91ֱ�� Music Theater Dives into the Upside Down for "Stranger Sings!"</h1> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Music Theater Dives into the Upside Down for "Stranger Sings!"</h1> <p>kviancou — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:55:50 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Music Theater Dives into the Upside Down for "Stranger Sings!"</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-06T09:55:50-04:00" title="Monday, April 6, 2026 - 09:55">Mon, 04/06/2026 - 09:55</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ��’s Birenbaum Innovation and Performance Space is about to get a little…<em>stranger</em>. </p><p>Beginning April 23, 91ֱ�� Music Theater invites audiences to Hawkins, Indiana, circa 1983—a time when hair was bigger and unsupervised children were snatched by interdimensional creatures. The occasion is <a href="/events/jonathan-hogues-stranger-sings-parody-musical"><em>Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical</em></a>, an over-the-top take on the hit Netflix series in all its campy 1980s glory.</p><p>Created by Jonathan Hogue, the award-nominated musical follows Mike, Eleven, Lucas, and Dustin as they face dancing monsters, teenage drama, and a trip to the Upside Down—the name for Hawkins' dark alternate dimension—this time with plenty of laughs. Critics have called the show “screwy” and “non-stop fun,” praising its ability to capture the “glorious nostalgia of the 1980s.”</p><p>Directed by Assistant Professor of Music Theater <a href="/laura-welsh">Laura Welsh</a>, with musical direction by Sarah Nelson and choreography by second-year music theater major Valeria Flores, 91ֱ��’s production leans into the humor and heart of the original production. “I'm a huge sci-fi fan and a child of the ’80s," says Welsh, "and this production is designed to revisit highlights of the series and the decade that inspired it in a joyful and humorous way.”</p><p>That sense of play extends beyond the stage, and Welsh warns that viewers seated in the front rows should be ready to participate. “The first rows are our ‘audience interaction seats’—ticket buyers beware! If you sit there, you will hold props, give high-fives, wear costume pieces, and be incorporated as part of the set.” Viewers sitting further back can still expect a “fun romp through ’80s archetypes” without the expectation of being part of the show.</p><p>Behind the scenes, Welsh adds, students are enjoying the trial and error of comedy. “Comedy is fun, but it’s hard work. Jokes are like math equations—they have to be carefully balanced.” The collaborative process has been especially rewarding: “Our students bring in amazing ideas, and then we shape them together, moment by moment, scene by scene. We all laugh a lot along the way.”</p><hr><p><em><strong>Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical</strong></em><strong> runs April 23 through May 3, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. Welsh suggests arriving early for pre-show music bingo and prizes. </strong></p><hr><p><strong>CONTENT ADVISORY: </strong><em>Stranger Sings!</em> <em>The Parody Musical</em> contains mature themes and situations, including strong language, suggestive content, and gun violence (including gun shot sound effects). This production also uses strobe lighting, which may affect photosensitive viewers, and theatrical fog and haze throughout the performance.</p><p><em>Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical</em> has no relation to Netflix.<br><br><strong>TICKET INFORMATION: </strong>General admission tickets at $15 ($10 for students and seniors), available <a href="/events/jonathan-hogues-stranger-sings-parody-musical">online</a>, by phone (800-371-0178), or in person by visiting 91ֱ��'s Central Ticket Service (67 N. Main St., in the lobby of the Nord Performing Arts Complex) from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Award-nominated parody delivers "screwy...non-stop fun" revisiting the glorious nostalgia of the 1980s.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-04-06T12:00:00Z">Mon, 04/06/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4111">Music Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3878">Conservatory of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=476332">Music Theater</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/laura-welsh" hreflang="und">Laura Welsh</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/music-theater" hreflang="und">Music Theater</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Conservatory Debuts New Space</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 15:55:52 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Conservatory Debuts New Space</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-06T11:55:52-04:00" title="Monday, October 6, 2025 - 11:55">Mon, 10/06/2025 - 11:55</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ�� Conservatory has expanded its footprint along with its curriculum this fall. The arrival of Conservatory East Studios, located on East College Street in downtown 91ֱ��, coincides with the launch of the conservatory’s <a href="/music-theater-program" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e76cc764-d960-4233-bd6b-6ce70e7a11f8" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Music Theater">Music Theater program</a>, which shares the new space with <a href="/recording-arts" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="402c1e04-2ddd-46fe-b48c-9a69b81fa8fc" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Recording Arts and Production">Recording Arts and Production</a>.</p><p>The 8,600-square-foot space, situated next to the Hotel at 91ֱ�� on the ground floor of the Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center, is centrally located between the main conservatory complex and the college’s theater and dance facilities.</p><p>Designed by J. Kurtz Architects of Cleveland, Conservatory East features two multipurpose studios, a recording control room, and offices for faculty and staff. The space features floor-to-ceiling windows along its south-facing walls, including both studios and a seating area at the main entrance. It’s a deliberate move intended to emphasize the vital connection to the outside world.