Program

Siena Heights has established a national reputation in theater and offers two degree options in one program: Theater/Speech and Dance. Under the Theatre Siena department umbrella are theater, educational theater, musical theater and technical theater. The faculty are working professionals in every major area of today’s theater market.

Theatre Siena has an ambitious production schedule that has students immersed in productions throughout the academic year.

Theater students are encouraged to pursue internship opportunities off-campus as much as possible. Many of these are very personal, one-on-one study experiences and often are paid. Siena Heights has developed internship partners not only in the United States, but throughout the world.

Some of the past internship opportunities include:

• Croswell Opera House
• Purple Rose Theater
• Plowshares Theater Co.
• Theatre Nova
• Spoleto Theater
• Santa Fe Opera House
• Eugene O’Neill Theatre

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Some of Siena Heights’ recent graduates and former students are involved in the following:

• Katie Metz (Adrian Mich.): former AEA Assistant Stage Manager at Barter Theatre, Abingdon, Va.
• Matthew Chandler (Chicago Ill.): attended Florida State, currently Associate Production Manager at Goodman Theatre, Chicago
• Michael Kirk Lane (New York City): actor, teaching artist at Wingspan Arts; Associate Producer at No Strings Production; House Manager at Laurie Beechman Theatre, most recently in Hell’s Belles, N.Y.
• Robert Whiston (Brooklyn, N.Y.): currently Literary Fellow at Atlantic Theatre Company, Director at New York Theatre Barn, N.Y.
• Leah Crocetto (San Francisco Calif.): singer, most recently at the Metropolitan Opera, NYC
• Dalton Tyler Gerber (NYC): aspiring actor, attended Actors Studio Drama School of Pace University, N.Y.
• Jayna Katz (NYC): enrolled in Brooklyn College MFA Performing Arts Management Program
• Andrew Dunn (NYC) attended Actors Studio Drama School of Pace University, currently licensing coordinator at Silver Buffalo LLC, N.Y.
• Matt Davis (Astoria, N.Y.): actor/director/playwright, instructor of Michael Chekhov Acting Technique at About Artists Agency, N.Y.
• Lauren Hoag attended Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, N.Y.
• Paul Karle (NYC) studied at The New School for Drama, N.Y.
• Carol Krueger (Denver Colo.): Theatre Service Manager at Denver Center for Performing Arts, CO
• Kalen Larson (Cortland, Ill.): General Manager and Flying Director at Flying Effects, IL
• Amanda Raymond (Astoria, N.Y.) attended Columbia University School of Arts; Audio Engineer and Feinstein’s 54 Below; Stage Manager at the Ohmies, N.Y.
• Emily Victoria Roney (NYC): interned at The Public Theatre, dresser at Hamilton the Musical, N.Y.
• Luke Stanaway-Neblo (Van Nuys, Calif.): SAG-AFTRA actor at The Prison City Players, Calif.
• Andrew Staton (Los Angeles): SAG actor, former rigger at Asylum Stunts
• Chloe Whiting Stevenson (Blissfield, Mich.): attended Illinois State University and Accademia dell’Arte (Italy), performance artist (global)
• Ryan Bernard Tymenski (NYC): interned at Eugene O’Neill Theatre (lighting) and Telsey and Company Casting (casting); former Showroom Designer for Ralph Lauren; currently of Ryan Bernard Casting, N.Y.
• Megan VanArsdalen (NYC): attended New York School for Drama, N.Y.
• Lucas Wells (Temperance, Mich.): formerly of Spring Awakening national tour; formerly of Meadowbrook Theatre, Mich.
• Michael Cicirelli (Mich.): interned at Jackson K105.3 and JTV; actor at Michigan Renaissance Festival; DJ, Mich.
• Suzette Collins Donelson (Ky.) attended University of Oklahoma (design research); taught at Oklahoma City Community College; Wardrobe/hair/makeup/props at Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, Okla.
• Gretchen Hall (Fla.): model for Dorothy Combs Models, Fla.
• Stephanie Blohm (Mich.): stage manager, marketing and development associate at Theatre Nova, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Ryan Burke (Ill.): Assistant Technical Director at Quincy Theatre, Quincy, Ill.
• Sam Castle (Fla.): Employed at a theatre company in Sarasota, Fla. 
• Julia Cassell (Chelsea, Mich.): Office Manager at the Purple Rose Theatre, Chelsea, Mich.

The Alpha Psi Omega national theater fraternity is one of the oldest organizations on the Siena Heights campus. It boasts a large membership nationally and is open to not only theater majors, but to those students who excel in theater at Siena Heights.

Siena Heights University conducts Arts Scholarship Days for prospective students.

High school seniors and transfer students who would like to major in music, art or theater or perform in the choir, band, marching band, orchestra or jazz band can schedule an audition or portfolio review and campus visit during Arts Scholarship Days @ Siena. Scholarships will be awarded to qualifying students. In addition to their audition or portfolio review, students may have the opportunity to meet with current scholarship recipients over lunch, have an individual meeting with Admissions Counselor and enjoy a campus tour.

Siena Heights University’s Theatre Siena has announced its schedule for the 2021-22 academic year.

The season opens with the Homecoming Weekend production of “Rent,” from Oct. 14-16. Directed by SHU Assistant Professor of Theater and Dance Michael Yuen, the rock musical tells a story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create life in lower Manhattan’s East Village in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City. Curtain time is at 7:30 p.m. each evening on the Haller Stage in the Spencer Performing Arts Center.

Here are the remaining shows for the 2021-22 season:

• “Steel Magnolias” is from Nov. 11-13 in the Stubnitz Lab Theatre. Directed by SHU Assistant Professor of Theatre Dan Walker, the play is about the bond among a group of Southern women in northwest Louisiana. Curtain times are at 7:30 p.m. each evening.
• “Student-directed One-Acts” are from Dec. 9-11 in the Stubnitz Lab Theatre. These shows are directed by students from the play directing class. Curtain times are at 7:30 p.m. each evening.
• “She Kills Monsters” is from Feb. 3-5 in the Stubnitz Lab Theatre. Directed by Michael Yuen, the show is about Agnes Evans, who loses her parents and little sister in a car accident. The plot takes place in a reality and the imaginary game world. Curtain times are at 7:30 p.m. each evening.
• The Child Drama Program will have a show to be announced from Feb. 25-27 on the Haller Stage. It will be directed by Julianne Dolan.
• “Big Fish,” a musical, will be from April 7-9 on the Haller Stage. Directed by SHU Professor of Theatre Mark DiPietro, the show revolves around the relationship between a traveling salesman and his adult son. Curtain times are at 7:30 p.m. each evening.
• “Student-directed One-Acts” are from April 26-28 in the Stubnitz Lab Theatre. These shows are directed by students from the play directing class. Curtain times are at 7:30 p.m. each evening.

Tickets are available at the box office beginning 90 minutes prior to each show. For general shows, cost is $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors. For musicals, cost is $12 for adults, $8 for student and seniors. Season passes good for two guests are also available for $50.

For more information, visit www.theatresiena.com or call 517-264-7890.