Acting for Stage and Screen
Telling stories and developing artistry
Intense Training in the Craft of Performance
The B.F.A. in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Acting for Stage & Screen gives students intensive training in the craft of performance across various entertainment media, from theatrical genres to TV and film.
Students must audition for admission to the B.F.A. degree before the freshman year. The audition serves for admission to the emphasis in Acting for Stage & Screen, for scholarships, and for roles in the first production of the next fall semester. Each yearly cohort has 16 students in the emphasis for the B.F.A. degree.
Classroom techniques meet real-world opportunities to perform in over 20 productions a year, such as contemporary and classical plays, musicals, film and screen projects, operas, and dance concerts. The B.F.A. in Theatre Arts degree provides a path toward success across the diverse demands of the entertainment industry.
Welcome from the Performance Area Head
Our focus as a performance faculty is to help students find their creative path and artistic voice through rigorous training in a pre-professional environment. Being a solely undergraduate program, B.F.A. students have numerous performance opportunities in main stage productions, student films, dance concerts, and other theatrical events on campus. Our core performance classes will hone fundamental skills in acting, voice, and movement, while our performance electives offer an extensive variety of training in areas such as musical theatre, stage combat, dialects, dance, Shakespeare, sit-coms, and much more! The success of our program is due to our approach of closely mentoring and guiding students based on life and professional experiences in the ever-evolving arts industry. We hope you will reach out to us to learn more about our program.
Joe Jackson
Instructional Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Dance
Meet the Performance Faculty
We create an inclusive environment that is centered around community, artistry, and professionalism.
John Carden
- Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre
Lydia Foster
- Adjunct Professor of Dance
Joe Jackson
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Dance
Rory Ledbetter
- Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and Senior Fellow, South Residental College
Sam Massaro
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Performance
Lauren Bone Noble
- Assistant Professor of Movement for the Actor
Dan Stearns
- Assistant Professor of Acting
Roxie Thomas
- Adjunct Instructor in Dance Theatre and Film
Exceptional Faculty
"Lauren Bone Noble made my college experience an incredible one. She directed my first UM production, NEAR/FAR, which was created her, the production team, and performers. This experience opened my eyes to a side of theater that I had never experienced.
Additionally, she taught a Comedia dell'arte class, which was one of my favorite classes. I struggled with letting go and being silly on stage, and this class required you to be silly and ridiculous. She was the perfect professor to teach this class because she made a safe, fun, and educational space for everyone. I grew so much as an actor in that class. On top of that, she was a wonderful mentor. I could go to her with any problems. She was such a supportive and caring person and it was an honor to learn from her and know her."
Reese Overstreet (right in photo)
B.F.A. in Theatre Arts, emphasis in Acting for Stage and Screen '23
Teaching Artist, Greenwich House NYC
Acting, Voice, and Movement Training
The department has created an environment designed to help students learn and grow as artists. Students hone the craft of acting from fundamentals to advanced techniques as they explore diverse genres and acting styles. They learn how to create powerful, resonant voices that convey variety and meaning through changes in pitch, volume, phrasing, rhythm, and breath control. Movement training is based on the work of Jacques Lecoq, incorporating theatrical gymnastics, mask, and an exploration of the poetic body.
A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM
In addition to realism, students work on William Shakespeare and other classical texts. A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM is a comedy, written around 1695 by Shakespeare, set in ancient Greece. The department regularly produces a play by William Shakespeare or a modern adaptation of his work.
Small Cohorts
Rory Ledbetter, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, directs a scene during rehearsal on the stage of Meek Auditorium, a 150-seat theatre space. Students receive individual attention needed to succeed in small performance classes with no more than 16 students.
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD
A musical in the style of British pantomime and music hall genres, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD was written by Rupert Holmes and based on an unfinished novel by Charles Dickens. Freshman and sophomore level performance courses tend to focus on more contemporary works, while our upper division courses explore a number of styles from different time periods.
