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.

Titanic

Titanic
April 2025

Our Stories

Alumni Notes

Jake Wilson (BFA ’07, musical theatre) was recognized with the SMTD Alumni Board’s 2025 Professional Achievement in Theatre Award. Based in New York, he is a sought-after director and writer in popular music and television. Wilson was named one of AdWeek’s Creative 100 “Visionary Directors” for 2024.
Benj Pasek (BFA ’06, musical theatre) and Justin Paul (BFA ’06, musical theatre) were recognized with the 2025 SMTD Alumni Hall of Fame Award. Pasek and Paul are Oscar, Grammy, Tony, Emmy, and Olivier Award-winning songwriters and producers, best known for their work on La La Land, The Greatest Showman, and Dear Evan Hansen.
In December 2024, Ella Olesen (BFA ’22, musical theatre) made her Off-Broadway debut in the world premiere production of Welcome to the Big Dipper at the York Theatre in New York City. She covered three principal roles amidst an illustrious cast.

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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