Founded in 1880, the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance is one of the finest performing arts schools in the United States.
Encompassing programs in dance, music, musical theatre, and theatre, we are consistently ranked among the top performing arts schools in the country when compared with performance-oriented conservatories or with prestigious academic departments of music. Our faculty have national and international reputations, but are in every sense a resident faculty. We offer a wide variety of programs, from tra
06/23/2026
For 10 years, the SMTD EXCEL Program has envisioned a world where every SMTD student acquires the knowledge, mindset, and skills to realize a meaningful, rewarding, impactful, and sustainable life in the arts.
Check out their 10 year celebration website: https://smtd.umich.edu/EXCEL10
06/22/2026
This Thursday, ProMusica Detroit Live will be presenting a free online concert featuring SMTD Professor Caitlin Lynch (soprano) and alumnus Jonathan Lasch (baritone). They will also be joined by SMTD alumnus Dr. Joshua Marzan (piano) and Sonia Lee (violin) in a special performance titled "Unstaged Passions."
The episode will stream at 7:00 PM, and you can register for the stream here: https://myumi.ch/7Jed2
06/19/2026
Congratulations to Nancy Uffner (Clinical Associate Professor Emeritus of Theatre & Drama, second row on the right) on being awarded the Founders Award by the Stage Managers' Association of the United States!
Del Hughes Awards announce 2026 honorees The Del Hughes Awards name recipients for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management, the Founders Award the Special Recognition Award.
Along with the U-M Center for World Performance Studies, the Dept. of Theatre & Drama welcomed guest artists Ova Saopeng and Stephanie “Soultree” Camba from TeAda Productions for a week-long residency in January.
TeAda Productions is a Los Angeles-based nomadic theater company rooted in the stories of immigrants, refugees, and Indigenous peoples. During their time on campus, Saopeng and Camba visited classes, led workshops, met with students, and shared their work informally with the U-M community.
![[Video] Professor Doug Perkins and SMTD Percussion Ensemble Release New Album - University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance](https://img3.schoolandcollegelistings.com/279/888/1030932502798888.jpg)
06/16/2026
On June 12, the U-M Percussion Ensemble, led by Professor Doug Perkins, released the world premiere recording of Michael Gordon’s Field of Vision, on the Cantaloupe Music label.
[Video] Professor Doug Perkins and SMTD Percussion Ensemble Release New Album - University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance On June 12, the U-M Percussion Ensemble, led by Professor Doug Perkins, released the world premiere recording of Michael Gordon’s Field of Vision, on the Cantaloupe Music label.
06/15/2026
Congratulations to Cynthia Tang, Grady Yeager, and Kate Goldman on being named the 26/27 UMS 21st Century Artist Interns!
Each year, UMS and SMTD select students for a unique internship experience. Students are paired with internationally renowned artists and companies, including this year's placements with the London Symphony Orchestra (Cynthia), Berliner Philharmoniker (Grady), and the Gibney Dance Company (Kate).
Meet the 2026/27 Season 21st Century Artist Interns University Musical Society
06/10/2026
"What makes Shor so compelling isn’t celebrity spectacle or tabloid notoriety. It’s something far more enduring: intelligence. The woman radiates it. Not just in interviews, but in every role she touches."
PRiME Women recently highlighted Theatre & Drama alumna Miriam Shor.
Miriam Shor: The Brilliant Character Actress Hollywood Finally Learned to Appreciate - Prime Women | An Online Magazine Discover why actress Miriam Shor has become one of Hollywood’s most compelling character actresses, from her groundbreaking theater work to the smart, layered women she brings to life on screen.
06/09/2026
Alumna Jen Peters wrote a lovely in memoriam piece for Dance Magazine about Prof. Judy Rice, who passed away on May 12.
Celebrating the Life of Ballet Teacher Judy Rice On May 12, 2026, the beloved, spitfire ballet teacher Judy Fielman Rice passed away unexpectedly at the age of 65.
06/09/2026
Congratulations to University of Michigan: Musical Theatre Department 's Robert Hartwell (BFA ’09, musical theatre) on receiving this year's Professional Achievement in Dance Award from the SMTD Alumni Society. This award recognizes alumni who have graduated within the past 16–30 years who have made significant contributions to their artistic fields.
As a director/choreographer, Hartwell has worked at Pace University, Music Theatre Wichita, Naples PAC, Pioneer Theatre Guild, and the University of Michigan. He is the founder and artistic director of the Broadway Collective and creator of Broadway’s online academy Hello Broadway. He is also a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices.
You can see all of the 2026 alumni award winners here: https://smtd.umich.edu/alumni-awards
06/04/2026
Gabriela Lena Frank earned a 2001 doctorate in musical composition under the guidance of SMTD faculty members William Bolcom, Logan Skelton, and Leslie Bassett. The composer now joins ranks with two of those mentors who also won the prize for music: Bolcom in 1988 and Bassett in 1966.
Read more from The Record's article on the 2026 Pulitzer Prize-winning composer here: https://myumi.ch/Z8Z25