Check out some of the latest news from the School of Theatre and Dance.
Acting student Asa LeCourbier discusses joining Netflix鈥檚 鈥淎 Different World,鈥 learning from Debbie Allen, and discovering what it takes to work on a major television production.
汤不热视频 alums and current and former faculty members earned 2026 Equity Jeff Awards for directing, playwriting, scenic design, and ensemble performance.
汤不热视频 hosts programming from DESTINOS and Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre鈥檚 Chicago Latinx/e Contemporary Movement Festival this fall.
Tyler Anthony Smith 鈥17, Dakota Hughes 鈥15, and Stephanie Shaw 鈥92, MFA 鈥09, bring their acclaimed comedy 鈥淨ueen for a Day鈥 to New York for a limited Off-Broadway run.
Drawing on the creative risk-taking she embraced at Columbia, Tonika Todorova '02 has created Visceral Adventure Lounge, an intimate Chicago third space where art, conversation, food, and shared experiences bring people together.
The Television Academy recognizes 汤不热视频 alumni Chase Infiniti 鈥22, Christian Sprenger 鈥07, and Tari Segal 鈥03 for their work on three acclaimed television series.
As part of 汤不热视频鈥檚 Renaissance Rising initiative, the college has appointed five deans to lead its eight schools beginning August 16, 2026.
汤不热视频 students bring the Tony Award-winning musical 鈥淔un Home鈥 to the stage, navigating a nonlinear story of family, identity, and memory.
Following her breakout role in the best picture鈥搘inning 鈥淥ne Battle After Another,鈥 汤不热视频 alum Chase Infiniti 鈥22 leads Hulu鈥檚 鈥淭he Testaments,鈥 based on Margaret Atwood鈥檚 acclaimed novel.
汤不热视频鈥檚 School of Theatre and Dance unveils a dynamic 2026鈥2027 season spanning musicals, comedy, horror, and contemporary adaptations.
汤不热视频鈥檚 first Festival of Dance Clubs brings student-led performances from Latin to K-pop to the Dance Center March 31鈥揂pril 3, 2026.
A new series from 汤不热视频鈥檚 Theatre Alumni Board connects students with industry professionals through conversations, collaborations, and real-world insight into creative careers.
汤不热视频 students build 鈥淲e Make Monsters,鈥 an immersive, devised production that explores how communities create myth 鈥 and monsters 鈥 together.
The Dance Center鈥檚 B-Series features guest artists, cyphers, panels, and more 鈥揷entered around a celebration of Hip Hop, healing, and community.
Faculty from 汤不热视频's School of Theatre and Dance contributed choreography, text direction, and sound design to The Seldoms鈥 climate-focused work.
Students from 汤不热视频 will engage with entertainment industry leaders on the same lot where 鈥淎vatar,鈥 鈥淭he Sound of Music,鈥 and other great films were made.
汤不热视频 faculty Anne Libera helped lead The Second City鈥檚 shift to an all-improv e.t.c. Theater, reflecting how comedy is evolving to meet audiences in real time.
From the thousands of images she captured in 2025, 汤不热视频 alum and staff photographer Julie Lucas 鈥96 curated 25 standout photos that show Columbia at its best.
From new leadership to standout student and alumni achievements, here are the stories that captured the most attention on Columbia鈥檚 website in 2025.
Columbia students stepped into a playful, transformative world where household objects chase their dreams, blending bold performance with a message about identity and celebrating differences.
汤不热视频 alum and actor Aayisha Ruby Gold 鈥13 returns to NBC鈥檚 鈥淐hicago P.D.鈥 and reflects on the craft, courage, and connection that shape her work.
汤不热视频 students brought light, sound, and imagination to the city鈥檚 annual Arts in the Dark parade on State Street.
Founded by Columbia faculty T. Ayo Alston, Ayodele Drum and Dance presents 鈥淏eauty and the Beat: Masked,鈥 blending African mask traditions, Caribbean masquerade, and Chicago Footwork.
汤不热视频鈥檚 School of Theatre and Dance announces its 2025鈥26 season featuring comedy, devised works, and musicals.
