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.


Tyler Brunsman

Lecturer and Walgreen Office Coordinator, Walgreen Operations
Musical Theatre

Ron De Jesús

Clinical Assistant Professor of Music
Musical Theatre

Eiji Miura

Clinical Assistant Professor of Music
Musical Theatre, Voice

Lynne Shankel

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

Cynthia Kortman Westphal

Chair of Musical Theatre, Arthur and Martha Hearron Endowed 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. View a list of all our Past Productions.

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.

Our Stories

Alumni Notes

Luke Steinhauer (BFA ’16, musical theatre) gave a TEDx talk, “How You Say It Matters: Harnessing the Power of Your Voice for Strategic & Effective Communication.” Steinhauer is a professional vocal coach whose clients include Broadway, film, and TV stars and executives from Google, Meta, and other companies.
Pomme Koch (BFA ’11, theatre & drama) starred in Safety Not Guaranteed, the original musical adaptation of the 2012 film of the same name. The musical, with the book by Nick Blaemire (BFA ’06, musical theatre) and music by Ryan Miller from the band Guster, premiered in September 2024 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Ali Gordon (BFA ’12, musical theatre) performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe throughout the month of August 2024 in the companies of Shamilton and Baby Wants Candy. These musical improv shows are Fringe favorites and have sold out for more than six years in a row.

Some Notable Alumni

Ben Ahlers  |  Ashley Blanchet  |  Nick Blaemire  |  Maya Boyd  |  Gavin Creel  |  Lorna Courtney  |  Barret Foa  |  Hunter Foster  |  Robert Hartwell  |  Olli Haaskivi  |  Erika Henningsen  |  Rachel Hoffman  |  Bre Jackson  |  Andrew Keenan-Bolger  |  Celia Keenan-Bolger  |  Emilie Kouatchou  |  McKenzie Kurtz  |  Thomas Laub  |  Storm Lever  |  Taylor Louderman  |  Isabella McCalla  |  Mike Mosallam  |  Desi Oakley  |  Nkeki Obi-Melekwe  |  Ashley Park  |  Justin Paul & Benj Pasek  |  Marisa (Meyer) Peters  |  Solea Pfeiffer  |  Ximone Rose  |  Alyah Scott  |  Helen Shen  |  AJ Shively  |  Stephanie Styles  |  Toni Trucks  |  Ryan Vasquez  |  Ben Jackson Walker  |  Nina White  |  Benton Whitley

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:

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