Our training focuses on the individual artist's needs. We embrace the richness and diversity of our art form and seek to educate intellectually curious, confident and fully engaged artists.

Our Programs


Our programs include something for everyone.
Click on the program to learn more.
Our faculty are dedicated to training the next generation of Theatre Artists.

Our People


A world class faculty and staff with experience at all levels of theatre, film, and television.
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Steven Higginbotham

Department Chair

Professor

Directing, Musical Theatre,
Acting

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Monica Bell

Associate Professor

Acting ,
Movement, Directing

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Melissa
Anne Blizzard

Costume
Director

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Sadie

DeSantis

Assistant Professor

Stage Management

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Steve

Earnest

Professor

History, Literature

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Kevin

Ferguson

Lecturer

Literature, Playwriting

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Jackson

Golden

Technical

Director

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Eric
Hall

Associate Professor

Costume Design

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Daniel
Hobbs

Assistant Professor

Scenic Design

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Alex
LeFevre

Assistant Professor

Music Director

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Alison

Levenberg

Artist In Residence,
Dance

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Chian-ann
Lu

Assistant Professor

Lighting Design

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Kristi Rau

McIntyre

Senior Lecturer

Acting, Literature

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Adam

Pelty

Associate Professor

Dance, Musical Theatre Performance

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Thom

Penn

Lecturer

Acting, Literature

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Robin Edwards-Russell

Professor Emeritus

Acting, Voice

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Dory
Sibley

Assistant Professor

Acting, Voice

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Amy

Smith

Administrative

Specialist

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Benjamin

Sota

Associate Professor

Acting, Physical Theatre

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John

Woodson

Artist in Residence

Acting, Voice

 
 
 
 
Working on stage is an important part of the experience. With two theatres, state of the art equipment and one of the largest college production studios on the east coast, our students experience the work of the artist.

2023 -2024 Season


A diverse season designed to challenge both our students and our audience. Join us.

Virtual tickets may be obtained online by visting tickets.coastal.edu

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Wheelwright Auditorium

Friday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14 , 2 p.m.* and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. (Student Matinee) Admission $3
Thursday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m (Student Matinee) Admission $3
Friday - Saturday, Oct. 20-21 , 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22, 2 p.m.

* Indicates ASL Interpreted Performance

Cinderella

A magical night in the theatre for the entire family! The new Broadway adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical, Cinderella, will delight audiences with the story of how dreams really can come true. This contemporary approach to a well-known fairy tale features some of musical theatre’s most beloved songs, including In My Own Little Corner, Impossible/It's Possible, and Ten Minutes Ago, as well as an updated, hilarious, and romantic libretto by Douglas Carter Beane.

Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
New Book by Douglas Carter Beane
Original Book by Oscar Hammerstein II

Directed by Monica Bell
Choreographed by Alison Levenberg
Musical Direction by Michael Gribbin 

 

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Edwards Black Box Theatre

Friday, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4 , 2 p.m.* and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 5, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 9,  10 a.m. (Student Matinee) Admission $3
Thursday, Nov. 9,   7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m.  (Student Matinee) Admission $3
Friday , Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 12, 2 p.m.

* Indicates ASL Interpreted Performance

Satuday Night/Sunday Morning

Set in the final days of the Second World War at Miss Mary’s Press and Curl beauty parlour and women’s boarding house in Memphis, Tennessee, Saturday Night/Sunday Morning unites a group of young women whose lives have been affected by the loss of men to the war and the upheaval of social attitudes that followed. When sisters Taffy and Mabel devise a scheme to solve Leanne’s ongoing depression over a lack of correspondence from her soldier sweetheart, their lies spiral out of control, and the girls and Miss Mary must learn to navigate the nuances of love, sexuality, and sisterhood. 

Written by Katori Hall

Directed by Dawn Monique Williams

 

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Wheelwright Auditorium 
 

Friday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb 10 , 2 p.m.* and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb 11, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Feb 15,  10 a.m. (Student Matinee) Admission $3
Thursday, Feb 15,  7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb 16, 7:30 p.m. 
Friday , Feb 17, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m.

