As colleges across the country face difficult decisions to cut or scale back theatre programs, Sterling College Theatre is standing strong. With a tradition that spans generations, Sterling continues to offer students opportunities for growth, professional preparation, and Christ-centered community. This fall, the program opens its 2025–2026 season Oct. 17–19 with the beloved American musical Bye Bye Birdie—a reminder that the stage at Sterling remains vibrant and full of life.

“Sterling College has had a strong tradition in theatre for generations,” said Dennis Dutton, Sterling College Arts Director. “While it is quite disheartening to hear of similar colleges dropping the theatre major or program, Sterling remains committed to offering quality productions for our community and for our students.”

That commitment is evident in Sterling’s thriving schedule of productions. Each year, the program produces two musicals, two plays, and multiple student-directed one-acts—six or more productions in total. Last year, nearly 75 students took part in theatre, whether on stage, backstage, or in the design studio.

The program’s vitality is reflected in the success of its alumni. John Williams, a 2022 graduate, just finished his Master of Fine Arts in Shakespeare and Performance at Mary Baldwin University in Virginia. “At Sterling I got a degree in General Theatre, which meant I gained experience onstage and backstage. That foundation made me feel ready for the collaborative model of Mary Baldwin, where actors, directors, and designers work side by side to create theatre,” Williams said.

He fondly remembers his senior project, Hamlet, and the countless hours spent with friends building sets and telling stories. “Not every theatre experience feels deeply meaningful, so I’ve really learned to cherish the ones that do,” he reflected.

Tiffany Adams, also a 2022 graduate, is finishing her MFA in Costume Design and Technology at the University of Illinois this year. Her thesis project is designing more than 80 costumes for the musical Anastasia. “I’ve always had a love for clothing. Costume design is being a storyteller but using physical materials. I love making actors feel beautiful and confident in what they’re wearing as they go on stage,” Adams said.

She remembers her Sterling days as filled with friendship as much as artistry. “Even late nights in the costume shop, tired but laughing with music playing, I felt so blessed to be creating art with people I loved.”

Both alumni emphasize that Sterling prepared them not only with skills but with values. Williams explained, “While being skilled or having a good audition might get you a job, being collaborative and kind is ultimately more important. It costs nothing to be kind.”

In conjunction with their opening production Bye Bye Birdie in October, Sterling College Theatre will host their 41st annual Theatre Workshop Day for high school students. A new Theatre Outreach Team which will be producing original works to be presented at churches and schools is also being developed.

Sterling College Theatre program celebrates both its living legacy on campus and the community as well as the success of graduates shaping the future of theatre. In a time when other institutions are stepping away from the arts, Sterling continues to embrace them as central to its mission—nurturing students who will carry faith, artistry, and community into every stage they touch and every area of their life.

To learn more about Sterling College Theatre, visit www.sterling.edu/theatre.

To follow Tiffany Adams’ design work, visit www.tiffanyeadams.com.