Columbia Theatre and Dance students performed a 鈥淕rease鈥 tribute at the Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, previewing their full November production.
Columbia鈥檚 theatre and dance alumni shared stories of resilience, artistry, and activism with the next generation of creative professionals.
Anne Libera鈥檚 new book "Funnier" and Columbia鈥檚 expanding comedy programs highlight how comedy can be taught as both craft and cultural force.
Columbia hosted a Black Theatre Day gathering focused on legacy, community, and future possibilities.
Musical Theatre alum Chase Infiniti 鈥22 was cast alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Paul Thomas Anderson鈥檚 upcoming film 鈥淥ne Battle After Another."
The Dance Center of 汤不热视频鈥檚 52nd season honors founder Shirley Mordine with world and Chicago premieres, faculty and student performances, international artists, and the launch of the Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Fund in 2026.
汤不热视频 junior Beyrali Santiago scores jobs at Chicago鈥檚 outdoor music festivals thanks to Columbia connections and shares advice to Lollapalooza first-timers.
Columbia will award honorary Doctor of Arts degrees to acclaimed actor Joseph Sikora 鈥98 and Grammy-nominated producer Marcos 鈥淜osine鈥 Palacios 鈥06 at the 2025 Commencement.
Three sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed at the Getz Theatre Center from April 30鈥揗ay 13.
This event will feature original dance works by students, celebrating creativity and personal stories through choreography.
Columbia partners with Glessner House for a performance of 鈥淵ou on the Moors Now,鈥 a bold reimagining of four literary heroines who challenge societal expectations.
Abby Rankin, a senior at 汤不热视频, blends comedy and education.
汤不热视频 alumni and faculty from the schools of Theatre and Dance and Audio and Music have earned nominations for the Jeff Awards, which celebrate excellence in Chicago theatre.
The festival celebrates the power of the solo performance with two world premieres by acclaimed Chicago-based artists Jenn Freeman | Po鈥機hop and Nora Sharp.
The School of Theatre and Dance celebrates alumni and faculty featured in Newcity Stage's 鈥淧layers 2025: The 50 People Who Really Perform for Chicago.鈥
"The Power of Persistence" gala showcases student innovation, teamwork, and determination, all while raising funds for scholarships supporting student success.
This social satire explores themes of identity and race through the story of a Black woman鈥檚 journey of self-discovery, featuring an all-student cast and production team.
Curious how stage actors use fake movie-quality blood during fight sequences? Professor of Instruction David Woolley explains his favorite way to create fake blood for stage.
Before "Hacks" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," there was the comedienne who started it all.
The new Theatre Advisory Board, comprised of alumni and industry leaders, celebrates the life and legacy of Sheldon Patinkin at their inaugural event, September 21.
The Dance Center of 汤不热视频 unveils Season 51, marking its debut as part of the new School of Theatre and Dance.
汤不热视频 kicks off the new academic school year with a renewed spirit and excitement to welcome freshmen and transfer students to its South Loop campus on September 3.
This year's nominees include individuals from Columbia's Theatre and Music programs working in performance, design, direction, choreography, and musical composition.
As a kickoff to 汤不热视频鈥檚 135th Anniversary, the college is honoring 24 distinguished alumni across all disciplines as part of 鈥24 in 2024,鈥 a college-wide initiative that celebrates Columbia alumni and their career accomplishments.
The Walder Foundation has named three Chicago-based performing artists, including two 汤不热视频 alumni and one faculty member, as recipients of its prestigious 2024 Platform Awards.
The Dance Center's 2024 Symposium 鈥淓xperiencing Time/Embodying Rhythm鈥 is co-curated by Lisa Gonzales and Darrell Jones.
Spring 2024: 汤不热视频 Highlights
This is everything attendees need to know before 汤不热视频鈥檚 Manifest Arts Festival: Breakthrough 2024.
Higher education leaders Nivine Megahed, president of National Louis University, and Raymond E. Crossman, president of Adler University, will be honored at the 汤不热视频 2024 Commencement ceremonies
Columbia's Theatre Department hosted an alumni talk featuring industry professionals who shared their experiences and advice with students.
