We have built an extraordinary community in which students thrive with the support of our faculty, staff, alumni, and donors. We have achieved so much, and now is the time to anticipate what’s next. Our vision for the future requires us to continually evolve, to expand and enhance our physical space, to imbue students with skills and sensibilities that allow them to develop art forms in ways we have yet to imagine.

First, last, and always, we must elevate our scholarship support in order to allow the most talented and dedicated students to say “yes” to Michigan. The financial need of SMTD students is great and will only increase. We need to invest in our ability to mount the productions that are so essential to students’ training. We must make improvements to existing facilities and create new spaces. We need to fortify our ability to help students build a toolkit they will rely on for their whole lives by investing in the EXCEL Lab and other programs that help students launch sustainable, fulfilling careers. We are on a mission to achieve so much more, and we invite you to join us in the Look to Michigan campaign to make our vision a reality.

Learn more about each of our campaign priorities below, or read our Look to Michigan Campaign overview.

Student Support:
Empowering an Extraordinary Education

For many gifted students who dream of a Michigan education, the choice comes down to financial considerations, and it is only through scholarship support that they can realize their dreams. Scholarships open doors for the next generation of performers, creators, entrepreneurs, and educators, making it possible for them to share their talents with the world, revitalizing and reinventing the performing arts. Scholarship support enables students to focus on their studies and their craft instead of worrying about making ends meet, secure in the knowledge that someone believes in them. It minimizes students’ debt burden, giving them the precious gift of time – time to establish themselves after graduation, to let their careers take root and flourish.

Tuition support also makes it possible for SMTD to attract diversely talented students from all over the world, gifted artists who are sought by multiple performing arts schools. Similar to athletic recruitment, SMTD seeks musicians who will meet a specific need in an ensemble, vocalists who will perform certain types of operatic roles, actors and dancers who will bring a particular set of skills to their cohort. Robust scholarship packages allow for a dynamic, multifaceted community, paving the way for students to engage in the educational and co-curricular opportunities that are at the heart of their SMTD experience.

Staged Productions:
Advancing the Performing Arts

Our staged productions are an essential part of what makes SMTD extraordinary. For every production – dance performances, musicals, operas, and plays – hundreds of students, faculty, and staff come together to bring artistic visions to life onstage. Students gain invaluable hands-on experience, honing their craft as performers, designers, and creators, and graduating well-prepared to step into their professional lives. Gifts that support SMTD productions provide an immeasurable impact on students. Because of the outward-facing nature of their work, that impact is exponentially multiplied, enriching the cultural landscape of the entire community. Together, we can support students in their quest to become the next generation of performing arts leaders who create exhilarating productions for audiences all over the world.

Creative Spaces:
Building an Environment for Growth and Innovation

From the construction of the Earl V. Moore Building in 1964, to the Walgreen Drama Center’s opening in 2007, to the recently completed Dance Building in 2021, SMTD’s buildings tell the story of the school’s history of expansion and innovation. SMTD has continually evolved its programming and curricula, preparing each class of students for an ever-changing professional landscape. SMTD is now at an exciting juncture, poised to grow in ways that better serve today’s students and support our vision for the future. To achieve that vision and to properly support programmatic needs, SMTD seeks to expand our physical footprint on North Campus with a brand-new, purpose-built facility. A new building would open up possibilities both for SMTD and for the entire arts community at U-M. The construction of a new building and critical upgrades to our existing facilities will provide a well-rounded complement of spaces that foster inclusive opportunities, inspire creativity, facilitate connections, and encourage dynamic collaborations. These spaces are more than bricks and mortar; they are incubators of  imagination and innovation.

Career Impact:
Providing a Launchpad for Future Success

Within the context of training at SMTD, students learn more than the essential craft of their discipline – they develop the skills to build a sustainable, fulfilling professional life. Students receive vital mentorship from faculty, and SMTD amplifies that mentorship through a strong infrastructure of career support and personalized coaching. This infrastructure ranges from the array of services offered by the EXCEL Lab, to workshops and master classes presented by visiting artists, to the vital connections made through senior showcases. Taken together, the career-building resources offered to students add a critical component to their training, giving them the confidence, vision, and tools necessary to forge their own success. With robust donor support, these opportunities will expand significantly, resulting in substantial benefits for students.