Salem State Theatre Virtual Callboards
Welcome!
Just like our Callboards outside our main Theatre Office, you can find all of the information you need about advising, auditions, TPP, upcoming events, finals, faculty contacts, and much more right here! Please check back often, because this site will be updated frequently with new events and information.
If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Preston O'Toole in the Theatre Department at aotoole@salemstate.edu.
A Day in the Life of a BFA Theatre Student
By Cam Holmes '25
By Cam Holmes '25
Upcoming Events:
Sign up Now! Spring 2025 BFA Juries
Monday, February 10, 2025
Jury timeslots will be scheduled from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:30pm.
ABOUT BFA JURIES:
1. All students who are interested in joining/remaining in the Salem State University BFA Theatre Arts program must "Jury" (audition or do a portfolio review) every semester.
2. All BFA students must complete at least six Juries in order to graduate with a BFA degree; once a BFA student has completed the requisite six Juries, they must continue to jury each semester until they graduate.
3. All First Year students who would like to graduate with a BFA degree must Jury each semester, even if they did a BFA Audition or Portfolio review prior to being accepted at Salem State University.
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR JURIES: Friday, January 31, 2025
BFA Jury Timeslots will be sent out via SSU email on Monday, February 3, 2025.
NOTES:
1. BFA Juries for all concentrations will be held on the same day. If a student has a conflicting class during their BFA Jury Time Slot, the Theatre Office will provide an absence letter to the student to send to their professor. Students should please provide information about any potential conflicts on the online BFA Jury Sign-Up Form.
2. A student’s TPP and GPA are contributing factors to their standing in all BFA programs. BFA candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPA in their Theatre classes and be actively involved in Theatre Department productions/pass all of their Theatre Participation courses to be in the BFA program.
3. All students applying for the BFA Playwrighting Program are required to email a PDF of their 10-page one-act play (or 10-page writing sample from a full-length play) to aotoole@salemstate.edu by Monday, February 3 at 4:30pm. The faculty will read the submission prior to the Jury, so you will discuss the play/writing sample at your Jury.
4. For the full Jury requirements for each concentration, please refer to the Virtual Callboards BFA Juries page.
If you have read all of the information on the BFA Juries Virtual Callboards page and still have questions, please contact aotoole@salemstate.edu.
“What to Expect in a Fitting” Spring Meeting
Thursday, January 23, 2025
5:00pm-6:00pm
Callan Studio Theatre
Join Costume Shop Supervisor Ryan Goodwin to learn what to expect in a costume fitting. This event is mandatory for all actors cast in COLLECTIVE RAGE: A PLAY IN FIVE BETTIES and AS YOU LIKE IT, but all current Theatre majors are welcome to attend!
KCACTF Blitz
Saturday, January 25, 2025
4:00pm-6:00pm
Sophia Gordon Center
The "Blitz" is an opportunity for our students to present their work in front of a live audience before they leave for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival!
Please join us to support our students and enjoy the culmination of their hard work!
ORDER OF EVENTS:
1. Design/Tech/Stage Management/Dramaturgy Presentations: Sophia Gordon Rehearsal Room (2nd Floor)
2. Irene Ryan (Acting) and Maltby (Musical Theatre) Performances, Sophia Gordon Mainstage
This event is required for all KCACTF nominees, and we'd love to have a supportive audience for all of the presentations. See you there!
Announcements:
2025-2026 Presidential Arts Scholarships
Fall 2024 Dean's List
Congratulations to all of our Theatre Arts majors and minors who made the Fall 2024 Dean's List! We are so proud of you!
Lauren Abramson
Maddy Alter
Abigail Belliveau
Pandora Benedito
David Bentley
Anthony Bowker
Bridget Breda
James Bridges
Logan Broadway
Anne Brower
Bridget Caya
Simon Crader
Wesley Crowley
Adriana DeCicco
Sofia Dixon
Cayley Drigotas
Richard Dunn
Max Dupuis
Carl Durham
Ethan Dwyer
Megan Falkner
Caroline Forbes
Stefani Galeano
Brianna Gambill
Sara Gluck
Gordon Gumuchian
Sydney Hamre
Andrea Hart
Cole Hastings
Cameron Holmes
Felix Horelick
Katie Hoskyns
Jiayi Jiang
Emrys Jordan
Marck-Hens Jules
Rayniel Lara
Lillie-Marie LeClair
Paige Marshall
Kelly McDermott
Dylon Medeiros
Gia Meola
Mez Mezzapelle
Meghan Nealon
Sabrina Nedder
Jack Newton
Jennifer O'Connell
Bella Perez
Rachel Phillips
Christopher Poe
Kasi Powers
Chris Raney
Seth Rivera
Lillian Roberts
Nadia Robinson
Bethany Russell
Isaac Saenz Ruiloba
Amanda Seidler
Summer St. Onge
Cheyanne Tobin
Ian Tomarakos
Kittsy Vidic
Elsa Vig
Georgia Wall
Jaidyn Walter
Samson Willcox
Casey Williams
Faithe Woodard
Marv Worrick
Raya Young
Spring 2025 Arts Calendar
Student Groups
Check out some of the fabulous SSU Student Groups- run by Theatre majors!