Acting for the Screen
Dan Stearns, Assistant Professor of Acting, teaches students how to control their blink reflex while delivering a dialog to the camera while under bright lights in his Advanced Acting for the Screen course. Courses for film acting are held at the film production complex using the spaces and equipment for creating film.
Acting for Film Projects
Acting students, such as Jacob Matthews in this photo, are frequently cast for projects by the film production students, from first semester short films to more extensive projects during the last two years of the film program. In the junior year, both acting and film students have a formal collaboration on a year-long film project. In many cases, acting roles are decided before the screenplay is written in order to capitalize on the strengths of the various actors.
Guest Artists and Professionals
Beth Reeves, a professional theatre artist, was guest director of POLAROID STORIES. Written by Naomi Iizuka in the late 1990s, the play uses the plot and structure of an ancient Greek epic poem whereby divine characters of Greek mythology adopt the identities of street kids. The department regularly hosts professional actors and directors to offer master classes and participate in our mainstage productions.
THE TOOTH PULLER
Using 6 pages of extant script from 16th century Italy, acting students enrolled in a fall semester course on Commedia dell'arte where they learned the necessary techniques and styles. They worked together with faculty in the spring semester to write and produce the play. It was an example of the significant collaboration between faculty and students, and showcased how our young artists are challenged to think creatively.
Foley/ADR Studio
The film production complex includes a state-of-the-art foley/ADR studio. Both acting and film production students learn techniques for sound effects and automated dialogue replacement (ADR), the process of re-recording dialogue in a studio after filming to improve audio quality, address issues like background noise, or reflect changes in the script or performance.
HAIR: THE AMERICAN TRIBAL LOVE-ROCK MUSICAL
HAIR, about hippie counterculture, broke new ground in musical theatre in the late 1960s as a "rock musical" written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot. The play touches on topics that made headlines in the 1960s and continue to be in the news today. As a vital performing art, theatre often pushes boundaries and asks deep questions even while entertaining an audience. Student learn more about themselves and our society as they grow as actors.
Stage Combat Certification
Combat courses allow students the opportunity to train in unarmed, single sword, broadsword, rapier & dagger, knife, quarterstaff, sword & shield, and smallsword methods. They can earn actor combatant certification with a Certified Fight Master from the Society of American Fight Directors.
NEAR/FAR
The Department's production of NEAR/FAR was an original work of physical theatre created and performed/recorded remotely by the performers and Lauren Bone Noble, Assistant Professor of Movement for the Actor. It received international attention at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space as it marked a new type of storytelling during the COVID pandemic. Students work with larval masks in their movement courses to develop physical discipline, expansive gesture, and the art of storytelling.
Movement Training
Laurent Bone Noble, Assistant Professor of Movement for the Actor, teaches foundational principals and practice of yoga, Japanese Buhto, and contact improv in her movement courses. Yoga is a foundational skill, training actors to begin and end with the breath, the body, and their unique, energetic center. The movement series is designed to support the artist toward a free, available, and dynamic physical instrument.
Beyond The Studio
Student Organizations
Ghostlight Repertory Theatre is a student-run theatre organization providing creative opportunities outside of the department’s main stage season. It has become a beacon for students eager to stretch their artistic wings. As a playwright, designer, director, or actor, students gain first-hand experience in many areas of production while working within a collaborative environment. Alpha Psi Omega is the national honorary society for theatre and creates an atmosphere of fun and friendship through events such as cabarets, movie nights, game nights, and more. UMprov is a student improvisation group that meets weekly.
Travel Courses
Students can earn credit for general education, major, minor, or electives through Study Abroad or Study USA travel courses. There are two-week, faculty-led travel courses supported by scholarships from the College of Liberal Arts.
Some course offerings of interest to theatre students have been the Theatre in London, Musical Theatre in England, and Cannes Film Festival.
Musical Theatre Performance
Students are able to train in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre dance styles. They have specific musical theatre voice training. Faculty strive to create a supportive yet challenging environment where students develop strong, sustainable vocal technique while embracing the freedom to take risks, explore character, and deliver performances that are both technically sound and deeply moving.