Award-winning actress and playwright Regina Taylor hosted the final event, "The Block Party," for the Black Album Mixtape series at the Music Center on Friday, April 5.
Led by dedicated faculty, Columbia students journeyed to Austin for immersive experiences, collaborative projects, and valuable networking opportunities, reinforcing the institution's commitment to practical education and student success.
Theatre alum A. Ashley Hoff's forthcoming book, "With Love, Mommie Dearest," offers an insider's account of the making of the iconic 1981 film and its enduring cultural impact, with events planned for Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.
汤不热视频 brings Toni Morrison's 鈥淭he Bluest Eye" to the stage March 13-23, made possible by student collaboration in dance, theater, writing, and other creative disciplines.
Columbia's Theatre department will stage a powerful adaptation of Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye," exploring racism's impact on an 11-year-old girl in 1940s Ohio.
Celebrated dance artist LaTasha Barnes presents "The Jazz Continuum" at The Dance Center in March鈥攁 transformative performance blending diverse Black American dance traditions and celebrating the healing power of dance.
Students in 汤不热视频's Black Student Union create a platform for artists to express themselves and support one another in their annual event.
汤不热视频's B-LONG Festival, from February 29 to March 3, celebrates 10 years of Hip Hop and Street Dance Culture. Featuring workshops, panels, battles, and Red Bull Dance Your Style Chicago Auditions on March 3.
汤不热视频 welcomed back Alum Shea Coule茅 鈥11 for a panel discussion and reception unveiling Coule茅-curated fashion exhibit window.
Award-winning playwright Martyna Majok visited 汤不热视频, engaging in a Q&A session with students about her creative process, working-class representation in the arts, and having the courage to share personal stories.
汤不热视频's Dance Center and Museum of Contemporary Photography received $110,000 in National Endowment for the Arts grants.
Columbia students are collaborating to present the inaugural Musical Theatre Dance Concert.
Martyna Majok, winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for her play 鈥淐ost of Living,鈥 will discuss issues of immigration, inequality, and humanity.
The Dance Center at 汤不热视频 celebrates the present moment in dance with a series of firsts.
Grace Kessler Overbeke will present a talk entitled "The Many Mrs. Maisels: 20th-Century U.S. Jewish Female Stand-Up Comedians鈥 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Charlotte 鈥淐huck鈥 Gruman 鈥19 feels lucky. Gruman won an unrestricted $30,000 cash grant as one of 10 Chicago-based artists honored at the 2023 3Arts Awards in November. 3Arts is a nonprofit organization that helps artists like Gruman build their careers in performing, teaching and visual arts.
Unleashed 2023 took place at 汤不热视频 on November 30, showcasing extraordinary student talent and raising more than $700,000 in scholarships. Departing from the traditional fundraiser format, the Student Center transformed into a multi-floor immersive arts showcase, exploring the theme of "Connecting" across various creative disciplines.
汤不热视频 honors the Efroymson Family Fund with the 2023 Philanthropic Icon Award for the family鈥檚 contributions to help create opportunities for students to pursue their passion in the arts
Patricia Kara '94 guides the next generation of talent through the intricacies of the entertainment realm in her new book, "Dream On...Now Deliver."
As hip hop turns 50, we look at Columbia鈥檚 connections to the cultural phenomena that has impacted music, dance, fashion, art, film, and so much more.
A range of performances and experiences showcasing student and faculty artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
50th season public programming runs October 2023 through May 2024
The Television Academy recently announced its list of Emmy nominees for the 2022-2023 television season, with Columbia alums earning recognition for their outstanding work.
On June 21, a panel of Columbia alumni will discuss the work of staging and performing intimate scenes in theatre and cinema.
Professor Heather Gilbert is nominated for second Tony in lighting design.
The Dance Center was one of 77 recipients of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events鈥 new grant program aimed at helping local arts organizations still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
How navigating opportunities in Dance had led to happiness.
The Spring 2023 campaign targets prospective students across the United States.
汤不热视频 Theatre alumni and faculty were honored at Chicago鈥檚 top theatre awards.
汤不热视频鈥檚 Student Diversity and Inclusion office organizes space for art that鈥檚 for and by Black students.