The Jeanine Larson Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre and Dance is one of the top 30 musical theatre programs in the country and the best theatre program in Missouri. It’s also one of the only schools in the U.S. with a commercial dance program.

At Dobbins Conservatory, you’ll get strong training to become a great performer, plus the business skills to help you start a career in places like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more. You’ll learn from top professionals in the industry and train with talented students from all over the country. And you’ll do it all in one of the most beautiful and well-equipped arts facilities in the Midwest.


Academic Programs

Theatre

Discover your path to on-stage success. With programs in Acting, Musical Theatre, Theatre, and Design and Technology, you'll find your fit in producing award-winning performances.

Dance

Learn skills and techniques to help you thrive in your career in the arts. Explore all aspects of dance, including different areas of training, production, and professional development.

Course Rotations

Do you want to check to make sure your class is offered in the semester that you need it? Or perhaps you want to plan your schedule for the next year or two. Check the course rotation schedule to get an idea of when the courses you need are offered.

Explore Theatre & Dance

Experiential Learning

Practice and hone your skills to prepare you for your career. As a student in Theatre and Dance, you'll have a wealth of opportunities to produce, act, create, and more. You will participate in live, on-stage productions throughout the year and showcase your playwriting work in the Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival and the Fault Line Film Festival. You can also earn certifications, participate in conferences, and get the opportunity to perform in New York City.

Productions

Current Production

Our students pour their hearts into their performances and craft. Come join us and enjoy their hard work in rehearsal, costume creation, and set design. Our 2024-2025 season is wrapping up, but if you join the River Campus Events email list, you can get a sneak peak for the 2025-2026 season.

Past Productions

Our students perform a wide variety of shows each year.

Accreditations

  • NAST Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Theatre logo
  • Yamaha Institution of Excellence logo

Mission Statement and Goals

Mission Statement

Southeast Missouri State University provides student-centered education and experiential learning with a foundation of liberal arts and sciences, embracing a tradition of access, exceptional teaching, and commitment to student success that significantly contributes to the development of the region and beyond.

The Earl and Margie Holland College of Arts & Media prepares students to launch professional careers in the arts, entertainment, and media industries while inspiring excellence, a passion for training, knowledge, critical thinking, creativity, and engaged citizenship. 

The Jeanine Larson Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre & Dance is a professional training and liberal arts program with a fourfold mission:

  1. Diverse Technique Training 
  2. Professional Quality Productions 
  3. Career Preparation 
  4. Liberal Arts Education 

Goal

Our goal is to provide students with training, experiences, knowledge, and connections to launch a rewarding career in the arts and entertainment industries. Dedicated to the free and open pursuit of broad-based knowledge, Dobbins Conservatory also provides students with a liberal arts education, giving them a multi-faceted view of the world.

Southeast Missouri State University is ranked as a “Best in the Midwest” by US News & World Report as one of the top liberal arts educations at an affordable price, and Dobbins Conservatory is one of the preeminent programs in the Holland College and its beautiful River Campus facilities, Missouri’s only separate campus devoted solely to the arts. 

Dobbins Conservatory has more than 200 undergraduate majors and 20 full-time faculty and staff, plus numerous adjunct faculty, box office, front-of-house, marketing, and River Campus personnel. The Conservatory is also served by the Theatre & Dance Society, an extraordinary community organization dedicated to fundraising for the many co-curricular and extracurricular activities produced each year.

Location
Office Location
River Campus Seminary, 454
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 7850
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701