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First Year Lab Experience:
First Year Lab Experience:
WELCOME TO SALEM STATE THEATRE!
Congratulations! You are already cast in your first SST production!
Every fall semester, our new first-year and transfer Theatre majors participate in “First Year Lab Experience,” a beloved Salem State Theatre tradition. First Year Lab is designed to help ease your transition into Salem State Theatre—and you get to put on a show! During First Year Lab, you will meet everyone in your new student cohort and immediately become part of a creative ensemble. Together with your classmates, you will devise a unique production based on your group’s ideas, talents, and experiences. This showcase is not just for actors; are you an aspiring playwright, choreographer, stage manager, technician, director, or designer? All concentrations and skills are incorporated into this great event!
The 2026 First Year Lab Experience will be directed by Professor Esme Allen. You will have rehearsals with your First Year Lab group a few times a week during the month of September, after day classes, culminating in a live performance on Friday, September 25 at 7:30pm in our beautiful Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage Theatre. The entire Theatre Department is invited, as well as your family and friends! Admission is free and no reservations are required.
Note: This event is mandatory for all new Fall 2026 first year and transfer students. First Year Lab Experience counts as your first Theatre Department production at SSU and is part of your required coursework- you will earn Theatre Production hours towards your THE91 Theatre Participation class for it!
Click HERE for more information about First Year Lab
First Year Student Events:
First Year Student Events:
SSU Welcome Week
SSU Welcome Week
Welcome, Vikings!
We have a full lineup to help get you ready for a fantastic fall semester. (The schedule will be updated over the summer!)
Meet the Minis
Meet the Minis
TBD
The mini therapy ponies will be on campus to provide you with a moment of relaxation and peace during your first day of classes!
Hosted by First Year Experience
Career Closet Kick-Off
Career Closet Kick-Off
TBD
Career Closet- Ellison Campus Center
Kickstart your semester in style! Join us for the Career Closet Kick Off to shop for free attire. Everything is free and yours to keep. Don't miss out on this opportunity to add a few new items to your wardrobe and dress to impress at your next interview or audition!
Theatre Department Orientation Meeting
Theatre Department Orientation Meeting
Welcome back to Salem State Theatre!
Join us at our annual Theatre Department Orientation Meeting in the Mainstage of the Sophia Gordon Center to catch up on all the great things that are happening this year! All of our faculty, staff and theatre majors are required to attend, so you’ll get all of the important information about our upcoming season, auditions, advising, Juries, Peer Mentoring, and much more!
Thursday, September 3, 2026
4:30pm-6:00pm
Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage
Other Meeting Highlights you Don't Want to Miss:
1. Updates from the Student Theatre Ensemble, Yes Andy's Improv Troupe, and the USITT (Technical Theatre) student groups!
2. Nominations for 2026-2027 Theatre Student Representatives.
3. The Fall 2026 Theatre Participation Job Fair will be held at the end of the meeting. There are lots of ways to get involved, and we'll tell you all about them!
See you there!
Theatre Participation Job Fair
Theatre Participation Job Fair
Join us immediately following the Theatre Department Orientation Meeting for the Fall 2026 Theatre Participation Job Fair! Students will have the opportunity to sign up for positions on our Theatre Department productions of BECKY NURSE OF SALEM, the VETERAN'S 10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL, and CORNERS GROVE!
Fall 2026 Theatre Participation Job Fair
Thursday, September 3, 2026
6:00pm-6:30pm
Sophia Gordon Center Lobby
First Friday Social: First Generation Student Mixer
First Friday Social: First Generation Student Mixer
TBD
Meet other first-generation students and learn about the various supports and resources available to you through the First-Generation Student Success Center.
The Fall 2026 Add/Drop period ends Wednesday 9/9 at midnight
The Fall 2026 Add/Drop period ends Wednesday 9/9 at midnight
The Add/Drop period for Fall 2026 Undergraduate classes ends at midnight. Any changes to your fall schedule must be made before this deadline.
Please see your faculty advisor or Ashley O’Toole in the Theatre Department Office with any scheduling questions.
BFA Info Meeting
BFA Info Meeting
Monday, September 14, 2026
12:00pm-1:00pm
Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage
Current Salem State students: Join the Theatre faculty & staff in the Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage to learn about the BFA program and the BFA Jury process. All students who are interested in the BFA program are strongly encouraged to attend.
See you there!
Theatre Movie & Game Night
Theatre Movie & Game Night
Saturday, September 12, 2026
5:00pm-9:00pm
Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts
Mainstage Theatre & Lobby
Join us for a movie in the Mainstage followed by a student game night in the lobby! Please feel free to bring your favorite games and snacks!
Meet Your Major
Meet Your Major
First Year Theatre Majors: Join us in the Mainstage to ask Theatre Faculty, the Theatre Coordinator, and current theatre students any questions you have about the department.
Monday, September 21, 2026
11:00am-12:00pm
Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage
*Required for all first year (freshmen and transfer) Theatre Arts majors
Resume and Portfolio Workshop
Resume and Portfolio Workshop
Current Salem State students: Join the faculty to learn how to make a theatre resume and/or portfolio for auditions, interviews, and BFA Juries.
Monday, September 21, 2026
12:00pm-1:00pm
Sophia Gordon Rehearsal Room (SG208)
See you there!
First Year Lab Performance
First Year Lab Performance
You're invited to enjoy the fabulous, unique production our First Year Theatre students create during their first month at SSU!
Friday, September 25, 2026
7:30pm
Sophia Gordon Center Mainstage
356 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA
Directed by Esme Allen
Admission is free, and no reservations are required. See you there!
First Year Student Resources:
First Year Student Resources:
Peer Mentoring
Peer Mentoring
Every First Year Theatre major is assigned an upperclass Theatre Peer Mentor for their first two semesters. Peer Mentors assist first year students with advising and answering general questions about the theatre program, auditions, classes, TPP, and more!
First Year students should please complete the Peer Mentoring Quiz by 9/1/26 so we can find your perfect Peer Mentoring match!
Theatre Department Play Library
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.
SSU_CAMPUS MAP_WEB_06_18.pdfFind Your Class
Find Your Class
CLASSROOM MAPS SITE
Brought to you by the First Year Experience
Questions? Contact FYE at: 978.542.2618, firstyear@salemstate.edu, or private message us in your Facebook Class Page
Helpful Tips: How to compose an email to your professor
Helpful Tips: How to compose an email to your professor
Always include your full name and SSU student ID number.
The subject header should be informative.
Use professors' names when addressing them.
Write grammatically, spell correctly, and avoid typos.
Keep it brief, to the point, and polite.
Advice for New Students
Advice for New Students
Read the full article HERE
"Professors can be your greatest allies, so link up with a few you can trust. They want to help you cut through the bureaucracy, so you can get to the thing you’re there for- learning."
"With time, I learned that interest and success are highly correlated — do what you love, and you’ll be good at what you do. Don’t be afraid to take classes that challenge your suppositions."
"I implore [first generation students] to extend grace to yourself and have confidence in the fact that you were chosen not only for your academic competency but also for the perspective you have to offer your peers and professors. You are now part of a conversation that would be lacking without your voice. Speak even louder, and help others understand a life story they may not have considered before they met you."
"The important people to develop relationships with? Department secretaries. These people may be your first real adult friends. They don’t think they’re ancient or disconnected from today’s youth and neither should you."
Salem State Mobile Apps
Salem State Mobile Apps
Download the apps below to get support, find activities, and more!
Download the apps below to get support, find activities, and more!
Bluebikes
Bluebikes
Unlock bikeshares on campus and across Salem
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