* Indicates ASL Interpreted Performance

Cabaret

“Life is a cabaret, old chum…come to the cabaret!” This daring, provocative, and exuberantly entertaining musical explores the life of Bohemian Berlin at the close of the 1920s and as Germany slowly yields to the emerging political regime. Set inside a scintillating nightclub, the Master of Ceremonies performs cleverly crafted songs as sociopolitical commentary while daring romances unfold: Cliff, a young American writer, begins an affair with English singer Sally Bowles, as Fräulein Schneider, proprietor of a boarding house, tentatively falls in love with a kind Jewish fruit seller, Herr Schultz. Favorite musical numbers include Willkommen, Don’t Tell Mama, and Cabaret, among others.

Book by Joe Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Directed and Choreographed by Adam Pelty
Musical Direction by Alex Lefevre

 
 
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Edwards Black Box Theater 

Friday, March 15, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m.* and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m.
Thursday, March 21,  10 a.m. (Student Matinee) Admission $3
Thursday, March 21,  7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 22, 10 a.m.  (Student Matinee) Admission $3
Friday- Saturday , March 22 & 23, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 24, 2 p.m.

* Indicates ASL Interpreted Performance

Three Sisters

In this classic by Anton Chekhov, three sisters, Olga, Masha, and Irina, yearn for the promise of Moscow while grappling with the challenges of living unhappily in a provincial Russian town. Unrequited love, family drama, mourning the loss of their father, and dealing with a changing Russia are realities they must face as they pine for that elusive trip to Moscow and accept their uncertain futures. 

Written by Anton Chekhov
A New Version by Sarah Ruhl
Based on a literal translation by Elise Thoron with Natalya Paramonova and Kristin Johnsen-Neshati

Directed by Steven James Higginbotham

 

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Site Specific Festival
Performance and Events - TBD


April 11 - April 14, 2024- Performances in Downtown Conways

April 18 - April 21, 2024 - Perfomances in Downtown Myrtle Beach

The Earth Festival

We are thrilled to present The E.A.R.T.H. Festival, a unique and thought-provoking event which stands for Eco, Art, Radical, Theatre, Happening.  E.A.R.T.H. brings together theater, art, and activism to explore themes of sustainability, climate change, and the relationship between humans and nature. Co-created by Coastal Carolina University students working with community members, this festival showcases inspiring performances, engaging workshops, and informative talks that aim to inspire change and promote awareness about the urgent issues facing our planet. With The E.A.R.T.H. Festival, we invite you to hear and tell stories about our shared future on this planet. Don't miss this extraordinary event, taking place in Downtown Conway and Downtown Myrtle Beach!

Project Led by Ben Sota and Sandrine Schaefer

CCU Theatre:  Discovery Series
Student-Led Projects for 2023-2024

 

Galatea
A Devised Work by Lizzy Arnold
Edwards Black Box Theater

Performance #1

Friday, September 29th 7:30pm

Performance #2

Saturday, September 30th 7:30pm

Description:  This devised work turns the tale Pygmalion and Galatea on its head by keenly retelling it from Galatea’s perspective. It follows Galatea's gradual realization of imprisonment and abuse by her male creator, explores the limited freedom of expression she experiences while under his control, and dramatizes her triumphant fight for independence in the face of adversity. 

 

If Cherries Could Talk
A Reading of a New Play Written by Camryn Cox
Edwards Black Box Theater

Performance #1

Wednesday, November 15th 7:30pm

Performance #2

Thursday, November 16th 7:30pm

DescriptionIf Cherries Could Talk tells the story of Quinn and Riley. The piece jumps between the past, where we see the ups and downs of their relationship, and the present, their first time seeing each other years after their breakup. This one act play intends to shed light on the many shapes and sizes that abuse comes in - and how difficult it is to break out.

 

A Mortician’s Family
A Staged Reading of a New Play by Avery Avellino
Edwards Black Box Theater

Performance #1

Friday, January 26th 7:30pm

Performance #2

Saturday, January 27th 7:30pm

DescriptionA Mortician’s Family is about the five stages of grief in conflict with each other, as it follows a family who is examining their virtues and vices in the wake of their father's death. Grief for their father wears on their relationships and brings their differences forth in a nature of contempt. Siblings become hateful and parents lash out, but they will explore their love for one another still.

