Through an integrated curriculum, the Performing Arts Studies program prepares artists and leaders for an eclectic and exciting job market. Students study creative and artistic direction, performance, technical theatre, arts management and conduct academic research. Utilizing performance venues on campus, Hayes Auditorium, Broyhill Theatre, Lauritsen Technical Theatre and Design Studio (Coming soon) and a professional company- Lees-McRae Summer Theatre, students gain hands on knowledge the moment they arrive on campus.

Students interested in pursuing the Performing Arts Studies track should take courses during the first year of study as advised by a
designated faculty member of the Performing Arts Department. Speak with the Program Coordinator during your first two weeks of classes to be assigned to a PA faculty advisor.

Explore additional programs in Musical Theatre, B.F.A and Theatre Arts Education.

---

Curriculum

Sample Courses

Arts Education and Outreach Arts Management Basic Lighting Career Management Costuming Dance Technique: Ballet and Modern Dance/Choreography for the Theatre Directing I, II Fundamentals of Music History of Drama/Theatre Makeup

Movement for the Stage Performance of Literature Period Acting Playwriting Principles of Acting Principles of Design Scene Design Script Analysis Stagecraft TV and Film for the Actor World Culture and the Arts

See full degree and minor requirements in the College Catalog (pg. 102)

---

Career Opportunities

A degree in Performing Arts Studies provides students with a full liberal arts undergraduate education, preparing them for graduate study or work in a variety of artistic disciplines, as well as providing the skills for work in other fields such as management, publicity, and marketing.

Recent alumni include Osmary Nieves (Actor, Lost Colony), Justin Hall (Designer, Twin City Stage) and Todd Morgan (Theatre Programming Coordinator, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts).

• Acting
• Arts Management
• Costume Design
• Directing
• Technical Theatre

---

Faculty

Janet Barton Speer, PhD
Virginia McKenzie Reeves Endowed Chair of Performing Arts
Artistic Director for Lees-McRae College Summer Theatre
SpeerJ@lmc.edu

---

Tessa Carr, PhD
Chair, Division of Creative and Fine Arts
Assistant Professor for Performing Arts
Costume Designer, and Director
CarrT@lmc.edu

---

Michael Hannah, PhD
Program Coordinator for BFA in Musical Theatre
Program Coordinator for Performing Arts Studies
Associate Professor for Performing Arts
Costume Designer and Director
HannahM@lmc.edu

---

Pam Joslin, BS
Administrative Assistant
Division of Creative and Fine Arts
Lees-McRae Summer Theatre
JoslinP@lmc.edu

---

Jim Taylor, MM
Assistant Professor for Performing Arts
Director of Music
Taylor@lmc.edu

---

Danielle Baisden Curtis, MFA
Associate Professor for Performing Arts
Technical Director
Scenic and Lighting Designer
BaisdenD@lmc.edu

---

Paul Adamson, MM
Staff Accompanist and Instructor
Adamson@lmc.edu

---

Drew Wallace
Assistant Technical Director
wallacea@lmc.edu

---

Stacey Burgess Trivett, BA
Adjunct Dance Faculty
Co-Director, Creative and Performing Arts Camp
trivetts@lmc.edu

---

Mindi Bishop, BS
Costume Shop Supervisor
Adjunct Dance Faculty
Costume Designer
Co-Director, Creative and Performing Arts Camp
BishopMA@lmc.edu

---