</p><p>“ So often on college campuses, the teaching and learning is hidden from public view,” says Dean of the Conservatory <a href="/william-quillen" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="ae2f8811-f23e-458f-87e3-6d455d557536" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="William Quillen">William Quillen</a>. “Our idea here was to place our artistic processes front and center.”</p><h2>A Space Built for Creativity</h2><p>Conservatory East’s multipurpose studios can be used as classrooms, rehearsal spaces, or dance studios. Both are outfitted with ballet barres, sprung floors, mirrors, and self-record audiovisual systems. In addition to housing core classes for Music Theater, they can be reserved by any faculty member or student in the conservatory.</p><p>Adjoining the two studios is a central recording control room used for Recording Arts and Production classes. This soundproofed listening environment allows students to mix, master, and edit audio in real time. From here, they can also deploy segmented curtain systems, which can be arranged in various ways to create a host of sound environments in the studios.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Conservatory East Studios houses programs in Music Theater and Recording Arts and Production.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-10-06T12:00:00Z">Mon, 10/06/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Stephanie Manning ’23</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4111">Music Theater</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=184446">Recording Arts and Production</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=476332">Music Theater</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/victoria-bussert" hreflang="und">Victoria Bussert</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/music-theater" hreflang="und">Music Theater</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Music Theater students participate in a dance class in one of Conservatory East's two multipurpose studios, each with clear views onto East College Street.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44519" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class="blockquote--quotemark" data-text-color-red data-text-size-giant> <p>Walking into those beautiful studios with the sun’s first rays streaming through the windows is absolutely magical—all of us can feel it.” </p><p class="text-align-right"><em>—Professor of Music Theater Victoria Bussert</em></p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44520" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>Throughout the construction process, acoustic isolation was a top priority to prevent noise transmission between Conservatory East and hotel guestrooms above. A technique called “box-in-box” construction—which calls for six layers of drywall between each room, among other reinforcements—ensures that no room touches another directly. The acoustically-rated glass that faces College Street is four layers thick, keeping sound transference to a minimum.</p><p>Conservatory East’s four practice rooms and 10 faculty and staff offices for Music Theater are also customized with sound-dampening measures.</p><p>A centrally-located lounge, featuring couches and modular furniture, connects the rooms and serves as a gathering space. Another seating area, with a countertop bar and stools situated at the expansive windows just inside the building’s main entrance, offers an unobstructed view of downtown 91ֱ��.</p><p>Two banks of lockers assigned to Music Theater students allow for convenient storage. (See photos of various Conservatory East spaces below.)</p> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44523" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>Conservatory East features direct access to the <a href="/birenbaum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="5cd310b4-86e1-4ce3-ba00-9a39352c8c70" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Birenbaum Innovation and Performance Space">Birenbaum Innovation and Performance Space</a>, a sleek and intimate subterranean concert venue christened in 2016. Development of the new conservatory complex provided an opportunity to simultaneously update the Birenbaum with new stage lighting and rigging, acoustic treatments, and an upgraded control system. The Birenbaum will be a hub for Music Theater, which plans to use the venue for recitals, cabaret-style events, and other performances.</p><p>Conservatory East was an ambitious undertaking executed in a compressed timetable to accommodate the <a href="/news/oberlin-conservatory-launches-program-music-theater" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="fca6ef33-ab08-4a4e-9eda-7c13a5450a8d" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="91ֱ�� Conservatory Launches Program in Music Theater">arrival of 91ֱ��’s new Music Theater program</a>. By late August, construction crews worked around the clock to ensure that the space was ready for students from Day 1 of classes.</p><p>“Walking into those beautiful studios with the sun’s first rays streaming through the windows is absolutely magical—all of us can feel it,” says Professor of Music Theater Victoria Bussert. “The creativity is truly running wild throughout the spaces from morning to night every single day.”</p><p>A few final touches are in store in the coming weeks: Exterior and interior signage, additional acoustic paneling, and more equipment for the recording control room will be added during fall semester.</p><p>Quillen expects the highly visible addition to campus to become a bustling hub of activity.</p><p>“ The space has been built to facilitate interaction between the students, between the faculty, and between the public,” he says. “The whole idea of the space is to foster togetherness and facilitate the kind of artistic magic that happens when creative people come together.”