Cast Lists for Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties and As You Like It
KCACTF Nominees for Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches
Merit Award Recipients (who are encouraged to submit their work and attend KCACTF):
• James Bridges for Dramaturgy
• Alecia DiCicco for Lighting Design
• Jennifer O’Connell for Stage Management
Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominees:
1. James Bridges
2. Sara Gluck
Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Alternates:
1. Johnny Pappas
2. Brock Hoey
Congratulations!
Post-Election Resources
Students who need additional support during this time or any time, may call the 24/7 Mental Health Support Line at 978.542.8327.
If you have concerns about your safety or that of others, please contact university police at 978.542.6111.
Employees may access 24/7 emotional support through the EAP website using access code mass4you or by calling 844.263.1982.
COVID-19 Resources
Masks are available for current Theatre Arts students, faculty, and staff in the Theatre Office (Administration Building Room #2.)
Announcing the 2024-2025 Student Reps!
Please join me in congratulating our 2024-2025 Theatre Arts Student Representatives!
Marck-Hens Jules, BIPOC Student Representative
Jennifer O'Connell, Design/Technical Theatre/Stage Management Representative
Gia Meola, First Year Student Representative
Cameron Nye, LGBTQIA+ Student Representative
Ian Tomarakos, Performance/Directing/Playwrighting Student Representative
Lola Cassino, Transfer Student Representative
Thank you to everyone who applied and voted! It was an incredibly close vote in the category with multiple candidates—we are very fortunate to have so many thoughtful, responsible, and kind students in our department.
Please stay tuned for information about open office hours and upcoming meetings.
Announcing our new BA Musical Theatre Program!
We are thrilled to announce our new Bachelor of Arts Musical Theatre program, available for fall 2025 admission- no audition required!
For highly-motivated students who wish to explore skills in singing, dancing, and acting!
The Bachelor of Arts degree provides students with a theatrical world view, a foreign language and a minor that is supportive of their major career aspirations. The BA Musical Theatre concentration offers classes in performance, directing, theatre history, stagecraft, music and dance classes, as well as the opportunity to audition for all department productions.
Season Announcement
The Theatre and Speech Communication Department is thrilled to announce our 2024-2025 season!
Silent Sky
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Ashley Skeffington
October 18-20 and 25-27, 2024
Callan Studio Theatre
Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches
By Tony Kushner
Directed by Peter Sampieri
November 22-24 and December 6-8, 2024
Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage Theatre
Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties
By Jen Silverman
Directed by Julie Kiernan
February 21-23 & 28 and March 1-2, 2025
Callan Studio Theatre
As You Like It
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Esme Allen
April 18-20 and 25-27, 2025
Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage Theatre
Discounted Theatre Tickets!
The Theatre Department Office has compiled a list of professional theatre companies/venues in the North Shore/Greater Boston area that offer discounted tickets for current college students!
2023-2024 Theatre Department Handbook
The updated 2023-2024 Theatre Department Handbook is now available!
Theatre Department Play Library
Stop by the Theatre Office (Administration Building #2) during open office hours to check out plays and resource books from over 3,000 plays, books, and more! Play Library materials can be checked out with Ashley for two weeks.
Mental Health Support at SSU
Salem State has a new 24/7 Mental Health Support Line. If you are a student or speaking with a student who is having an urgent mental health concern or needs access to after-hours support, contact the confidential 24/7 mental health support line at 978.542.8327
Do you need mental health support or wish to help a friend access mental health resources? Utilize these on-campus, local and national resources available for Salem State students and community members. The majority of these resources are free, confidential, and/or anonymous. Many also have online chat or text options available. For more information, contact prevention@salemstate.edu.
During Business Hours
If you have an urgent mental health situation during normal business hours, call or come to counseling services even if you do not have an appointment. Let us know that it is an urgent matter and we will see you as soon as possible. In an emergency, contact campus police at 978.542.6111. You can also contact the confidential 24/7 SSU mental health support line at 978.542.8327. In an emergency, contact campus police at 978.542.6111.
On-Campus Resources
Counseling and Health Services 978.542.6413 | 8:30 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday
After Business Hours On-Campus
For students having an urgent mental health concern or who need access to after-hours support, contact the confidential 24/7 SSU mental health support line at 978.542.8327. For a mental health emergency that occurs at night or on a weekend, contact campus police at 978.542.6111 or your RA or resident director.