 

Human
A Devised Dance Project by Trevor Terry
Edwards Blackbox Theater

Performance #1

Friday, April 5th 7:30pm

Performance #2

Saturday, April 6th 7:30pm

DescriptionHuman tells the story of an alien who enters a human body and is thusly confronted with human emotion for the first time. Through the course of the performance, the alien discovers joy, rage, confusion, and even lust. As an allegorical story of queerness, this compelling devised dance project focuses on themes of feeling as if your body isn't your own, lack of control, and confronting our deepest emotions.

 

 

CCU Theatre:
Signature Events for 2023-2024

Dance Company
 Fall Concert
Wheelwright
Auditorium

Performance #1

Friday, December 1st 7:30pm

Performance #2

Sunday, December 3rd 2:00pm

Description:  Led by Arist-in-Residence, Alison Levenberg, students in the Dance Company apply practical studio work in dance technique to the creation of choreography for this concert performance. The Fall Concert will serve as an exciting showcase of danceworks and choreography from the Fall 2023 semester.

Senior
Showcase
Edwards
Recital Hall

Performance #1

Friday, February 23rd 7:30pm

Performance #2

Saturday, February 24th 7:30pm

DescriptionSee tomorrow’s Broadway stars onstage today! In a showcase format, this performance will highlight the talents and skills of our graduating BFA seniors who will be entering the professional theatre industry in May. All proceeds raised from this event will support the students’ trip to perform their Senior Showcase for casting agents, talent scouts, and industry professionals in New York City in March. Come and support our seniors as they pursue their dreams!

Dance Company 
Spring Concert
Wheelwright
Auditorium

Performance               Tuesday,
  #1                                     April 23rd                                                  7:30pm

Performance          Wednesday,     
#2                                   April 24th                                                                                                  7:30pm

Description:  Led by Arist-in-Residence, Alison Levenberg, students in the Dance Company apply practical studio work in dance technique to the creation of choreography for this concert performance. The Spring Concert will serve as an exciting showcase of danceworks and choreography from the Spring 2024 semester.

CCU Theatre:  New Works for 2023-2024

Reading of a Commissioned Play by Cynthia Grace Robinson; Directed by Cezar Williams

Edwards Recital Hall

Performance #1

Friday, February 2nd 7:30pm

Performance #2

Saturday, February 3rd 7:30pm

Description:  A newly-commissioned play by Cynthia Grace Robinson for Coastal Carolina University’s Department of Theatre will have its first public reading on our campus, in anticipation of a full production in an upcoming mainstage season. 

 

Reading of a New Musical - The Puzzle with music and lyrics by Alex Lefevre and book by Marybeth Berry

Edwards Blackbox Theatre

Public Sharing #1:  May 10th at 6:00pm

Public Sharing #2:  May 11th at 4:00pm

Description:  Taking place over the course of two decades, The Puzzle tells the story of a diverse family navigating the challenges and trials that life brings to us all: grief, loss, love, failure, success, and the personal truth we seek to recognize within ourselves.

Stayed tuned for more. 

    Ticket Prices for 2023-2024:

    For PLAYS, we will charge:

    • $19 for adults
    • $15 for alumni, faculty/staff, OLLI, seniors, teens (aged 12-17), and groups of 10 or more
    • $3 for any students (Horry County, HGTC, CCU)

    For MUSICALS, we will charge:

    • $25 for adults 
    • $20 for alumni, faculty/staff, OLLI, seniors, teens (aged 12-17), and groups of 10 or more
    • $5 for any students (Horry County, HGTC, CCU)

    For the DISCOVERY SERIES and SIGNATURE EVENTS, we will charge:

    • $10 for adults
    • $7 for alumni, faculty/staff, OLLI, seniors, teens (aged 12-17), and groups of 10 or more
    • $3 for any students (Horry County, HGTC, CCU)
    • NOTE:  Senior Showcase ticket holders will have the option to donate money in addition to the ticket price to support students traveling to NYC! 
    There will be no charge to attend the NEW WORKS series.


    The Fabulous Five-Show Pass!

