Community Partnerships

The Department of Theatre and Dance offers a number of formal partnerships with community organizations that students may pursue for course credit as applicable:

  • Theatre Education students have directing and design opportunities twice a year at each of the following: Northside Middle School (Muncie Community Schools), Burris Laboratory/Indiana Academy, Southside Middle School, and Muncie Civic Theatre.
  • A partnership between the School of Music, the Department of Theatre and Dance, Interlock: The East Central Indiana Autism Society of America, and Sibshops (The Sibling Support Project) created the nationally recognized Ball State Prism Project. This project is a program that utilizes the performing arts as a medium to explore and develop social skills for children with exceptionalities.
  • DANCE! Muncie After School enables dance majors to learn tactics to teach dance, to create lesson plans, and to work with young creative minds (3rd and 4th graders). Many of these Muncie Community Schools students are introduced to dance for the first time through this immersive learning opportunity.

theatre education students in a circle backstage. There is a cast standing in a circle with all different ages and ethnicities.

Events in the Community

Back to the 80s

  • Written by Neil Gooding
  • Directed by Hopelynn Lane, Katie Blessinger, and Meg Merideth Robinson
  • Northside Middle School
  • April 17 & 18

Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon

  • Written by Don Zolidis
  • Directed by Lainey Brunker and Grayson Meece
  • Burris Laboratory School
  • March 26-28 at 7 p.m.

Oz!

  • Book by Tim Kelly
  • Music and Lyrics by Bill Fancoeur
  • Directed by Kai Krontz and Madi Myers
  • Muncie Civic Theatre
  • April 17-19

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

  • Book by Kate DiCamillo
  • Adapted by Dwayne Hartford
  • Directed by Lauren Bunyea and Robin Shepley
  • Southside Middle School
  • April TBD

 

ALUMNUS IN NYC LIGHTS UP THE STAGE FOR BROADWAY MUSICALS

Technical theatre alumnus Andy Catron oversees moving lights and color scrollers for Tony Award-winning productions at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

BALL STATE’S ‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’ IS A SUTTON FOSTER HOMECOMING IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

Students worked closely with the Tony Award winner as part of one of Ball State’s most ambitious productions.

THEATRE PROF TAKES CUES FROM OWN PAST IN GUIDING HER STUDENT ACTORS

Karen Kessler uses her intelligence, lightness of spirit, and passion to create safe areas for student actors to explore their artistic interests.