DROWSY CHAPERONE
This musical debuted in 1998 - music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar - and pokes fun at musical theatre tropes from the 1920s. A great musical theatre singer is both an artist and an athlete, balancing disciplined vocal training with emotional vulnerability.
Musical Theatre Voice Training
John Carden, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre, provides private musical theatre voice lessons in his office. He helps each student unlock their unique voice, build confidence, and connect deeply to the emotional truth of a song, ensuring that technique serves expression rather than restricts it.
RIDE THE CYCLONE
RIDE THE CYCLONE is a 2008 musical with music, lyrics and book by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. The story is about high school students who perished on a faulty roller coaster called The Cyclone and are trying to return to life by telling their story, in song form, to a mechanical fortune teller. This UM production was held during the department's Spring Open House, whereby high school students can learn about the department, audition for admission to the BFA degree and scholarships, and attend a show premier.
Musical Dance Training
Joe Jackson (middle), Instructional Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Dance, teaches jazz classes among other dance styles. He is an alum of the program and brings over twenty years of professional acting and dance experience to students.
CHICAGO
CHICAGO is a 1975 American musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb. The ongoing 1996 revival is the longest-running show currently on Broadway. It is known for its iconic score and features the signature choreography of Bob Fosse.
Tap Classes
Tap classes are taught by René Pulliam, Associate Professor Emerita of Theatre Arts, who directed and/or choreographed hundreds of musicals across the United States as well as TV appearances. She apprenticed with the late rhythm tap dancer Eddie Brown and has shared the stage with such tap legends as Honi Coles, Jimmy Slyde, Bunny Briggs, and the Nicholas Brothers.
A Memorable Moment at UM
"My favorite moment was during our performance of INTO THE WOODS, specifically the Saturday night show. That particular show reminded me why I love theatre so much. The sold-out audience was full of friends, family, and theatre fans. And I'll never forget when Don Waller (who was playing the prince) made the audience laugh for maybe 5 minutes straight. It was an incredible showing of acting and crowd control. Even though I wasn't even on stage, I will never forget that moment.
Our department has a unique way of making people feel at home. Our professors are intentional about getting to know you as a performer and a person. They are there for you when you need them, whether it's for audition help or just advice about the crazy world of entertainment."
Maxwell Glasser
B.F.A. in Theatre Arts, Emphasis in Acting for Stage and Screen '25
Professional Preparation
Students in the Acting for Stage and Screen emphasis take a required course on the Business of Acting and Auditioning. They learn techniques for audition preparation and presentation, interviewing, networking, how to utilize agents and managers, and the characteristics and advantages of unions in professional theatre. The department brings in professional photographers from NYC, LA, or Chicago to take professional headshots of the students.
Faculty help students find professional opportunities during the summers. Some students audition for summer stock work through the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions, which take place in Memphis every year.
Our students regularly attend and network at the Southeastern Theatre Conference Competition. In another example, students in the Musical Theatre Voice course competed in the Student Audition Competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Three moved to regionals and competed quite well, with one just missing the Chicago finals.
The department hosts an annual Senior Showcase to NYC where students audition for, and receive feedback from, casting directors and agents. They can also network with UM alumni and others working in the entertainment industry.
Alumni Examples
Ashley Dulaney '09
Ashley Dulaney [Photo credit: Stephanie Girard] has an extensive resume of over 50 roles since graduation in 2009 and her move to Los Angeles.
See Ashley Dulaney's IMDb profile
"I moved right after graduation.....I moved in with a good friend from college and we shared a studio in Korea-town and I loved it. We hit the ground running and I did every job I could. I started off doing extra work because I wanted to see a set. I wanted to watch people work and wanted to see what life would be like as an actor."
