Milligan University Performing Arts

08/29/2026

Milligan University held the annual All-East Prep Clinic today, August 29. We had 159 high school students, 18 choral directors, and 2 assistant directors representing 18 area high schools in attendance. Thank you to all who participated.

08/24/2026

Come to our Meet and Greet on Thursday, August 27th in the Gregory McGlothlin Theatre from 6-8pm! If you don’t belong to any organizations on campus, we welcome you to join ours. Whether you like to be on stage or behind the scenes, we have a place for you.

08/19/2026

Congratulations to Milligan University music alumna Gina Jury Gill, whose orchestra students have been recognized not only for their excellence in the classroom but their servant leadership in the community.

Providence Academy recognized for service

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Milligan University music alumna Sarah Baker ('22) for being named the Perquimans District Teacher of the Year. We're proud of you Sarah and grateful for the student lives you are impacting through your music knowledge and servant leader heart.

08/07/2026

The Milligan University Performing Arts is thrilled to announce that Kathleen Buttolph will be joining the faculty as Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts and Guest Director for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Buttolph holds an MFA in Theatre Education from Mississippi University for Women, an MA in Teaching from East Tennessee State University, and a BA in History and Theatre from Emory & Henry College (University).

She has extensive theater teaching experience in various public schools and universities. She is also no stranger to Milligan. In 2009, she was a guest director and lecturer at Milligan, while working for the Town of Jonesborough as the Artistic Director of Jonesborough Repertory Theatre (2003-2009).

Buttolph has worked in theatre arts education, directing, and programming for almost 30 years, specializing in building theatre arts programs that centralize access, community, and education. She initiated a skills-based theatre camp through Washington County Public Schools, Virginia, in 2021. She continues to write proposals and grants while serving as camp director to keep Washington County Schools Theatre Arts Camp and similar theatre education programs growing in her community.

She is a proud co-founder of POP Arts - Power of Performing Arts, an inclusive performing arts program for individuals with and without disabilities. Her leadership in the arts is founded on creating and building opportunities - promoting the benefits of theatre arts education in schools and communities, serving the growth and accessibility of the art of theatre, and most importantly, carefully focusing on the interests, needs, and goals of students.

07/25/2026

Hark! Hear the news from the Milligan crew!
We are tickled and thrilled to announce something new!
For Seussical the Musical, auditions are near,
The most wonderful time of the theatrical year!

Professor Alena Carhart is taking the lead,
Directing the music and words you will read.
While down in the pit, making melodies rise,
Is Dr. Kellie Brown, keeping time for the wise!

And building the magic with hammer and line,
Is Pamela Adolphi with technical design!
She’ll direct all the tech and the backstage crew,
To make sure the stage looks exactly like Whoville or Solla Sollew!

We need people on stage who can sing, dance, and play,
And people backstage to make props click away!
Yes, we're looking for cast and we're looking for crew,
There is room in this show for a person like you!

If your mind has a question, a worry, or doubt,
Or you want to know what this big show is about,
Just send a quick note through the air like a bird,
To [email protected]—yes, every last word!

So pack up your talent, your passion, your stride,
We can't wait to see you with joy deep inside!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0549A5AD2AA6FBC61-64886578-seussical #/

So don’t wait a minute, don’t sit on the fence,
Go claim your official audition slot hence!
Just click on the link above (and in bio) for the SignUpGenius page,
And pick out a time to step onto our stage!

07/06/2026

Milligan University Performing Arts is thrilled to announce our 2026-27 season.

Seussical the Musical: Step into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss in this special 70-minute version of Seussical the Musical! Featuring a vibrant score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony award winning team behind Ragtime and Once on This Island bring this family-friendly adventure to life with beloved characters like Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and Gertrude McFuzz. Bursting with humor, heart, and spectacular entertainment, Seussical the Musical is a joyful theatrical experience that will inspire, delight, and remind everyone that “a person’s a person, no matter how small!" Tickets go on sale September 1st at milligan.tix.com ($12 + service fee, $5 for Milligan students)

A Night at the Grand Ole Opry Cabaret: Grab your cowboy hats and dust off your dancing shoes as Milligan Musical Theatre brings the heart of Nashville straight to the Milligan stage with A Night at the Grand Ole Opry Cabaret. This high‑energy showcase celebrates the timeless spirit of the Grand Ole Opry through a toe‑tapping lineup of classic hits, rich storytelling, and the signature charm that made the Opry an American treasure. Featuring songs made famous by legends like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and more, this cabaret invites audiences to relive the music that shaped country history.
From heartfelt ballads to boot‑stomping crowd‑pleasers, Milligan’s talented cast delivers an evening of nostalgia, artistry, and pure Tennessee magic. Whether you’re a lifelong country fan or simply love a great night of live performance, this is one show you won’t want to miss.

A Little Piece of Heaven: Restless biker Mike never expected his wandering path to lead him to A Little Piece of Heaven, a quirky antiques shop tucked away in a quiet small town. What starts as a short‑term, purely practical job soon becomes something unexpectedly profound when he meets Lily—an elderly, sharp‑witted, sharp-tongued woman who challenges him at every turn. Their rocky start slowly gives way to an unlikely friendship, shaped by honesty, humor, and hard‑earned trust. But the shop itself holds secrets of its own. Under the watchful eyes of its eccentric owners, Elizabeth and Henry, strange coincidences unfold and long‑lost treasures seem to find their way home. As suspicion melts into connection, Mike discovers that some places don’t just collect forgotten things—they help people find what they didn’t know they were missing. Tickets go on sale March 1st at milligan.tix.com ($12 + service fee, $5 for Milligan students).

Stay tuned for more information about auditions.

05/09/2026

Congratulations to long-time guitar faculty member, Dr. James West, on receiving his DMA.

03/18/2026

Milligan Musical Theatre is pleased to present our “Screen to Stage Cabaret” on Friday, March 27th at 7:30pm in Gregory’s McGlothlin Street Theatre. Join us for a night of celebrating music from iconic and nostalgic movies. Admission is free. We hope to see you there!

02/25/2026