University of South Alabama Department of Drama & Theatre Arts

08/31/2026

Tuesday September 1st at 6:30 P.M a student feature film Unsteady is being shown at the Laidlaw of Performing Arts. This is a free event showing a film about a man’s struggle with drug addiction and mental illness, as he deals with hallucinations and not knowing what is real and what’s fake. Come and support local art and film by viewing this movie!

08/31/2026

Thank you so much to WKRG for having Christina Johnson on the red couch to introduce our season and talk a bit about our department! If you'd like to view the interview please follow this link: https://www.wkrg.com/red-couch-interviews/university-of-south-alabama-theatre-department-reveals-new-season/

Stay tuned for more updates as we have hopped into rehearsals for our first production this year of A Year With Frog and Toad!

08/26/2026

CAST ANNOUNCEMENT A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD

Thank you to everyone who auditioned! We appreciate the time, energy, and talent you shared with us.
Please initial beside your name to accept your role. Scripts can be picked up from Courtney North.
Our first music/dance rehearsal is tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.
If you are unable to accept your role, please email Haley Green at [email protected] as soon as possible. The following no-shows for dance audition please contact Haley about joining the ensemble if interested: Collin Glorioso, Ellie Johnson, Brooklyn Leffer and Rian Navas

Congratulations to everyone—we’re excited to get started!
Director: Haley Green
Music Director: Daniel Driskell
Choreographer: Savannah James
Stage Manager: Courtney North
Asst. Stage Manager: Rae Phillips
Student Technical Director: Caden Crenshaw
Scenic Designer and Technical Director: Evan Wilson
Assistant Scenic Designer: Quincy Smith
Costume Designer: Christina Johnson

Narrator: Vee Taylor
Frog: Sean Frost
Toad: Elise Russell
Birds: Chloe Ramsey, Raegan Has, Maura Lewis
Mouse: Giselle Hendrix
Snail: Noah Delon
Turtle: Josef Holloway
Lizard: Matthew Welch
Squirrels – Malorie Hacker and Ryan de Lorge
Moles – Alex McKinney and Diamond Bradley
Father Frog – Avery Morton
Mother Frog – Asia Keeling Reeves
Young Frog – Sean Frost
Terrible Frog – Psi Corley
Ensemble- Zoey Cubley, Lucas McCarthy, Travis Mundle, Conner Montee

Please note all cast will be the stage crew to give the look of all the animals moving
through the forest. If you are not onstage, you will have other duties like moving a mushroom in your squirrel way.

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

Auditions are coming up for our Fall 2026 productions: A Year With Frog and Toad and The Government Inspector. All students are welcome to audition!

Monday, August 24 at 6:30 PM in Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Call Backs will be held Tuesday and Wednesday

Please prepare a 60-80 second comedic monologue and 1 minute of a song of your choice. You can bring sheet music, a recording of the instrumental track or sing it a capella. If you want to audition for just The Government Inspector a song is not required.

08/19/2026

Tech Sign Up is open! Join our backstage team!

No experience is necessary to participate. Whether you’re interested in lighting, sound, scenery, props, costumes, run crew, or just want to see what happens behind the scenes, there’s a place for you.

Our upcoming productions are A Year with Frog and Toad and The Government Inspector.

Fill out the Backstage Theatre Tech Interest Form to learn about available positions, show information, and schedules:

https://forms.gle/mfytQDiawzReSx2s9

All skill levels and majors/non-majors welcome!

06/08/2026

Our final Senior Spotlight!

Wes Genard tried to spend his time at South to the fullest. From being onstage, designing, working in the shop and even stage managing he feels he has been super well rounded. He also spent some time with ImprovUSA and served as their president. Wes is incredibly grateful for all of the opportunities and friendships he has made.

Wes is proud to announce that come August we will be taking a positions as a Lighting, Sound, and Scenic Apprentice at Midland Community Theatre in Midland, Texas. He is super excited for this next chapter in his life!

05/04/2026

Senior Spotlight: Ari Theodore

Ari has been an active member of the department during his time at USA and has often been onstage but for his final project he created a play to allow others to be his voice.

“Finnegan’s Got a Secret is the culmination of everything that I have worked for in my four years at South. As part of my thesis, it has allowed for me to work with both the Drama and English departments and have my work put on stage. Finnegan’s Got a Secret went through a multitude of drafts before finally receiving a staged reading. With each draft, I learned more about the process of writing and what being a playwright means. Additionally, I got to understand through practice my voice as a writer. During the drafting process, I got to fully realize what story I wanted to tell and what kinds of characters I wanted to lead it. With the help of my thesis committee, I was able to see what worked within the script drafts and what did not. Furthermore, through the Q + A, held after the staged reading, I received what very few writers ever receive in their careers, live and written feedback. I was able to see in person what jokes landed during the performance, and then, after I heard people voice their genuine opinions on my work. I am so unbelievably grateful for the opportunities I have received by writing this script and having it read on the USA Department of Theatre’s stage.

I am very excited to announce that after graduation, I will be working with Missoula Children’s Theatre. Through my position, I will be acting, directing, and educating all while touring the United States.”

Thank you to everyone who came out to support his work! We can't wait to see where his career takes him!

04/27/2026

🎭 Now Casting: Tour Guide / Character Performer

Foley Walking Tours – Foley, Alabama

Are you a vibrant, engaging actress who loves history, storytelling, and stepping into character? Foley Walking Tours is looking for a dynamic performer to bring our downtown stories to life on select Fridays and Saturdays!

✨ The Roles

You’ll portray two unforgettable characters:

🎙️ Nelva Thompson – A charming 1950s switchboard operator with a flair for storytelling, a knack for “eavesdropping,” and the ability to connect guests to Foley’s past.

👻 “K.” – A spirited 1970s ghost who guides guests through downtown, introducing them to both the friendly and not-so-friendly resident spirits of Foley.

🎬 What You’ll Do

Perform two immersive, hour-long walking tours

Memorize and deliver engaging historical scripts

Interact positively with guests and create a fun, memorable experience

Stay in character throughout each tour

Walk approximately 1 mile and stand for up to 2 hours

💃 What We’re Looking For

Strong acting and improvisation skills

Excellent memorization and storytelling ability

Outgoing, personable, and comfortable engaging with groups

Reliable and professional

👗 Costuming

This role includes period costuming. A stipend will be provided to help you obtain appropriate attire for both characters.

✨ If you love performing, history, and creating unforgettable experiences, we’d love to have you join the Foley Walking Tours team!

04/26/2026

Senior Spotlight! Erin Rose Pempel has assisted in various roles in numerous productions during her time in our department. For her Senior Capstone project she designed the set for Skeleton Crew! Here’s what she had to say about her concept and her next role after graduation:

“For Skeleton Crew, realism was at the center of my design process. Since the play is set in a Detroit auto factory break room in 2008, I wanted the space to feel as authentic and lived in as possible. I spent time visiting auto parts stores, work yards, and mechanic shops to study the details of spaces like this, then combined those observations with specific elements from the script to help shape the final set.

I’m also excited to share that after graduation I’ll be returning to Peach State Summer Theatre in Valdosta, GA for my second consecutive summer, serving as House Manager and Company/Housing Liaison.”

Our students are encouraged to try out a bit of everything during their time earning their degree to ensure they have a variety of skills and experiences to prepare them for the professional work.

You have 1 more chance to check out this amazing show today at 2:00pm at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center!