Gustavus Theatre & Dance

Gustavus Theatre & Dance Home of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Gustavus Adolphus College The department also seeks to serve the greater St.

The Theatre and Dance Department’s mission emphasizes the value of performance as a vital means of working for social justice and personal transformation…

The Department mentors majors and non-majors alike in explorations of the many ways theatre and dance artists interpret and affect society. Students and faculty collaborate on creative research projects designed to raise awareness, create commu

nity, foster self-expression, challenge stereotypes, evoke compassion, and represent diverse perspectives. Advanced seminars and capstone experiences enable students to develop and articulate their own unique senses of vocation, purpose and creative vision for life and art beyond college. Theatre and Dance Department performance events entertain and challenge Gustavus audiences with dynamic, innovative productions. Peter community with the artistic excellence and educational outreach so important to our work…

…[the program] prepares students for graduate study and/or for professional work in the fields of Theatre and Dance. It also provides students with experience and confidence with collaboration, creative imagination, self-expression, problem-solving, critical analysis and empathy—abilities crucial to every walk of life.

𝗧/𝗗 𝟭𝟵𝟵: 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 & 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 – 𝗔 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗶𝗻-𝗮-𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲! 🌍This May term, Gustavus students took their le...
06/26/2025

𝗧/𝗗 𝟭𝟵𝟵: 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 & 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 – 𝗔 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗶𝗻-𝗮-𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲! 🌍

This May term, Gustavus students took their learning across the pond to London for over three unforgettable weeks of theater, art, culture, and adventure!

From 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲 to Olivier-winning musicals and cutting-edge new works, we immersed ourselves in London’s vibrant performing arts scene. We kicked things off with a city tour and 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗜𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆 at the Bridge Theatre—yes, THAT Jonathan Bailey! 🤩

Other show-stopping highlights included:
▪️𝘔𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘈𝘥𝘰 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 with the 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱-𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻-𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗻
▪️𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘵 at 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲
▪️Award-winning revivals like 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 at the National Theatre and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘚𝘦𝘨𝘪’𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 at the Arcola
▪️Bold new productions including 1536 at the Almeida, 𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 at the Royal Court, and 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘪 𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 at Kiln Theatre
▪️Musicals like 𝘍𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘧 (2025 Olivier Award winner) and Sondheim’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘴
▪️Cutting edge dance performances like 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘖𝘸𝘯 by (La)Horde & Rambert and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵 by Becky Namgauds at Sadler’s Wells

A special moment? Seeing Gustavus alum 𝗖𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲 '𝟭𝟮 bring down the house with her one-woman show 𝘊𝘏𝘌𝘈𝘛 at the Soho Theatre!

But the experience didn’t stop at the stage. Days were filled with visits to iconic museums and galleries like the British Museum, the V&A, the Wellcome Collection, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Graffiti Tunnel at Lake Street Arches among others.

We explored the world through 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀, including the Borough Market, and topped it all off with a special dinner with 𝗚𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘃𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗻.

18 shows, countless cultural encounters, lifelong memories.
This course wasn’t just a class—it was a 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 through the arts and the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities.

DANA MARQUIS The 2025 Distinguished Dancer Award is presented to Dana Marquis. Dana has demonstrated tremendous growth a...
05/18/2025

DANA MARQUIS The 2025 Distinguished Dancer Award is presented to Dana Marquis. Dana has demonstrated tremendous growth and unwavering commitment toward increasing her knowledge and skill as a multi-dimensional dance artist while attending Gustavus. Her expressive and skillful technique, nuanced musicality, and compelling stage presence have been a delight for so many of us to watch over the last four years: in the classroom and in many varied performance events on campus; such as, Shared Space, Choreographer’s Gallery, annual departmental dance concerts, and Christmas in Christ Chapel.

In January, Dana performed in 5 of the 9 dances (including a compelling solo choreographed for her by Melissa Rolnick) that were presented for the “Wintering” dance concert. Dana is deeply dedicated to the continual improvement of her technique, taking advantage of opportunities to learn and improve whenever they arise, such as enrolling in extra technique classes (far beyond the requirements of the major), participating in student dance concerts (as a dancer and as a choreographer) and even regularly driving up to the Twin Cities to take professional level classes. In class, her dance professors have noted her engaged and thoughtful written reflections and investigations with course content. Dana has been selected to represent Gustavus as both a dancer and as a choreographer numerous times for the annual American College Dance Association’s regional conference. As a choreographer, Dana’s peers have delighted in her engaging choreography and have appreciated her attention toward creating an inclusive, inspiring, and enriching rehearsal process. Dana’s artistic investment and commitment to growth, discipline, and refinement inspires others to elevate their own artistic journeys.

