Messiah College
1 College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA
Calvin and Janet High Center for worship and performing arts
The recent opening of Calvin and Janet High Center has introduced a new era of creativity, expressionism, and modern learning opportunities at Messiah College. The Calvin and Janet High Fine Arts Center houses music rooms and art studios. It now is home to state-of-the art1,350-seat Weaver Auditorium for performances. The fine arts center is often rented out to the public for anything from ballet performances to southern gospel concerts. The hall proudly owns a 116-seat choral terrace, a stage large enough to accommodate a 100 piece orchestra, and a professional audio, video, and lighting system. The acoustical quality of the room was of the utmost importance to the college. There is a sound-isolation joint the entire way around the main hall. It designed to eliminate noise from the hallways and from the outside as well as to preserve the clarity of music within the room.
Performing arts at Messiah
Ample opportunities are given at Messiah on and off campus to express and enhance ones artistic abilities. Cultural centers such as the State Capital of Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and even New York City are practically right in the back yard of campus. Because of this advantage, Messiah’s theatre majors gain exposure to a broad range of acting, directing, and technical production experiences, techniques and internships. On campus lectures as well as hands on exercises will give students diversity in historic and contemporary theatre. Six-production seasons of contemporary and classic plays produced each year. Faculty members and professors are also practicing performers, screen-writes, and producers. They work alongside students to maximize the amount an individual is able to get out of a class or lecture.
Well known graduates
Vanessa Alfano
Vanessa Alfano started persuing a television career nearly a decade ago. In the past she has covered news, weather, and lifestyle and entertainment stories.
Chris Heisey
Chris Heisey is a baseball player for the L.A Dodgers for five years now; and graduated from Messiah College.
Peter Greer
Peter Greer is a christian advocate for the poor, an author, and the president of HOPE International. He serves as an entrepreneur throughout Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.
What internships are available for a performing arts majors?
- Open Stage of Harrisburg
- Manhattan Theatre Club
- Arden Theatre, Philadelphia
- Sight & Sound Theatre, Lancaster
- New Jersey Shakespeare Festival
- Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
- Touchstone Theatre Ensemble, Bethlehem, Pa.
- London Internships
What have past graduates found careers in after college?
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
- Playwright
- Light or sound coordinator
- Costume director
- Community arts activist
- Set designer
- Stage technician
What skills will I learn as a performance theatre major at Messiah?
- Students have the opportunity to choose from a number of different interests all in the field of stage performance, and will get hands on experience with whichever topic of their choice. Students will also get the chance to build a portfolio of their training in the field, showing a diversity in the genres and periods of style individuals will be exposed to
Contact Info
Email: cburger@messiah.edu
Website: http://www.messiah.edu/
Location: 1 College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA, United States
Phone: (717) 691-6005