SUU: College of Performing & Visual Arts

07/28/2026

Don't forget to vote every day until August 5! https://www.bestofironcounty.com/vote/ #

The SUU Department of Theatre, Dance, & Arts Administration has once again been nominated in the Best Live Theatre, Dance Studio, and Family Attraction categories in Best of Iron County 2026! Be sure to vote ONCE PER DAY until August 5 to help TDAA claim the titles! Visit https://www.bestofironcounty.com/vote/ # to vote!

07/01/2026

The Iron County Fair is looking for talented performers to sing the National Anthem for the PRCA rodeo on September 4, 5 & 7. If you are interested in performing solo or with a group, email a video of you singing the National Anthem to Molli Brown at [email protected].

We can’t wait to see one of our T-Birds representing the Arts at the Iron County Fair!

06/10/2026

This Friday, June 12th, at 7:30 p.m., there will be a concert on the Library Quad featuring community bands, choirs, and orchestras directed by Dr. Andrew Briggs, Joseph Howe, Jackie Jackson, David Jordan, and Steve Shirts. “From Iron County, With Pride: An America 250 Concert” is sure to be a fantastic FREE concert for all.

Thank you to America 250 Iron County, Freedom 250 and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, the Leavitt Group, and Southern Utah University for making this concert possible!

05/19/2026

Did you know that CPVA has a dedicated Career Coach for our students? Meet Laurel Buxton, SUU alumna, artist, storyteller, and CPVA’s official Career Coach!

Laurel works one-on-one with students to help explore career paths, build resumes and portfolios, prepare applications, and connect creative passions to real-world opportunities. Whether you’re thinking about internships, auditions, graduate school, freelancing, or “what happens after graduation?”, she’s here to help!

CPVA students: help us better support your career goals by filling out the Career Needs and Readiness Survey at https://form.jotform.com/260825247267058 !

05/15/2026

Earlier this year, Assistant Professor of Dance Joshua Yago Mora invited Dance Composition I students into the galleries of SUMA to create original choreography inspired by visual art. Surrounded by paintings, sculptures, and installations, students explored how movement can respond to color, texture, story, and space.

For Mora, projects like this matter because artists cannot create in isolation. When dancers engage with other disciplines, they expand what their work can hold and imagine entirely new worlds together.

Read the full story about this collaboration between SUU Dance and SUMA at https://www.suu.edu/news/2026/05/dancers-world-building-at-suma.html !



Photo credit: Jason Moodie on behalf of Southern Utah Museum of Art.

05/07/2026

Earlier this year, four student employees from Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) presented at the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries (AAMG) Student Summit. They shared how student voices shape everything at SUMA, from programming to social media.

Their presentation “Student Engagement, Sidekicks, and Social Media” highlighted SUMA Sidekicks, the free student membership designed to make the museum more welcoming, accessible, and fun. From leading marketing efforts to presenting on a national stage, they proved that hands-on experience at SUMA goes far beyond the classroom.

Congratulations to Julia Dixon, Rebecca Hughes, Amanda Lowry Wiberg, and Kalia Jorgenson-Thompson, for representing SUMA and SUU so well! You can read more about their presentation at https://www.suu.edu/news/2026/04/suma-students-at-aamg.html

05/01/2026

It’s hard to believe that Graduation was a week ago! We are missing all of our graduates, but we’re so excited for what lies ahead. Congratulations, Class of 2026! Don’t forget that you’ve always got a home at SUU!

Thank you to SUU Marketing Communications for taking all these photos and capturing our memories!

04/23/2026

The time has come! SUU’s Graduation festivities start tonight with the Carter Carillon Tradition, Graduate Processional, and Commencement ceremony.

It’s no secret that every good event features members of our college, and the Commencement ceremony tonight proves it. 🎻 The SUU Symphony Orchestra directed by Dr. Xun Sun will provide the processional and recessional music.
🇺🇸 The National Anthem (arranged by Dr. Keith Bradshaw) will be sung by Annika Faux-Gough and Zachary Smith and accompanied by the Orchestra.
🏅 Emily Sage Wheeler will be honored as the University Valedictorian
🎶 OPUS Chamber Choir, under the direction of Dr. Andrew Briggs will perform with Charity Whittaker on piano.
🎓 Micah Cajilig will give his Student Speech representing the Class of 2026
🎓 Provost Shauna Mendini will receive an homorary degree

At tomorrow’s Degree Convocation at Noon, music will be provided by the SUU Jazz Combo led by Kyson Larsen and Joshua Castillo-Romero and we will honor the College Valedictorian and Outstanding Graduates.

We are so proud of all our graduates! We can’t wait to celebrate with you! For more information about Graduation, visit www.suu.edu/graduation.

04/22/2026

We’re thrilled to announce Micah Cajilig as the 2026 SUU Student Commencement Speaker! A Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting graduate, Micah has left his mark on the stage with standout performances in “Twelfth Night,” “Sweet Charity,” and “Pippin,” (to name a few) bringing a dynamic and unmistakable flair to every role.

Beyond the spotlight, Micah has been a vital part of our community, contributing to Second Studio and serving as an ACE peer advisor, supporting fellow students along the way.

Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration is sweeping Graduation this year–with the University Valedictorian (Go Emily!), College Valedictorian (Go Kira!), Student Speaker (Get it, Micah!), and Honorary Degree (Hooray, Provost Mendini!) all coming from the department. Not bad for a bunch of theatre and dance kids.

Join us as Micah takes to the stage for his final SUU performance, sending off the Class of 2026!

📍 America First Event Center
🗓️ April 23, 2026
⏰ 7:00 p.m.
📡 Streaming is available!

Congratulations, Micah!

04/21/2026

Tomorrow night is the 2nd Annual BFA Thesis Film Screening for our Filmmaking program! In honor of the occasion, we wanted to share some photos from last year’s inaugural screening.

As you can see, last year’s event was a blast! Don’t miss your chance to put on your best threads and see the future of film on our silver screen.

🗓️ Wednesday, April 22, 2026
📸 5-6:00 p.m. | Red Carpet
🍿 6-7:30 p.m. | Thesis Film Screening
🏆 7:30-8 p.m. | Awards Ceremony
🎉 8-9:00 p.m. | After Part
📍 SUU Auditorium Theatre