</p><hr><p><em><strong>Stephanie Manning is a freelance writer based in Cleveland. She studied bassoon performance, arts administration, and journalism at 91ֱ��.</strong></em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44526" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Conservatory East Studios leans into its proximity to downtown 91ֱ��, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer clear views of College Street—and into the studios from outside.</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44527" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Conservatory East's multipurpose studios seamlessly transition to classroom space.</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44528" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Plentiful cubby spaces and lockers provide ample room for student storage.</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44529" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Areas for socializing and relaxing abound, including this central lounge next to the multipurpose rooms and teacher studios.</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44535" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> <figure> <figcaption> <div class="figure__caption"><p>Conservatory East's multipurpose rooms are fully equipped for a wide range of uses and can be reserved by any conservatory student or faculty member.</p></div> <div class="figure__credit"><p>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</p></div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-44537" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-figure paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Adds 7 New Majors</h1> <p>eburnett — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:31:25 +0000</p> <span> 91ֱ�� Adds 7 New Majors</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-10-11T13:31:25-04:00" title="Friday, October 11, 2024 - 13:31">Fri, 10/11/2024 - 13:31</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> 91ֱ��, a world leader in developing innovative thinkers and exceptional artists, will launch seven new majors spanning a wide range of disciplines. The majors not only have broad faculty support but their creation was driven by faculty desire to expand our curriculum to meet evolving student interests and the opportunities and challenges of our complex world.</p><p>In the College of Arts and Sciences, the new majors are Business, Financial Economics, Environmental Science, Communication Studies, and Data Science. The Conservatory of Music has added Music Theater and Recording Arts and Production.</p><p>Recording Arts and Production, Financial Economics, and Communication Studies welcomed their first classes this fall. All other programs will be available to incoming students in fall 2025. Current College of Arts and Sciences students should reach out to the chairs of the new majors for information about adding a major in these new areas.</p><p>Music Theater is taking shape with the addition of an impressive roster of internationally known faculty and a state-of-the-art space created specifically for the program.</p><p>“I share in our faculty’s firm belief that this is not a time to back down from the programs that are foundational to our values as an institution,” says Carmen Twillie Ambar, President of 91ֱ��. “Just as important: This is the moment to double down on that commitment and to continually ask ourselves <em>Can we do more to prepare our students for success?</em> The arrival of these new majors offers a resounding answer: We can do more, and we are prepared to do just that. I applaud our faculty in both the college and conservatory for their visionary dedication to creating vital opportunities for our students.”</p><p>The seven new majors are designed to build upon 91ֱ��’s historic excellence in launching creative thought leaders from all walks of life. </p><p>“These new majors,” says David Kamitsuka, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, “build on 91ֱ��’s academic excellence and will equip our students to harness the power of their liberal arts education for an ever wider range of professional interests and 21st-century global challenges.” </p><p>The new majors also offer previously unimaginable combinations of study in the form of double majors and 91ֱ��’s popular Double Degree Program, through which students earn both a Bachelor of Arts in the college and a Bachelor of Music in the conservatory in five years or fewer. </p><p>“91ֱ�� was the first institution in America to confer the Double Degree, and we welcome new opportunities to expand the potential range of multidisciplinary approaches made possible by the program,” says Dean of the Conservatory William Quillen. “Already, we are hearing from many of our conservatory students about their enthusiasm for pursuing the new college majors through the Double Degree Program.” </p><p>Learn more about the Double Degree on <a href="/admissions-and-aid/double-degree-program"><strong>91ֱ��’s Admissions website</strong></a>.</p><p>Click the links below to learn more about each program:</p><p><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/business"><strong>Business:</strong></a> Business and finance are among the top fields pursued by 91ֱ�� graduates. Through rich and varied courses and experiential learning opportunities, the Business major offers students the knowledge, skills, and experience to build, improve, and lead organizations in creating sustainable value. With signature programs such as Internship+, the Ashby Business Scholars, and the Impact Investment Advisory Group, Business at 91ֱ�� includes high-impact opportunities for applying theoretical knowledge to real-world business challenges and tapping into 91ֱ��’s influential network of alumni connections spanning a wide range of industries.</p><p><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/writing-and-communication"><strong>Communication Studies:</strong></a> The program equips students to be ethical producers and discerning consumers of a comprehensive range of communications and communications mediums. Students analyze and deploy communication strategies to address the interpersonal, cultural, and political challenges facing pluralistic democratic societies today.