Department of Musical Theatre

The Department of Musical Theatre is the number-one ranked musical theatre program in the country, with alums working in every field of the entertainment industry. We are committed to training the whole artist to develop tools to engage today’s industry, and to become leaders in creating the industry of tomorrow. The training students receive is holistic, integrating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practices and first-rate actor training with a strong academic foundation, empowering graduates to utilize their art to make a difference in their field, community, and our world.

Faculty

Musical Theatre students are taught by top pedagogues, working professionals, and guest teaching artists, all of whom have significant connections to the industry in New York City as well as prominent regional theatres around the country.

The department’s peerless faculty has extensive experience on Broadway, in first-class regional theatres, and as sought-after nationally and internationally as clinicians and teachers.  Their expertise allows them to meet each student where they are and challenge them to achieve the highest professional standards. Recognizing there is no final destination for a life in the arts, our faculty continue to evolve to ensure each artistic space is inclusive and all students can thrive.


Raja Benz

Lecturer; Resident Intimacy Choreographer and Cultural Consultant

Linda Goodrich

Professor Emerita of Music, Interim Chair of Musical Theatre

Eiji Miura

Clinical Assistant Professor
Musical Theatre, Voice

Lynne Shankel

Assistant Professor of Music and Carole Caplan Lonner Professor of Musical Theatre Writing

Brent Wagner

Arthur Thurnau Emeritus Chair, Robertson Emeritus Professor of Musical Theatre
Musical Theatre

Degrees

big spender musical theatre

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Minor

Performance Opportunities

Michigan offers extraordinary performance opportunities. Revues, Broadway musicals, operettas, new and experimental works — all of these are part of the daily life of a Musical Theatre student.

Hair

Hair

One Hit Wonder

One Hit Wonder
Written by Hunter Foster

The Wild Party

Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party
by Andrew Lippa

Passing Strange

Passing Strange
by Stew

Senior Showcase

Senior Showcase

The annual Senior Showcase is an unforgettable revue featuring the wide range of talent of the Musical Theatre Department’s graduating seniors. An essential element in launching students into their professional careers, the Showcase previews in Ann Arbor before making its way to New York where it is performed for agents and casting directors.

Show Your Support

Any gift to SMTD helps launch the next generation of artists, scholars, educators, and entrepreneurs who challenge and inspire the world.

You can support the Department of Musical Theatre with a contribution to the following funds:

Explore our Campus

Meet the people who make up this dynamic community.

Apply Now

Most applications for 2024-2025 are due by December 1 - check for exact dates on the appropriate admissions page below.

Program Costs, Financial Aid & Scholarships

Explore the many options available to make Michigan an affordable choice.