Dance photos credit: Dan Norman

Students in Henry MacCarthy's May-term class, T/D 199: Arts & Performance in London, had the incredible opportunity to s...
05/16/2025

Students in Henry MacCarthy's May-term class, T/D 199: Arts & Performance in London, had the incredible opportunity to see Gustavus alum Chloe Radcliffe '12 perform her one-woman show "CHEAT" at the Soho Theatre last night! Fun fact: Chloe took this same class when she was at Gustavus! If you are in London, catch "CHEAT" on its final two nights, May 16th and 17th at 9:15 pm.
https://sohotheatre.com/events/chloe-radcliffe-cheat/

WREN HEIMAN has been chosen to receive the Arthur Lundgren Theatre Award which ispresented annually to a student who has...
05/16/2025

WREN HEIMAN has been chosen to receive the Arthur Lundgren Theatre Award which is
presented annually to a student who has made the greatest contribution to excellence in the
Department of Theatre and Dance. Wren joined Gustavus in sophomore year and hit the ground running as a consistent, supportive, and energetic leader, always thinking about the needs and considerations of everyone in a production. This has made Wren an outstanding Stage Manager and as such was the optimal choice for helping lead this year's Stage Management class as Teaching Assistant. Wren has spent countless hours in the classroom, in the costume studio, and at the tech table honing their own craft while providing exemplary leadership to the next generation of artists and technicians with seemingly effortless enthusiasm. It has been said before, but bears repeating, that above all else Wren is profoundly kind, thoughtful, and generous to everyone they meet, ensuring every member of the community feels respected and welcome. The department is honored to name Wren our Arthur Lundgren Theatre Award recipient for 2025.

MARIANA RODRIGUEZ-GUZMAN is the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Student in Design, Technology, and Production award, a...
05/14/2025

MARIANA RODRIGUEZ-GUZMAN is the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Student in Design, Technology, and Production award, an honor presented annually to a junior or senior who demonstrates exceptional leadership, artistic excellence, and dedication in the fields of design, technical theatre, or stage management. Mar was recognized for her outstanding contributions across multiple areas of production and her consistent commitment to excellence. As Associate Wig Designer for The New House, she played a key role in conceptualizing and styling all of the wigs for the production. She also contributed her skills as a Costume Studio Employee, building garments and supporting production costume designs, through her craftwork and collaboration. Mar has proved her reliability, strong work ethic, and ability to deliver high-quality work, even under pressure. Her work in the studio included stitching, craftwork, and detailed finishing work, all executed with precision and care. She approached each project with a collaborative spirit and a sharp eye for design, ensuring that each piece she worked on was both beautiful and functional.

Top-left photo credit: Kathy Burnham

TIMOTHY SNYDER is the recipient of this year’s Lee and Laurie Walker Scholarship, awarded by the Department of Theatre a...
05/12/2025

TIMOTHY SNYDER is the recipient of this year’s Lee and Laurie Walker Scholarship, awarded by the Department of Theatre and Dance to a first-year or sophomore who shows promise and commitment to theatre and music. Matt Trucano writes, “Timothy has been an exemplary leader in every production I’ve directed him in. From his early work in Cymbeline to his performance in Anything Goes, he has brought professionalism, focus, and a deep commitment to growth. In rehearsal, Timothy consistently arrived early, script in hand, taking time to walk his role and prepare with intention. I’ve also had the pleasure of teaching him in Performance I, Movement for Actors, and two dramatic literature classes, and I’ve watched his understanding of the craft mature in remarkable ways. I’m proud of Timothy’s work, and I look forward to seeing where his dedication and talent will take him.

Top left photo credit: Kathy Burnham

We are honored to present the 2024/2025 Elco Corporation Award to JULIA NELSON, a student who has made an outstanding co...
05/10/2025

We are honored to present the 2024/2025 Elco Corporation Award to JULIA NELSON, a student who has made an outstanding contribution to excellence in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Since joining Gustavus, Julia has been an invaluable member of our community. Her performances in Fewer Emergencies, Cymbeline, Our Town, Spring Awakening, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Anything Goes among others showcase her unwavering commitment to artistic growth. Additionally, Julia has broadened her experience by actively participating in Dance, further proving her versatility and dedication to pushing disciplinary boundaries. As a performer, Julia has demonstrated exceptional skill in bringing a wide range of roles to life with nuance and command. Her artistic achievements have earned her the admiration of both her peers and the faculty, while her kindness and generosity as a collaborator make her a true asset to our department. We congratulate Julia on this well-deserved honor and thank her for her continued excellence and inspiration within our community.

