Performing Arts Department

Women dresses in white stand spread across a dimly lit stage.

One Degree. Many Paths. Musical Theatre.

At SUNY Cortland, musical theatre training is immersive, rigorous and deeply collaborative. Students dive into daily work in acting, voice, music and dance while building the discipline, versatility and creative confidence today’s industry demands. Small class sizes foster meaningful mentorship and a tight-knit artistic community where every student is seen, challenged, and supported.

Rooted in a strong liberal arts education, your training extends beyond the studio and rehearsal room. Courses across disciplines challenge you to think critically, communicate effectively and understand the cultural contexts that shape the stories you tell. You graduate not just as a skilled performer, but as an informed, adaptable artist ready for a complex and evolving industry.

Performance is woven into your training with mainstage musicals, classic and contemporary plays, student-directed projects and cabaret-style showcases that allow you to explore a wide range of material and performance styles. Your work is supported by exceptional facilities, including a state-of-the-art 386-seat theater, an intimate recital hall, a flexible black-box space, a dedicated dance studio and ample rehearsal and practice rooms giving you the professional environment you need to grow, experiment and perform at your highest level.

Our graduates pursue careers on stage and screen, in directing and choreography, arts leadership, education, new works development, producing, casting and beyond. A single degree. Broad training. Real experience. The foundation to shape a professional life that isn’t limited to just one path.