The Department of Theatre and Dance cultivates an innovative, experiential and multidisciplinary education within an inclusive community which prepares students for leadership and service in the arts.
Fall 2023
George Orwell’s 1984
Adapted by: Robert Owens, Wilton E. Hall, Jr., and William A. Miles, Jr.
Based on the classic book by George Orwell, 1984 explores life under Big Brother, an authoritarian leader, where individuals are under constant surveillance.
- October 26 & 28 at 7:30 p.m.
- October 27 at 9:30 a.m. (Special school showing)
- October 29 at 2 p.m.
Location: Proscenium Theater in the Performing Arts Center
Cost: Free, tickets are general admission.
Plays Across the Walls
Original 10 minute plays
Location: Potsdam Public Library
Cost: Free, seating is limited
Student Choreographer Concert
The SUNY Potsdam Department of Theatre and Dance is proud to present the 2023 Student Choreographers Concert. The concert is a showcase of choreographic work by student choreographers, who have been creating and rehearsing their pieces throughout the fall semester.
While learning all the elements that go into presenting concert dance, from choreography to lighting and costume design, the SUNY Potsdam students also learn such applied fundamentals as leadership, time management and the collaborative process.
- November 30, December 1, 2, at 7:30 p.m.
- December 3 at 2 p.m.
Location: Dance Theatre in the Performing Arts Center
Cost: Free admission. Tickets may be obtained prior to the performance.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By William Shakespeare
The classic play by William Shakespeare where mortals and fairies collide and much mischief is made.
- April 18 and 20 at 7:30 p.m.
- April 19 at 9:30 a.m. (special school performance)
- April 21 at 2 p.m.
Location: Black Box Theater in the Performing Arts Center
Cost: Free, tickets are general admission.
The Faculty Dance Concert
A collection of dance work created by SUNY Potsdam faculty, seniors and guest artist Hettie Barnhill.
- May 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 p.m.
- May 5 at 2 p.m.
Location: Proscenium Theater in the Performing Arts Center
Cost: Free, tickets are general admission.
Past Productions
"Le Nozze di Figaro"
World-class performance opportunities abound for students in both The Crane School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance. In 2019, students staged Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s comic opera “Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)” at Sara M. Snell Music Theater.
"Performing in The Marriage of Figaro was an adventure that I will never forget! The Crane Opera Ensemble worked very hard to prepare this opera, bringing laughter and joy to our audiences!"
- Dominique Santiago '20
"Much Ado About Nothing"
In the fall of 2018, SUNY Potsdam's Department of Theatre and Dance presented William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," a witty comedy set in the United States post-World War II, which features a raucous rivalry between two adversaries who turn into lovers. The play was performed, designed and technically assisted by SUNY Potsdam students, and featured an actor from the Potsdam community. Assistant Professor Joshua Vink advised and directed the performances.
Faculty Dance Concert (2020)
Biannually, the Dance Faculty at SUNY Potsdam create, collaborate and present their work on stage with our dynamic young movers from the dance program and across the campus. The concepts, themes and content are consistently changing with each concert. The concerts showcase the talents of our student artists in the areas of dance and movement, as well as in technical and design fields of costumes, lighting, and scenic.
"Love and Information"
Directed by Rivka Rocchio, the mysterious and powerful “Love and Information” stoked questions about what it means to have and need information, and to have and need love. In an age of overwhelming amounts of information, where knowledge and facts seem separated, the play asked: Can love be enough to cut through the noise? The 60-minute play moved throughout the Performing Arts Center, and featured a collection of stories and characters around the theme of finding connection in a contemporary landscape.
Media Dance Works Series
In 2019 - 2020, performance halls were closed and stages were dark, but SUNY Potsdam students of dance found ways to share their creativity nonetheless. Merging their efforts with student videographers, and using new tools from media arts, student choreographers launched a virtual dance concert series titled “Media Dance Works Series.” The events took the place of a concert dance production normally presented in the Performing Arts Center each term. SUNY Potsdam students choreographed, performed and shot two new virtual dance concert series that showcased creative adaption in the time of COVID-19.
Wiley and the Hairy Man (2019)
Wiley and the Hairy Man was presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance in the Spring of 2019. One cornerstone of the department is their outreach programs. Working with the local communities is a foundation of SUNY Potsdam.This production was a presentation in the genre, Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA). The local elementary and middle schools were invited to come fill the theatre with their laughter and joy.
Student One-Act Festival (2020)
Each term, the Department of Theatre and Dance proudly presents the student’s annual Student One-Act Festival and/or 10-Minute play Festival. The festivals are student directed, designed, performed and technically executed. The festivals are a capstone experience generated from their studio and course work. The stage is a laboratory to learn and execute the process of storytelling.
“The Pirates of Penzance”
The timeless Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, “The Pirates of Penzance,” was presented in 2018 by the Crane Opera Ensemble. The production was double-cast for many major roles, to highlight the talents of a broader number of Crane students. As a result, each evening performance featured different casting. Led by Musical Director Kirk Severtson, “The Pirates of Penzance” featured students from The Crane School of Music in the cast, as well as students from Crane and the Department of Theatre and Dance behind the scenes.