    The CCU Theatre Department is proud to announce the launch of a ticket package for the 2023-2024 CCU Season!  Patrons can purchase a CCU Theatre 5-show pass, which will provide access to all of the following:

    • one ticket in the appropriate audience category for 1 Mainstage musical
    • one ticket in the appropriate audience category for 1 Mainstage play
    • one ticket in the appropriate audience category for 2 Discovery Series productions
    • one ticket in the appropriate audience category for 1 of the dance concerts 
    • NOTE:  Tickets for Senior Showcase and The E.A.R.T.H. Festival are not included in the 5-show package.

    We will charge the following for a 5-show pass in each of the associated categories:

    • $60 for adults ($74 value)
    • $45 for alumni, faculty/staff, OLLI, seniors, and teens (aged 12-17) ($56 value)
    • Not available for students 

    Pass holders will be given priority seating for all selected events, as possible.  Pass holders will need to select their preferred performance dates in advance of attendance to ensure that seats will be available.  We recommend selecting their preferred performance dates at least 4 weeks ahead of the production.  

    If ticket holders are not in attendance by two minutes before showtime and they do not contact the box office in advance, their seats may be sold to accommodate audience members who are waiting at the door.  
    No refunds, credits, or exchanges are given if a pass holder does not attend a performance.

    Our alumni include Emmy nominees, Broadway, regional and touring performers, successful designers and technicians, and a Fulbright Scholar.

    We would love to hear from you! 

    Click Here!

    Our Featured Alumni


    Exceedingly proud of all our alumni, we can only feature a few. Check back often as we celebrate our former students as they share their art around the world.
    Kevin Kane

    Kevin Kane ('98)


    FOUNDING MEMBER, CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THE COLLECTIVE


    Kevin is a graduate of the William Esper Studio and a founding member and co-artistic director of The Collective NY where he has acted in and directed numerous productions since its inception. He was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor (NYIT) for his performance in the revival of SOMEONE WHO'LL WATCH OVER ME at NYTW. He served as special on-set consultant to Judd Apatow during the making of "Trainwreck." He won a Peabody Award, Television Critics Award and a Primetime Emmy with fellow Collective founding member Amy Schumer for his work on "Inside Amy Schumer." Film: Trainwreck, Uncle Silas, I'm Not Me TV: Inside Amy Schumer, SVU, White Collar, Blue Bloods.
    Read More Here


    Matthew McCoy

    Matthew McCoy ('12)


    FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF BAY AREA MUSICALS

    Before moving to San Francisco in 2012 after graduation, Matthew performed, directed, choreographed, and produced plays, musicals, cabarets, and magic production shows nationally and Internationally.  He has worked professionally in the regional theatre circuit as well as in Las Vegas, New York, Florida, New Hampshire, Ohio, Paris, London, and Shanghai, China.

    Matthew brings an extensive knowledge of Musical Theatre having received his undergraduate degree from Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Prior to starting Bay Area Musicals, Matthew broke into the Bay Area scene serving as the Casting Director and Associate Artistic Director at Berkeley Playhouse until the summer of 2014---where he still works as a guest director, choreographer, and teaching artist.
    Read More Here


    Panda Head Theatre

    Peter Seifarth ('17), Jess Bryant ('16)


    CO-FOUNDERS, PANDA HEAD THEATRE

    At the recent Cincinnati Fringe Festival Jess and Peter's Panda Head Theatre won Critic's Pick, and Artist's Pick of the Festival.

    Panda Head Theatre is the passion project of Jess Bryant and Peter Seifarth--artistic partners from the southeast. They first met 10 years ago while performing in their high school's circus program. They reconnected when they both attended Coastal Carolina University, as students of the BFA physical theatre program.

    Their studies took them to Italy, and there Panda Head was born. Drawing from their backgrounds of physical storytelling, they used what little they had to create The Great Invention--a show which kindled their desire to create original theatre that is accessible to people of all languages and cultural backgrounds.

    In 2017 Peter won a Fullbright grant and is currently working and studying in Nepal, while Jessica is working and continuing her training at the Celebration Barn Theatre, an immersive physical theater center that draws artists from around the world who are seeking to train and create their own works. We look forward to what Panda Head Theatre, and these two talented artists, will bring to us in the future.
    Read More Here.

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