University of South Alabama Department of Drama & Theatre Arts

Announcing the 2026-2027 Theatre USA season! We have strived to create more opportunities for local schools to attend our performances and have added school showings for each production. Contact the Box Office to reserve your tickets for your class or purchase a season ticket to check out the work of our talented students, staff and faculty!

The Theatre USA Box Office is located in the lobby of the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center and is open Monday–Friday from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM beginning two weeks before opening, and one hour before each performance.

📞 (251) 460-6306
📧 [email protected]

*Please notes dates for Government Inspector and Macbeth may change but school matinees remain the same**

Our final Senior Spotlight!

Wes Genard tried to spend his time at South to the fullest. From being onstage, designing, working in the shop and even stage managing he feels he has been super well rounded. He also spent some time with ImprovUSA and served as their president. Wes is incredibly grateful for all of the opportunities and friendships he has made.

Wes is proud to announce that come August we will be taking a positions as a Lighting, Sound, and Scenic Apprentice at Midland Community Theatre in Midland, Texas. He is super excited for this next chapter in his life!

Senior Spotlight: Ari Theodore

Ari has been an active member of the department during his time at USA and has often been onstage but for his final project he created a play to allow others to be his voice.

“Finnegan’s Got a Secret is the culmination of everything that I have worked for in my four years at South. As part of my thesis, it has allowed for me to work with both the Drama and English departments and have my work put on stage. Finnegan’s Got a Secret went through a multitude of drafts before finally receiving a staged reading. With each draft, I learned more about the process of writing and what being a playwright means. Additionally, I got to understand through practice my voice as a writer. During the drafting process, I got to fully realize what story I wanted to tell and what kinds of characters I wanted to lead it. With the help of my thesis committee, I was able to see what worked within the script drafts and what did not. Furthermore, through the Q + A, held after the staged reading, I received what very few writers ever receive in their careers, live and written feedback. I was able to see in person what jokes landed during the performance, and then, after I heard people voice their genuine opinions on my work. I am so unbelievably grateful for the opportunities I have received by writing this script and having it read on the USA Department of Theatre’s stage.

I am very excited to announce that after graduation, I will be working with Missoula Children’s Theatre. Through my position, I will be acting, directing, and educating all while touring the United States.”

Thank you to everyone who came out to support his work! We can't wait to see where his career takes him!

🎭 Now Casting: Tour Guide / Character Performer

Foley Walking Tours – Foley, Alabama

Are you a vibrant, engaging actress who loves history, storytelling, and stepping into character? Foley Walking Tours is looking for a dynamic performer to bring our downtown stories to life on select Fridays and Saturdays!

✨ The Roles

You’ll portray two unforgettable characters:

🎙️ Nelva Thompson – A charming 1950s switchboard operator with a flair for storytelling, a knack for “eavesdropping,” and the ability to connect guests to Foley’s past.

👻 “K.” – A spirited 1970s ghost who guides guests through downtown, introducing them to both the friendly and not-so-friendly resident spirits of Foley.

🎬 What You’ll Do

Perform two immersive, hour-long walking tours

Memorize and deliver engaging historical scripts

Interact positively with guests and create a fun, memorable experience

Stay in character throughout each tour

Walk approximately 1 mile and stand for up to 2 hours

💃 What We’re Looking For

Strong acting and improvisation skills

Excellent memorization and storytelling ability

Outgoing, personable, and comfortable engaging with groups

Reliable and professional

👗 Costuming

This role includes period costuming. A stipend will be provided to help you obtain appropriate attire for both characters.

✨ If you love performing, history, and creating unforgettable experiences, we’d love to have you join the Foley Walking Tours team!

Senior Spotlight! Erin Rose Pempel has assisted in various roles in numerous productions during her time in our department. For her Senior Capstone project she designed the set for Skeleton Crew! Here’s what she had to say about her concept and her next role after graduation:

“For Skeleton Crew, realism was at the center of my design process. Since the play is set in a Detroit auto factory break room in 2008, I wanted the space to feel as authentic and lived in as possible. I spent time visiting auto parts stores, work yards, and mechanic shops to study the details of spaces like this, then combined those observations with specific elements from the script to help shape the final set.

I’m also excited to share that after graduation I’ll be returning to Peach State Summer Theatre in Valdosta, GA for my second consecutive summer, serving as House Manager and Company/Housing Liaison.”

Our students are encouraged to try out a bit of everything during their time earning their degree to ensure they have a variety of skills and experiences to prepare them for the professional work.

You have 1 more chance to check out this amazing show today at 2:00pm at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center!

You've got 3 more chances to see Skeleton Crew!

Laidlaw Performing Arts Center:
April 24 & 25 at 7:30 PM
April 26 at 2:00 PM
🎟 The Theatre USA Box Office is located in the lobby of the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center and is open Monday–Friday from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM beginning two weeks before opening, and one hour before each performance.
📞 (251) 460-6306
📧 [email protected]
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc..
🌐 www.concordtheatricals.com

What happens when four lifelong friends find themselves trapped inside a kitchen freezer overnight with no way out in sight? Find out on 4/21 at 7:00 pm in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Building as we present Finnegan’s Got a Secret, a reading of an original play written by student Ari Theodore.

Experience the trials of four friends (Sammy, Dean, Emmy and Finnegan) brought to life through a staged reading with a Q & A to follow!

Admission is FREE!

Blending humor, drama, absurdity and maybe even the supernatural… Finnegan’s Got a Secret is bound to leave you on the edge of your seat at every turn!

Thank you to everyone who came out to support our opening performances of Skeleton Crew! Your energy and presence made for an incredible start to the run, and our students and production team felt that support every night.

If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet—or want to come back again—there are still a few opportunities this week to catch the show. We’d love to have you join us and continue celebrating the powerful work happening on our stage.

We made it through tech rehearsals 🎉 and tonight’s the night!

Opening night of Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew at Theatre USA in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center is finally here. House opens at 7:00 PM and the show starts at 7:30 PM.

Come see the incredible work of our students, faculty, and guest artists come to life on stage—you won’t want to miss it!

Opening night is coming up soon! Don't miss the last show of the year!

Step inside Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau—a gripping, heartfelt story of factory workers fighting to hold onto their livelihoods, dignity, and each other in a rapidly changing world. Raw, powerful, and deeply human, this play will stay with you long after the final curtain.

Laidlaw Performing Arts Center:
April 16, 17, 18, 24 & 25 at 7:30 PM
April 26 at 2:00 PM
🎟 The Theatre USA Box Office is located in the lobby of the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center and is open Monday–Friday from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM beginning two weeks before opening, and one hour before each performance.
📞 (251) 460-6306
📧 [email protected]
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc..
🌐 www.concordtheatricals.com