Arts and Performance

Gaining artistic experience is not only encouraged at Saint Michael’s, but it is an essential curriculum requirement. Students discover their artistic selves through painting, photography, building scenery for a show, studying modern dance, workshopping pieces of creative writing, and more. Our performance spaces are filled most nights with music, lectures, student performances, and showcases from nationally known artists and speakers.

Theatre

Theatre students act in, design, direct, and create lights, sound, and sets for two main-stage theater productions annually, and numerous senior-seminar shows each semester. Between staying up 24 hours straight to put on one of the plays created in the 24-hour Play Festival, and traveling each year to the regional American College Theater Festival for workshops and competitions in acting, directing, and designing, there is never a dull moment for our Theater students.

Some students build their theater resumes through internships at the Saint Michael’s Playhouse, a professional Actor’s Equity theater company running for the past 72 summers as an auxiliary enterprise of the College. Working alongside professional actors and designers, student interns gain invaluable experience staging four top-quality shows in just ten weeks’ time.

Music

Through the Music Program, students have access to top-notch instructors in a variety of musical instruments and singing styles. Student musicians can get involved in numerous groups led by first rate faculty including a Concert Band, a String Ensemble, and a Big-Band-style Jazz Ensemble. The African Drumming Ensemble gets students engaged in high-powered percussion performances. Additionally, students go outside the classroom to organize their own rock and jam bands which perform in the Turtle Underground, our very own on-campus popular music venue.

Singing also resounds at St. Mike’s. In addition to the College Chorale, there are several thriving A Capella groups on campus that perform regularly to enthusiastic audiences. And the popular Liturgical Choir brings a lively world music vibe to the chapel.

Off Campus

Students have access to the best of live performances through the Cultural Pass at Burlington’s Flynn Performing Arts Center. Additionally, Burlington is well known for its music scene and for being the birthplace of Phish, a number of jam bands, and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Local venues such as Higher Ground, the Stowe Center for the Performing Arts, Nectar’s, and others showcase top flight rock and pop groups throughout the year.