StMU Theatre

Theatre productions by St. Mary’s University students reach back to at least 1895, with performances by such troupes as The Mission Players, The Cameo Players, The St. Mary’s Theatre Guild, and the St. Mary’s Music and Theatre Arts Club.

One of the most beloved and remembered of these is The Shoestring Players of the 1960s and 1970s. This troupe was founded by the late Charles Myles when the Drama Department, now the Music and Theatre Arts Department, offered a major.

Due to low enrollment in the 1980s, the major was discontinued and converted to a minor. There was a lull in theatre production until 1989. That same year, Prof. Bernadette Hamilton (Brady) came onboard and rebuilt the program. Since then, the Department has grown to include up to fifty students who participate in production with two to three shows a season. Some of those shows were collaborations with the English, Languages, and Music Departments and staged in the now decommissioned Reinbolt Theatre.

Throughout the years, we have adapted and thrived by showcasing our innovation and creativity by making theatre in all its different forms. Over sixty (60) productions have been in our repertoire. This testifies to our mission to serve our students’ desire to keep theatre in their lives and augment their academic education. We have also invited local Guest Artists to either perform or design alongside our students. These interactions with professionals not only emphasizes the master-apprentice dynamic but also encourages our students to attain higher professional standards for  themselves and for our productions. At this time, we typically utilize Treadaway Recital Hall or Guadalupe Chapel for our performances.