sands College of Performing Arts has a whole new home for creating, rehearsing, designing, producing, and performing. Explore the new dance studios, soundstage, Black Box Theater, design and drafting studios, costume and scene shops, production spaces, and more—plus Schimmel Theater and the new Garden Theater.

There’s a LOT to see. Take a floor-by-floor tour of One Pace Plaza East and find your new favorite space.

One Pace Plaza East is officially open, and there’s a lot to explore. From new theaters and studios to student lounges, creative spaces, and Maria’s Tower, here’s your guide to what you’ll find inside.

09/17/2026

Broadway’s brightest stars are shining bright, and Pace University is right at the top! 🎭✨

Playbill’s 2025–26 Broadway report is in, and Pace University landed at #4 among colleges with the most alumni performing on stage! 🎭✨

Huge congratulations to our incredibly talented alumni, faculty, students, and the entire performing arts community.

Check out the full breakdown on Playbill: https://playbill.com/article/where-did-the-actors-of-the-2025-26-broadway-season-go-to-school