</p><p><a href="/node/478422"><strong>Environmental Science:</strong></a> Students investigate the complicated relationships between humans and the environment and explore interdisciplinary, science-based solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. The program is a companion to 91ֱ��’s popular Environmental Studies major, which approaches the subject from more cultural and sociological perspectives.</p><p><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/data-science"><strong>Data Science:</strong></a> Data informs virtually everything we do today: It fuels critical thinking for 21st-century challenges and unlocks insights across the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and beyond. The Data Science major prepares students to be evidence-based analysts and decision-makers in a constantly evolving world.</p><p><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/finance"><strong>Financial Economics:</strong></a> The program applies theoretic principles to extensive hands-on experiences with industry-standard software and data, preparing graduates for careers in a wide range of fields related to investment banking, asset management, venture capital, and more.</p><p>The conservatory major in <a href="/music-theater"><strong>Music Theater</strong></a> reinforces a longstanding tradition of 91ֱ�� graduates who have transformed Broadway through their artistry. The program will debut in 2025 with a newly built home, outstanding faculty and staff, and a host of complementary resources. </p><p>The major in <a href="/recording-arts"><strong>Recording Arts and Production</strong></a>, available this fall, capitalizes on the extensive resources of the conservatory—including more than 500 on-campus performances each year and extraordinary recording and production facilities. Its expert faculty facilitate an understanding of the technical skills and aesthetic considerations that inform the craft of those at the leading edge of the profession and across a multitude of musical styles.</p><p>“These programs demonstrate our commitment to expanding the aperture of today’s conservatory education,” says Quillen. “Music Theater and Recording Arts and Production, while obviously distinct from one another, are unmistakably united in the ways they support our mission to prepare students for relevant and fulfilling careers across the professional music landscape of today and tomorrow. This has been a hallmark of an 91ֱ�� Conservatory education throughout our 158-year history, and it is unquestionably more crucial today than ever before.”</p><p>Visit 91ֱ��.edu for more information about majors in the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/areas-of-study"><strong>College of Arts and Sciences</strong></a> and <a href="/conservatory/areas-of-study"><strong>Conservatory of Music</strong></a>.</p><hr><p><strong>ABOUT OBERLIN COLLEGE AND CONSERVATORY: </strong>Since its founding in 1833, 91ֱ�� has led the nation in its commitment to educational access and opportunity. 91ֱ�� was the first U.S. college to adopt a policy to admit Black students and grant undergraduate degrees to women alongside men.</p><p>Located at the heart of a bucolic Northeast Ohio town, 91ֱ�� uniquely combines an outstanding pre-professional school of music with a leading undergraduate college of arts and sciences. 91ֱ�� students hail from nearly every U.S. state and more than 50 nations. Our alumni include 15 MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellows, four Nobel Laureates, nine Pulitzer Prize recipients, and countless Grammy Award winners. In the last century, more graduates of 91ֱ�� have gone on to earn PhDs than any other liberal arts institution. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">New programs build on established successes, bolster resources to position graduates for meaningful careers.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-10-15T12:00:00Z">Tue, 10/15/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2556">Admissions</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=187731">Business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=415031">Data Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=468173">Communication Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=476332">Music Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=184446">Recording Arts and Production</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/david-kamitsuka" hreflang="und">David Kamitsuka</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/william-quillen" hreflang="und">William Quillen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/carmen-twillie-ambar" hreflang="und">Carmen Twillie Ambar</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/business" hreflang="und">Business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/finance" hreflang="und">Financial Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/data-science" hreflang="und">Data Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/writing-and-communication" hreflang="und">Communication Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/music-theater" hreflang="und">Music Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-science" hreflang="und">Environmental Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">William Bradford</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Conservatory Launches Program in Music Theater</h1> <p>azaleski — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:53:01 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Conservatory Launches Program in Music Theater</span> <span><span>azaleski</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-08-15T13:53:01-04:00" title="Thursday, August 15, 2024 - 13:53">Thu, 08/15/2024 - 13:53</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Beginning in the fall of 2025, 91ֱ�� will launch a <a href="/music-theater" target="_blank">music theater program</a>, building on the storied legacy of our legendary graduates and training future music theater stars for decades to come.