Theatre, Media Performance & Production, Costuming & Cosplay, Theatre Education

Why Choose Theatre?

Our academic program includes an internship and other professional development so students may anticipate working in the field upon graduation. Graduates of our program have gone on to graduate school, teaching or professional work in the field.

Where Will You Learn?

Most FSU Theatre productions take place in our 200-seat Butler Theater in the heart of the east FSU campus. Equipped with state of the art lighting and sound technology and a fully furnished scene shop, Butler Theater is home to most of our mainstage shows and many of our classes. We occasionally produce shows in FSU's 1100-seat Seabrook Auditorium, including our children's production and special classics and musicals.

Kinky Boots | November 2025 | Seabrook Auditorium

Step Into Possibility: Fayetteville State University Presents Kinky Boots

Fayetteville State University’s Department of Performing and Fine Arts proudly presents the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, running from November 14-17 at Seabrook Auditorium. With music by Cyndi Lauper, this vibrant production promises to leave audiences laughing, cheering, and reflecting on the power of acceptance and friendship.

The musical - based on a true story - follows Charlie Price as he attempts to save his family’s shoe factory with the help of Lola, a drag queen in need of sturdy boots. Together, they discover that “you change the world when you change your mind.”

“Kinky Boots is about finding solutions in unexpected places. In a world that feels increasingly divided, this show invites us to share our true selves with the world,” says co-director Jeremy Fiebig, Professor of Theatre & Directing. “And, of course, sparkles help everything!”

Incorporating students, faculty, and alumni from multiple disciplines, this production exemplifies the creativity and collaboration that defines FSU’s artistic community. Talents from the theater, dance, and music departments, alongside student organizations like Black Millennium Modeling Club and Spectrum, come together with support from the Division of Student Affairs, the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, and the Department of Performing & Fine Arts.

Co-director & Distinguished Professor Evan Bridenstine says, “Productions like this reflect our community’s unity and shared creativity.”

Fiebig adds: “Theatre productions are like building small, temporary villages engaged in common work. FSU Theatre and Dance has a long tradition of collaboration across the University and community because any theatre production worth its salt reflects the community it serves, and Kinky Boots is a powerful reminder of how creativity, teamwork, and shared experiences can bring people together in unexpected and transformative ways."

Proceeds from Kinky Boots will benefit the FSU at FRINGE Fund, supporting Fayetteville State University’s participation in the 2025 International College Theatre Festival in Edinburgh. “This opportunity places FSU students on a global stage, allowing them to share their voices with the world,” says co-director Evan Bridenstine. “It’s a life-changing experience, and we’re thrilled to make it happen.” Bridenstine adds, “This is a monumental chance for our students to showcase the rich culture of Fayetteville-Fort Liberty while gaining invaluable experience and seeing themselves as part of a global artistic community.”

This heartwarming and uplifting production will leave audiences laughing, cheering, and celebrating the beauty of acceptance and friendship. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience—grab your tickets today and support the arts at FSU!

Tickets are available now at bit.ly/fsukinkyboots. Special thanks to our supporters: The Kenan Trust and BRONCO-iRADIO.COM.

KINKY BOOTS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com.

For media inquiries, photos, or interview requests, please contact Jeremy Fiebig, Professor of Theater & Directing, jfiebig@uncfsu.edu, 910-672-2574

Stage & Screen, Costume/Cosplay/Fashion, Dance, and Education Programs in Theatre

We offer several exciting programs for students interested in stage and screen performance, design, production, directing, musical theatre, playwriting, and much more. Programs include:

• BA in Theatre
• BA in Theatre with a concentration in Media Performance
• BA in Theatre with a concentration in Media Production
• BA in Theatre with a concentration in Costuming/Cosplay
• BA in Theatre with a concentration in Education (non-licensure)
• Minor in Theatre
• Minor in Dance
• Minor in Costuming, Cosplay, & Fashion

You can find our curriculum plans, course descriptions, and more in the University’s online catalog.

What Will You Learn in Our Programs?

Students majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Media Performance will complete intensive course work focused on performance for the screen including film, television, and social media, consisting of acting and voice work, characterization, camera studio work, and short films. Part of a general program collaboration between the Theatre and Communications areas, new approaches seek to update courses using experiences with film, television and stage, to fill the need to expand professional practices in both areas and prepare students for lifelong careers in stage and screen performance.

Students majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Media Production will focus on audio, video, lighting, and stage production for film, television, and new media. The concentration looks intently at the crossover in production between theatre, television/film, and social media, developing skills in a multidisciplinary platform that will broaden training and skill sets in various disciplines preparing them for lifelong careers in stage and screen production.

Both concentrations are collaborations with FSU’s Department of Communications and World Languages.

Students may major in Theatre with a concentration in Costuming and Cosplay, developing studio, technical production, and artistic skills necessary to work in a variety of disciplines from traditional stage and screen costuming and props work to fantasy cons, Live Action Role Play, and much more. With classes in makeup, costuming, sculpture, mold making, and opportunities for props and mask work, this concentration will provide students an exciting set of in-demand skills and experiences that prepares them for worthwhile careers in the field. While this concentration is a collaboration with FSU’s Visual Art program, it may also be taken independently as a Minor.

Students majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Education (non-licensure) will blend studies in traditional areas of theatre with required courses from FSU’s College of Education that prepare them for lifelong work with students. Students will have both in-class and out-of-class opportunities to gain practical experience and technical proficiency, including those gained through campus-based theatrical productions and internships with local employers. The program takes a holistic approach toward the study of theatre that embraces relevant areas of review and practice within the disciplines of English, Communications, Education, as well as Theatre. This is a non-licensure concentration, though students will find themselves well prepared for teaching positions via lateral entry, working as Directors of Education for regional theatres and arts organizations, or establishing their own studios.

Alternatively, students may pursue general studies in Theatre without one of these concentrations.

Together, these concentrations and studies the FSU Theatre program position students for quality work in their chosen field. Each new offering blends with FSU’s strong core of theatre classes and production experiences, providing students a broad practical and theoretical background in the theatre. FSU Theatre is proud to have developed students who’ve gone on to work as professional actors, production professionals, writers, and educators.

What Will You Do with What You Learn in Our Theatre & Media Programs?

With drive, initiative, and ability, a degree, minnor or certificate in our programs prepares you for numerous career choices and possibilities. Practical skills in performance, communication, education, management, design, and production prepare you for careers in:

• Actor Stand-in (film work)
• Theme Park Entertainment
• Comedian/Impersonator
• Stunt Coordinator
• Technical Director
• Scenic Painter
• Costumer/Draper/Dresser
• Sound Board Operator
• Light Board Operator
• Master Electrician
• Master Carpenter
• Production Coordinator
• Producer
• Stage Management
• Arts Marketing
• Stage Hand
• Properties Coordinator
• Choreographer
• Artistic Director
• Arts Entrepreneur
• Dramaturge
• Playwright
• Screenwriter
• Direction
• Conference Production & Management
• Design
• Props production
• Arts Administration
• Politics
• Law
• Technical Theatre & Production Management
• Acting Education & Instruction
• Theatre History
• Theatre/Film Criticism
• Writing Criticism
• Talent Representation (i.e., agents)
• Labor Relations
• Producing Advertising/Marketing
• Radio/TV Voice Work
• Training & Development
• Public Affairs
• Box Office
• Public Relations