Department of Theatre Presents Echoes from the Banks of the Red Cedar
Written, choreographed, and directed by: Alexandria Davis
Location: Fairchild Theatre, Auditorium Building
Dates: February 14 - 22, 2026
The Department of Theatre presents Echoes from the Banks of the Red Cedar. Through a collaboration between the College of Arts & Letters and the College of Music, this production tells a unique tale through music, dance, and dialogue. Inspired by William James Beal’s seed experiment, this play is written, choreographed, and directed by MSU’s own theatre and dance professor Alexandria Davis! To learn more, read the full article and faculty voice.
“The work is a postmodern exploration rooted in a series of investigative questions about William James Beal's research and Michigan State University’s legacy as a Land-Grant institution."
- Alexandria Davis, MSU theatre and dance professor
Echoes from the Banks of the Red Cedar rehearsal. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Merchant)
Echoes from the Banks of the Red Cedar rehearsal. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Merchant)
Echoes from the Banks of the Red Cedar rehearsal. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Merchant)
Department of Theatre students helping to restock the Friends of Theatre Pantry. (Photo courtesy of Kath Clark)
The Friends of Theatre organization provided the financial resources necessary to establish and stock the Friends of Theatre Food Pantry. (Photo courtesy of Kath Clark)
Dear Friends,
I wanted to send a quick update on the MSU Friends of Theatre Food Pantry.
We opened just before Thanksgiving, and it’s already making a real difference. Students are using it regularly, so much so that we had to restock the shelves this week. Honestly, that’s exactly what we hoped would happen.
If you’re an alum, part of the local theatre community, or just someone who loves theatre, you know how much our students juggle: classes, rehearsals, productions, work, life. It’s a lot. Access to food shouldn’t be one more thing they have to figure out. That’s the whole idea behind the pantry. Simple. No barriers.
A couple of quick notes about how it works:
- The door is always open. No sign-ins, no questions. Just “take what you need.”
- It’s tucked into a quiet area of the Auditorium so students can use it privately and comfortably.
What’s meant the most to me is how respectful the students have been with the space. They clean up, keep things organized, and even restock items when they’re running low. It really feels like a shared community effort.
We truly couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you for helping us get it started and keep it going.
If you’d like to contribute, here are two easy ways:
- Amazon Wish List: https://a.co/011GTe1h\
- Online donation: https://give.msu.edu/?smid=AE100637
Thanks for continuing to support the Michigan State University Department of Theatre and our students. It really does mean a lot.
All the best,
Kirk A. Domer (he/him)
Interim Chairperson & Professor of Scene Design
Department of Theatre
Travis Staton-Marrero and Sarah Goeke engage with students in the Transformative Acting (THR 404) class. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Black)
Sarah Goeke (middle) and Travis Staton-Marrero (right) with their mentor Professor Rob Roznowski (left). (Photo courtesy of Alexis Black)
Sarah Goeke (top row fifth from left) and Travis Staton-Marrero (top row sixth from left) with students in the Transformative Acting (THR 404) class. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Black)
Two Department of Theatre Alumni recently revisited campus and shared memories from their time as students!
Sarah Goeke and Travis Staton- Marrero, Department of Theatre Alumni, reconnected with mentors and reminisced with students about their time at MSU. They both attribute the university to playing a pivotal role in their professional lives.
"I don’t think I’d have the confidence to pursue a creative lifestyle without the support I got from the teachers there.”
- Sarah Goeke, Department of Theatre Alum and award-winning screenwriter
Goeke and Staton-Marrero reflected on how their education from MSU sparked creativity for their careers. They learned how to value hard work and be scrappy. They shared advice to students that are thinking about entering the professional world soon. They also emphasized to not take opportunities for granted. Read the full article.
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Need more info or have questions about the MSU Department of Theatre?
Contact: Kath Clark at (517) 884-7796 or clarkk98@msu.edu
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