Jay Jurden '12
A New York-based comedian, writer and actor, Jay Jurden regularly performs comedy all over the country and was recently a staff writer for "The Problem with Jon Stewart" on Apple TV+'s Emmy-nominated show.
Jurden has appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," "The Late Late Show with James Corden," "Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring," "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," and HBO's "High Maintenance." His album, "Jay Jurden Y'all," debuted at No. 1 on iTunes. He was named one of Variety's "10 Comics to Watch" in 2022.
Claire Porter '22
"The atmosphere in the department is one of support. Students are extremely uplifting on stage and off, offering encouragement for each other. It is so validating and empowering to have your fellow classmates support your work, and the whole program is full of great people who will do so!"
After graduation, Claire worked at New Stage Theatre as the Acting/Directing Associate. She then moved to New York City and served as the Production Assistant Manager for the theatre icon Sleep No More.
Alumni Careers
See the wide variety of job titles and employers established by our B.F.A. graduates who have earned an emphases related to performance.
Tate Ellington - Actor of TV, Movies, Commercials
Morla Gorrondona - Voice-over Actress
Atarius Armstrong - Artistic Director, ALA Dance
Heather McMahan- Comedian and Actress
Lindsey Marie Wilson - Actress of TV, Movies
Dana Clark - Education Associate, Fantasy Playhouse Children's Theatre & Academy
Kallie Rolison - Director, Producer, Writer, Sound Designer with Pride Films & Plays and 20% Theatre Company
Haley Strode - Actress and Producer
Kyle Barnette - Theatre Director, Actor, Producer, What If? Productions; Artistic Director, Footlight Players
Lena Clark - Actress and Stunts
Maura Hurley - Visual Effects, Producer
Mary Nye Bennett - Artistic Director, Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Teaching Artist, San Diego Junior Theatre
- Actress, Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Executive Director, Fredericksburg Theatre Company
- Director of Development, Theatre of the Stars
- Instructor of Acting and Musical Theatre, Rochester Civic Theatre Company
- Administrator, Chicago Children's Theatre
- Founder and Manager, DreamBox Theatre
- Actor, Theatre Memphis
- Director, Writer and Designer, Sacred Fools Theatre Company
- Staff, CHICAGO production on Broadway
- Puppeteer for national tour of LION KING
- Theatre Educator, Meridian Little Theatre
- Teaching Artist, Kidstage
- Resident, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
- Marketing Coordinator, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
- Creative Director, MV2 Entertainment
- Senior Producer, Framestore (visual effects)
- Teaching Artist, Upturn Arts
- Acting Associate, New Stage Theatre
- Education Associate, Fantasy Playhouse Children's Theatre and Academy
- Costume Assistant Coordinator, Walt Disney World
- Writer, Director and Producer, Pride Film and Plays
- Actor, Big Mouth Talent
- Film Producer, Retro 8 Films
- Actor, Tectonic Theatre Project NYC
- Actor, Antaeus Theatre Company, LA
- Actress, Mills Entertainment
- Actor, Artistry NM
- Actor, Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire
- Actor, Cumberland County Playhouse
- Stage Manager, Vancouver Theatre
- Actor, Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre
- Actor, Thunder Bay Theatre
- Actress, Screen Actor's Guild
- Artistic Director, ALA Dance
- Staff, Actor's Express
- Theatre Administrator, Nashville Repertory Theatre
- Teaching Artist, Emerald City Theatre
- Theatre Artist, San Diego Junior Theatre
- Director, Artistic Director and Coach, St. Louis Performance Academy
- Patron Services, Orpheum Theatre Memphis
- Actor, National Theatre for Children
- ABC Touchstone Production Administrator, Walt Disney Company
- Freelance Videographer, Post-Production Coordinator in LA
- Actor and Agent's Assistant, The Savage Agency
- Freelance Actor and Voiceover Artist
- Freelance Makeup Artist
- Manager, Camelot Music
- Director of Ticketing and Sales, Playhouse on the Square