</p><p>The program is a natural next step for an institution that has operated at the forefront of pre-professional music training for more than 150 years.</p><p>“Music theater is one of America’s great artistic traditions,” says William Quillen, Dean of the Conservatory of Music. “It’s also a distinctive 91ֱ�� tradition, as evidenced by the numerous 91ֱ�� alumni over the years—conservatory and college alike—who have helped shape this art form while enjoying distinguished careers on Broadway and stages around the globe.”</p><p>It's impossible to imagine music theater in America, much less around the world, without the work of 91ֱ�� graduates such as John Kander and Julie Taymor. </p><p>Thanks to Kander’s timeless scores, generations of theatergoers have witnessed Roxie Hart razzle-dazzle her way out of a murder rap in <em>Chicago</em> and felt the desperation of Sally Bowles, entreating us to come to the <em>Cabaret</em>. Because of Taymor’s visionary direction, children on six continents have thrilled at the spectacle of life-size giraffes loping down the aisles in <em>The Lion King</em>.</p><p>Kander, Taymor, and other celebrated alums credit their 91ֱ�� experience for providing the creative spark that drove their history-making artistry. </p><p>“91ֱ�� is known throughout the world for its deep commitment to the arts, theater, and music,” says President Carmen Twillie Ambar. “It therefore seemed perfectly appropriate to add music theater to our repertoire of excellence.”</p><p>91ֱ��’s music theater program will be led by <a href="/victoria-bussert" target="_blank">Victoria Bussert</a>, an award-winning music theater artist who has devoted decades to building an international reputation for excellence as a director, helming productions from Boise to Brazil, and as a teacher at the leading-edge of music theater education in the United States. </p><h4>At 91ֱ��, music theater isn’t an afterthought—it’s an art form</h4><p>91ֱ��’s program will be at the vanguard of music theater training in higher education because it is being built from the ground up. The conservatory is hiring faculty and staff who are industry professionals and who specialize in training young artists for careers immediately after graduation.</p><p>At 91ֱ��:</p><ul><li>Students will pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in music theater, taking classes taught by music theater professionals who are active on regional and national stages and with deep connections to other professionals working in front of the curtain and behind it, including agents and casting directors.</li><li>The program will be housed in a newly created, fully customized facility designed specifically for music theater education, training, and performance. Music theater students will also utilize 91ֱ��’s wealth of versatile performance spaces.</li><li>Those studying music theater will benefit from being students in the conservatory, participating in the world-class artistic training it provides.</li><li>Music theater students will also benefit from being part of the intellectual ecosystem of one of the country’s preeminent liberal arts institutions.</li></ul><h4>About Victoria Bussert</h4><p>Bussert has long balanced her professional life as a director with her role as an innovative educator. She has directed more than 400 productions on three continents and is resident director of Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater and its sister company, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. She taught as guest faculty at North Carolina School of the Arts and Northwestern University and served as director of music theater for more than two decades at Baldwin Wallace University. Among her many accolades, Bussert earned a Cleveland Arts Prize for theater and dance, with the jury praising her directing and teaching, and she was named one of the 10 Legendary Music Professors Teaching Today by college consultants Music School Central. </p><p>Bussert will initially be joined by a trio of talented colleagues: Artists and teachers with national and international credits and expertise in acting for music theater, music direction, and choreography. More hires will follow.</p><p>Says Dean Quillen: “We couldn’t be more delighted that an artist and educator of Vicky Bussert’s caliber will be the founding director of 91ֱ��’s music theater program, and we are thrilled to welcome Vicky, Laura Welsh, Matt Webb, and Lauren Marousek to the faculty. They are, quite simply, the best at what they do, with years of proven success preparing young artists for careers on Broadway and beyond. Under their leadership, and the leadership of faculty and staff who will join the program as it launches, 91ֱ�� will be home to the highest-quality music-theater training available in the country.”</p><p>Bussert is ready to begin her next act at 91ֱ��.</p><p>“91ֱ��’s investment in the space and specialized faculty for music theater is remarkable. To me, it demonstrates an unwavering commitment to both the field and the next generation of music theater professionals. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.”</p><hr><p><em>For more information, visit the </em><a href="/music-theater" target="_blank"><em>91ֱ�� Music Theater website</em></a><em>. The application for new and transfer students to the 91ֱ�� Conservatory of Music is available now and due December 1.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Premiering in fall 2025, new major draws on 91ֱ��’s legacy of musical excellence and commitment to preparing students for outstanding 21st-century careers.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-08-19T12:00:00Z">Mon, 08/19/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4111">Music Theater</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=476332">Music Theater</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/victoria-bussert" hreflang="und">Victoria Bussert</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/music-theater" hreflang="und">Music Theater</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Mike Crupi</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> </main></body></html>