As the festive season approaches, South Dakota State University School of Performing Arts is set to host a series of captivating events that promise to enchant and inspire. From senior recitals to vibrant dance celebrations and inclusive productions that bring the community together, there is something for everyone. These events not only showcase the immense talent of SDSU students and faculty but also foster a spirit of unity and artistic expression. Join us as we delve into the highlights and explore the creative vision that defines this season's performances.

A Season of Harmony: Celebrating Creativity at South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University's School of Performing Arts is set to light up the campus with a series of vibrant events ranging from recitals to theatrical productions. As we embark on this journey, we'll witness the talents of students and faculty alike, offering a peek into the diverse world of performing arts. From the thought-provoking play 'Turn Of The Screw' to the soul-stirring melodies of Choral Day, each event promises a unique experience, encapsulating the spirit of creativity and collaboration that defines the University's cultural landscape.

A Vibrant Showcase: SDSU's Performing Arts Events Unveiled

The South Dakota State University School of Performing Arts is set to illuminate the winter months with a series of captivating events. From recitals showcasing the talents of students and faculty to a dynamic production of 'Capers!' and a haunting theatrical rendition of 'Turn Of The Screw', these events promise a rich tapestry of artistic expression. Also featuring a choral day filled with harmonious melodies and an exploration of 'Music as an Instrument of Diplomacy', SDSU invites both the university and local community to partake in these diverse cultural offerings.

A Cultural Kaleidoscope: SDSU School of Performing Arts Winter Events

South Dakota State University School of Performing Arts has an exciting and diverse lineup of events scheduled for 2025, offering a variety of artistic experiences for the community. From the powerful musical performances of the US Army Field Band to the heartfelt narrative of Bright Star, the calendar promises enriching experiences. Additionally, the Spring Dance Concert explores creativity through student choreography, while the dramatic retelling of The Diary of Anne Frank offers a poignant historical perspective. The SoPA Festival of New Plays will showcase innovative theatrical works, ensuring a year filled with artistic exploration and engagement.

South Dakota State University School of Performing Arts Presents a Diverse Lineup of Events for 2025

Public includes SDSU Faculty/Staff/Students

SoPA Festival of New Plays

South Dakota State University

The true story of Anne Frank and her family as they hid from the Nazis in WWII by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. Newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman,

The Diary of Anne Frank

Through the development of original choreography, students work with the dance ensemble director to develop work that communicates with intention and purpose. Choreographers are free to imagine how the theme “Be” inspires dance composition and provides opportunity for creativity and intellectual discourse.

Spring Dance Concert

Inspired by a true story about a baby that had been thrown from a train in a suitcase, and lived, this is a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. With beautiful melodies and powerfully moving characters, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tightly in its grasp, BRIGHT STAR is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.

Bright Star

US Army Field Band

Dr. Walsh Faculty Recital

Music as an Instrument of Diplomacy Week

A young woman is hired to care for two recently orphaned children in a lovely secluded English manner in 1872. As time goes by, the woman begins to see the specters or ghosts of the former governess and her lover. Are these ghosts in her mind or are they appearing to haunt the children? As the governess attempts to stop the fiends from taking the children away, the underlying question is: are the sightings real or only in the woman’s mind?

Turn Of The Screw

Music Conference

CHORAL DAY A day and night of performances and rehearsals in conjunction with In-Service

Choral Day

Reyner Senior Recital

SoPA Christmas Celebration of Dance

Elizabeth Robinson Faculty Recital

Senior Honors Recital

Alpha Psi Omega invites you to watch this year’s CAPERS production! This performance is focused on including a broad range of students from across campus to come together and create an experience filled with acting, comedy, singing, and dance.

Capers!

Pavelka/Hofer Junior Recital

Brookings School District Winter Band Concert

Yuletide Concert

Displaying the talents of SDSU dancers, alums and community members, we celebrate a Christmas story, the story of a birth that changed the world, in hopes that this performance may inspire you to pause and return to your own story.

A Christmas Celebration

Brennan Mason Sr. Recital

Nick Lange Sr. Recital

Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders the King and takes the Scottish throne for himself. Shakespeare’s classic tale gives warning to the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints.

MacBeth

Katie Holt Jr. Recital

BCMS - The Queen's Cartoonists

SoPA Orchestra Concert

Jamee Kattner Senior Recital

Join us for three days of dance, voice, and theatrical design.

Theatre and Dance Exploration Camp

"2 Across" is a romantic comedy that centers around two strangers, a man and a woman, who meet on a San Francisco train and start solving the crossword puzzle in the newspaper together. As they work on the puzzle, they begin to open up to each other and reveal their personal lives, hopes, and dreams. The play explores the themes of loneliness, love, and human connection, as the two characters try to figure out if they are meant to be together. "2 Across" is a heartwarming and funny story about finding love in unexpected places.

2 Across

If you’re looking for a thrilling night out, then you won’t want to miss "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. This classic murder mystery follows ten strangers as they are lured to a remote island and slowly picked off one by one. With suspenseful twists and turns, you’ll be on the edge of your seat until the very end.

And Then There Were None

Prairie Repertory Theatre presents Nunsense, A Heavenly Musical Comedy with Book, Music, and Lyrics by Dan Goggin.
This hilarious musical comedy follows the zany antics of five nuns from the Little Sisters of Hoboken, putting on a show to raise funds to bury sisters accidentally poisoned by the convent cook, Sister Julie (Child of God). Come meet Reverend Mother Regina, a former circus performer; Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of novices; a streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne; Sister Mary Leo, a novice and wannabe ballerina; and the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. With catchy tunes, witty one-liners, and unforgettable characters, "Nunsense" is a must-see show that will leave you laughing all the way home.

Nunsense

Spend a week on the campus of SDSU making friends, making music and having fun in our SDSU String Orchestra Summer Camp!

Summer Strings Camp

Spend a week of making friends, making music and having fun at our All-State Music Camp for Young Band Members! The camp will be led by the local music educator Mary Cogswell, who will be assisted by the All-State Music Camp staff.

Young Members Band Camp

Madison Avenue Dance Studio Spring Recital

The Vocal Jazz Choir will perform music of Thomas Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Henry Mancini, Thomas “Fats” Waller, as well as contemporary arrangements of jazz, pop, and spirituals by the Real Group, Phil Mattson, David von Kampen, Paris Rutherford, and others. No ticket required. A free will offering (cash or checks payable to Concordia) to help defray travel expenses for the choir will be taken at the door.

South Dakota State University School of Performing Arts

6 - 9 Nov, 2025

SoPA Festival of New Plays

16 - 19 Oct, 2025

The Diary of Anne Frank

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South Dakota State University School of Performing Arts