Theatre photos credit: Kathy Burnham

GABRIELLA (ELLA) SCHWAKOPF is receiving the Distinguished Dance Award for 2025. Ella has been an exemplary student in th...
05/09/2025

GABRIELLA (ELLA) SCHWAKOPF is receiving the Distinguished Dance Award for 2025. Ella has been an exemplary student in the Department of Theatre and Dance during her 4 years as an undergraduate Dance and Geography double major. She has been a member of the Gustavus Dance Company since her first year. In addition to performing in group dances throughout her Gustavus career, as a sophomore she performed a solo in the spring dance concert that arose out of her work in dance composition. As a junior she choreographed a solo on Betsy Anderson that was selected for presentation in the spring dance concert and the adjudication concert at the American College Dance Association North Central (ACDA) conference. Her solo was subsequently selected for the Gala concert as 1 of 11 dances out of over 40 pieces that had been presented. In Ella’s senior year, she performed a solo specifically choreographed to challenge her performative capabilities which she embodied with mature artistry. Additionally, she was cast in a highlighted trio, part of a much larger work by faculty Sarah Hauss. This spring Ella presented her research at ACDA on the revitalization of the indigenous Chomorru Dance of Guam (which evolved out of a Dance History project), and her collaborative duet with Dana Marquis was performed in the adjudicated concert at the conference.

Ella is also a leader in the department who served as an Academic Assistant and co-directed the student dance concert Shared Space. Ella has evolved on so many levels, becoming a resourceful and inspired artist, meeting her challenges and excelling in whatever task is set before her. She is indeed inspired and inspiring to other dancers in the program and therefore has been designated as an outstanding student and recipient of the Distinguished Dance Award.

Dance photos credit: Dan Norman

Huge congratulations to Emma Forsyth '25 (Dance) for earning two prestigious awards at the college this year! Emma has b...
05/08/2025

Huge congratulations to Emma Forsyth '25 (Dance) for earning two prestigious awards at the college this year!

Emma has been named a 2024-2025 recipient of the Paul Magnuson Student Leadership and Service Award. Established in 1991 and annually supported by the Honorable Paul Magnuson ’59, chief judge of the U.S. Federal District Court in St. Paul and former trustee of the College, this award recognizes the significant contributions that individual students and student groups make to campus life. Each year, outstanding students and student organizations are nominated by fellow students and employees for recognition, and a selection committee assembled by the Dean of Students reviews nominations and determines honorees in three categories: individual student leaders, campus organizations, and student-initiated events.

Emma was also named an Albert G. Swanson Scholar this year. Endowed by a gift from Jane and H. Bradford Thompson and presented annually, beginning in 1983–84, to the senior student or students (as determined by credits) with the highest cumulative GPA following the previous spring semester. It is named for the distinguished academic dean and mathematics professor who also served as acting president of the College (1968–69).

An Environmental Studies and Dance double major from Houston, Minnesota, Forsyth had made significant contributions to Gustavus through her involvement as a Gustie Greeter and Sustainability Intern. In addition, she has served as a Peer MALT and co-president to both The Dance Collective of Gustavus and Order of Omega Honors Society. Emma has dedicated her time at Gustavus to building community by helping students become increasingly involved in environmental advocacy as well as the dance community. Emma was a recipient of the Gerhard T. Alexis Scholar Award for academic excellence, a University of Minnesota Pre-Law Scholar for the 2024 cohort, and the 2024 recipient of the Theatre and Dance Department’s Elco award for excellence.

Second photo credit: Dan Norman

Alumni Spotlight!Alongside Sam Albright, Lillian Kline (Theatre Honors and Dance '22) is also performing with Open Eye T...
05/07/2025

Alumni Spotlight!

Alongside Sam Albright, Lillian Kline (Theatre Honors and Dance '22) is also performing with Open Eye Theatre this month!
Lillian is playing Sasa in "The Fantabulous Adventures of Mr. Gweem" by Sam Albright and Elisabette Hinze. More information and tickets can be found at https://www.openeyetheatre.org/puppet-lab-festival-2025?fbclid=IwY2xjawKIf0tleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzRTFVaW5VdGVZcHdUTTFyAR7QdgPSb1_KCeeF00a7rtXHbS5Ah_GSQAWVr5pJnHJGb1J1fS4WvlcdbMwgEQ_aem_TbA9LQakLclMP7AQ5U35Pg . Congratulations Lillian, we are so proud of you!

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