- Writer, The Walt Disney Company
- Costume Assistant Coordinator, Walt Disney World
- Director of Community Relations and Events, Museum of the Bible
- Sales Associate, Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Museum Coordinator, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
- Exhibit Designer, Senator Heinz History Center
- President and Creative Director, Words and Pictures advertising firm
- Writer-Reporter/Newscaster, MS News Network
- Public Affairs Director, WJXT-TV
- Owner, Advantage Signs and Advertising Inc
- Contributing Writer, The Seven Suns performing arts publication
- Divisions Digital Sales Assistant, onMedia
K-12 Education
- Teacher, St. Vincent de Paul School
- Teacher, Manila School District
- Drama Teacher, Louisville Schools
- Instructor, Douglas Anderson School of Arts
- Lead Teacher, St. Luke's Early Learning Center
- Theatre Teacher, Evangelical Christian School
- Theatre Teacher, Oxford High School
- Program Manager, Oakland Unified School District
- Drama Teacher, Ridgeland High School
- English Teacher, Biloxi High School
- Drama Teacher, Boca Raton High School
- Director of Theatre, Boca Raton High School
Higher Education
- Emeritus Professor of African American Studies, University of Florida
- Dance Instructor, University of Georgia
- Dance Instructor, University of Mississippi
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre, University of Mississippi
- Instructor of Speech, University of Mississippi
- Associate Dean, College of Lake County
- VP for Institutional Advancement, Tyler Junior College
- Chair and Instructor of Speech, Kilgore College
- Instructional Design Contractor, Rocky Mountain College of Art
- Assistant Director for School of Communication Studies, James Madison University
- Administration Assistant, Cornell University
- Director of IT, Capital University
- Owner, Tinderbox/Vino100
- Finance Administrator, Blue Owl Property Management
- Owner, Buyer and Stylist, Arrow Wood
- Art Director, Acxiom Advertising
- President, Franchise Business Consultants
- Marketing and Customer Relations Manager, Audi New Orleans
- General Manager, SEG Sales Empowerment Group
- National Director of Shopper Marketing, Linqia
- Account Executive, Grubhub
- Studio Manager, Mountain Kula Yoga
- Executive Director, RejectedStone Outreach Ministries
- Supply Chain Consultant, WG Consulting
- Real Estate Agent, Shanks & Associates
- HR Management, Amazon
- Talent Supply Chain Engagement Sr. Team Lead, Amazon.com
- External Business Analyst, Career Builder.com
- Co-Owner, The Bakery Truck
- Sales Trainer, Manheim Auctions
- Founder and Owner, Baby Guy Gear Guide
- Business Development Manager, Optimum Employer Solutions
- Senior Director, McKesson
- Manager, Half Price Books
- Support Manager, Matrix Resources
- Project Manager, McCann Minneapolis
- Office Manager, Great TN Land Company
- Office Coordinator and Events Planner, Boundless
- Staff, Disney Store Times Square
- Model and Fashion Stylist, Gigglewick Boutique
- Account Representative, C Spire
- Leadership Development Manager, AT&T
- Human Resources Manager, Knotch
- Sales Manager, Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel
- Owner-Operator, Square Pizza
- Coach, Troy Gymnastics
- Sales, Lilly US
- Director of Platform Operations, Financial Tech Firm
- Senior Solutions Analyst, Cerner Corporation
- Sales Consultant, Climax Beauty
- Publisher, American Business Media
- E-Learning Administrator, IREM
- Receptionist, Tease Salon NYC
- Sales Manager, Crunch Gyms Ltd
- Flight Attendant, American Airlines
- Shelter Director, Hancock County Human Resources Agency – Brenda's House
- Program Director, Indiana Department of Environment
- Legislative Aide, US Senate
- Scheduler, US Senate
- Municipal Judge, City of Tyler
- Director of Communications, Washington Area Women's Foundation
- Executive Officer, Women for Women
- Director of Online Marketing, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp
- Executive, Northeast Mississippi Board of Realtors
- Operations Director, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault