Musical Theater
Marita Stryker, Program Director, Christiansen Hall of Music 210
507-786-3687
stryke2@stolaf.edu
stolaf.edu/musical-theater/
Overview of the Concentration
The Musical Theater concentration is open to all majors in the Bachelor of Arts program. Musical theater is an interdisciplinary art form that is culturally relevant by offering opportunities for discourse and dialogue on social issues, societal change and culture through its performance. This genre of theater has deep roots in American culture and is wildly popular offering ample, consistent, and financially supported professional opportunities for those who wish to have careers as artists. The rise in popularity of musical theater has also extended over to film and television.
Intended Learning Outcomes for the Concentration
Requirements for the Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required (Core) Courses: | ||
| MUSIC 148 | Contemporary Styles Voice Class | 0.25 |
| MUSIC 248 | Musical Theater Lit (0.25) | 0.25 |
| MUSPF 152 - Voice Lessons: 2 semesters at 0.25 | 0.50 | |
| THEAT 131 | Musical Theater | 1.00 |
| THEAT 132 | Movement for the Musical Theater (0.5) | 0.50 |
| THEAT 271 | History of Theater since 1700 | 1.00 |
| Two dance courses, chosen from Ballroom, Tap, Ballet, or Hip Hop | 0.50 | |
| One Acting Course | 1.00 | |
| Acting for the Non Major | ||
| Introduction to Acting | ||
| Electives: Students elect to take 1.0 credit from the following list: 1 | 1.00 | |
| Fundamentals of Choreography and Improvisation | ||
| Theater in London (study abroad) | ||
| Musical Theater in Japan (study abroad) | ||
| Advanced Acting for the Lyric Stage | ||
| Opera Creation Residency in the Schools: Civic Engagement | ||
| Opera Workshop | ||
MUSPF 124 Jazz piano lessons (4 semesters at 0.25 credits) | ||
| Introduction to Design for Performance | ||
| Text and Performance | ||
| Scenic Design and Production | ||
| Stage Direction | ||
| Lighting Design and Production in Live Entertainment | ||
| Topics in Interpretation and Theater (When topic is Stage Management) | ||
| Additional Concentration Requirements: | ||
| Participation in two productions directed by a St. Olaf Theater/Music faculty/staff within the Theater Department, Lyric Theater, or Musical Theater Lab; student-directed shows not accepted. | ||
| Senior Portfolio created in consultation with Musical Theater faculty. 2 | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
- 1
Other courses not listed may count with prior approval of the Department Chair of Music or Chair of Theater.
- 2
Senior Portfolio must include: headshot, resume, audition repertoire book or design/directing portfolio, evidence of web presence and media, and artist statement.
Program Director of Musical Theater 2026-27
Marita Stryker
Assistant Professor of Music
voice, musical theater
Associate Chair, 2026-2027
Tracey M. Engleman
Oscar and Gertrude Boe Overby Distinguished Associate Professor of Music
voice; vocal pedagogy; vocal literature
Department Chair, 2026-2027
Louis K. Epstein
Professor of Music
music history
Kathryn E. Ananda-Owens (on sabbatical Fall Semester and January Term 2026-27)
Professor of Music
piano; piano literature
Anton Armstrong
Harry R. and Thora H. Tosdal Professor of Music
choir; conducting; voice; pedagogy for young voices
Christopher G. Atzinger
Professor of Music
piano
James E. Bobb
Associate Professor of Music; Elliot M. and Klara Stockdal Johnson Chair of Organ and Church Music
organ; church music; choir; chapel cantor
Christine Boone
Visiting Associate Professor of Music
Rachel Brandwein
Assistant Professor of Music
harp; music theory
Eric Broker
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Sarah Burk
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Andrew Cannestra
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music
David M. Carter
Professor of Music
cello; chamber music; string techniques; string literature/pedagogy; music appreciation
David R. Castro (on sabbatical Fall Semester 2026-27)
Professor of Music; Associate Dean of Fine Arts - J-Term and Spring 2027
music theory; counterpoint; advanced analysis
Kurt Claussen
Adjunct Instructor of Music
saxophone, chamber music
Kaitlyn Clawson-Cannestra
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music
Anna Clift
Adjunct Instructor of Music
cello; chamber music
Henry L. Dorn
Assistant Professor of Music
band; composition; conducting
Wesley Dunnagan
Assistant Professor of Music
Jerome Elsbernd
Visiting Instructor of Music
Alison Feldt
Professor of Music; Associate Dean of Fine Arts - Fall 2026
voice
Leigh Ann Garner (on sabbatical Fall Semester 2026-27)
Associate Professor of Music
music education
Charles K. Gray (on sabbatical January Term and Spring Semester 2026-27)
Professor of Music
violin; viola; string literature/pedagogy; chamber music
Thea Groth
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music
bassoon
Therees Hibbard
Associate Professor of Practice and Robert Scholz Endowed Chair in Music
choir; voice; voice class; conducting
Martin Hodel
Professor of Music
trumpet; orchestra; chamber music
Joseph Lee Jefferson
Associate Professor of Music
jazz trombone; jazz ensembles
Joseph Kemper
Assistant Professor of Music
Reid Kennedy
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Rehanna Landis Kheshgi
Associate Professor of Music
ethnomusicology; gamelan
April R. Kim
Associate Professor of Practice in Music
piano; piano literature
Dale H. Kruse
Associate Professor of Practice in Music
voice; lyric theater
Orin Larson
Visiting Instructor of Music
Dana L. Maeda
Instructor of Music
oboe; historic winds; woodwind techniques; chamber music
Jill Mahr
Adjunct Instructor of Music
handbell ensembles; flute
Jenna L. McBride-Harris
Assistant Professor of Music
French horn
James (Matthew) McClung
Visiting Associate Professor of Music
percussion
Alicia McQuerrey
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Justin W. Merritt
Professor of Music
composition; theory; instrumentation; electronic music
Johnathan Moeller
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Monica Murray
Visiting Professor of Music
Brian Murray
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Keehun Nam
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Steven Olsen
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Chung Park
Associate Professor of Music
orchestral ensembles; conducting
Sarah Pradt
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music
Hardanger Fiddle
Catherine Ramirez
Artist in Residence in Music
flute; theory; chamber music
Aileen Razey
Assistant Professor of Music
Alice Renken
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music
Catherine R. Rodland
Artist in Residence in Music
organ; theory
Julia Sakharova
Visiting Instructor of Music
Kyle Sanborn
Adjunct Instructor of Music
Ray Shows, Jr.
Instructor of Music
violin; viola
Shari Speer
Visiting Instructor of Music
voice
Emery Stephens
Associate Professor of Music
voice
Marita Stryker
Assistant Professor of Music; Program Director of Musical Theater 2026-27
voice, musical theater
Jason Tanksley
Adjunct Instructor of Music
tuba
Natalie VanBurkleo-Carbonara
Visiting Instructor of Music
KrisAnne Weiss
Assistant Professor of Music
voice
Overview