Southeast Missouri State University 1873

Performance Venues & Training Spaces

Our high-quality performance venues offer space for performers and technicians to hone and showcase their skills and techniques. Students also get to practice their craft in various training spaces and studios at the River Campus.

Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall

The Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall, a 950-seat venue, is located inside the Cultural Arts Center. The state-of-the-art performance space is used for dance concerts, plays, large instrumental and vocal music concerts, musicals, and ballets. A professional-sized orchestra pit accommodates instrumental groups to accompany actors and singers in the presentation of Broadway musicals and operas.
a wide view of the bedell performance hall from the top balcony, taking in all of the seats, the lighting set up and the stage

Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre

The Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre is a 200-seat black box theatre that can accommodate almost any style of performance: intimate plays, dance concerts, or musical theatre performances. State-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment support the six performances presented in the Rust Flexible Theatre each academic year.
An actor stands on the set of "Julius Caesar while a student films him.

Center for Health in the Arts (CHART) Clinic

The CHART Clinic provides comprehensive health care services to all students participating in the visual and performing arts. Located at River Campus Center 116, services are provided by a certified athletic trainer and include massage, heat/cold therapies, taping, wellness education for injury prevention, fitness/injury assessments, and rehabilitation services. The facility works in conjunction with a local hospital and healthcare provider, Southeast Health.
An athletic trainer works with a dance student in Center for Health in the Arts Clinic.

Musical Theatre Performance Studio: Cultural Arts Center 157

The 1,200-square-foot studio has a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River. It is outfitted with a sprung floor and Marley covering. The studio also has acting-class furniture and properties and a full tech pack.
Numerous dance students strike poses in a dance studio with large windows.

Dance Studio: Cultural Arts Center 103

This 1,500 square foot studio has two beautiful walls of windows to let in natural light during classes and rehearsals. The studio offers a specialized venue for both student and faculty creativity and contains a small storage area for ballet barres, exercise equipment, and cubbies for personal items.
A dance student lifts a leg and both arms in a pose in a dance studio.

Dance Studio: River Campus Center 119

This room includes 2,450 square feet of dancing space. The studio allows choreography rehearsals to replicate the full extent of the performance hall stage and is also utilized for numerous guest artist masterclasses. It features a sound system, an upright piano, twelve ballet barres, and a mirrored wall.
Numerous dance students stand in lines while practicing ballet in a dance studio.

Behind the Scenes

  • Theatre students work with paint to paint the props used in production.

    Scene Shop

    The shop is approximately 7,500 square feet with another 150 square feet of locked tool storage and 150 square feet of props storage as a loft above the tool cage. It is well equipped for advanced carpentry and welding, scene painting, props storage, and manufacturing.

  • Two students work in the control booth.

    Rust Theatre Control Booth

    The control booth in the Rust Flexible Theatre features state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment: ETC Expression lighting control console and 92 dimmers, and three fully equipped digital sound design and editing stations.

  • Theatre students work in the costume shop.

    Costume Shop

    Our fully equipped and staffed costume shop has two work tables, six sewing machines, three surgers, a washer and dryer, a large storage area for clothing, and adequate storage cabinets and shelving for tools and supplies.  Student costume designers and workship assistants provide design and build support for faculty and guest costume designers.

  • Theatre students do hair and makeup in a dressing room.

    Makeup Rooms

    Our three large makeup rooms can seat 40 people for performance preparations or classroom instruction.

Explore Our Facilities

The stage of the Bedell Performance Hall is approximately 1,500 square feet with a 28-ft high proscenium and a variable width of 44-52 feet.
Theatre students dance on the Bedell Performance Hall stage in “Sister Act.” 
The Costume Shop is approximately 400 square feet. Students assist on costumes for as many as six productions each year.
 A theatre student works at a sewing machine near a professor in the costume shop.

Safety is of the highest importance for the Scene Shop. OSHA MSDSs are on file for all chemicals used in the Shop. Ladders and lifts are in excellent condition and serviced regularly. There are ample safety supplies for everyone who works in the shop: safety glasses, dust masks, ventilator masks, ear protection, latex gloves, etc. Two portable air filters are used in the paint and welding areas. A spray paint booth is also part of the safety equipment. 

Two Theater students stand on a lift checking lights.
The Rust Flexible Theatre features bleacher seating with comfortable padded chairs, a dead-hung lighting grid, and a control booth, which also serves for audio recording and sound engineering
Students work in the RUST control booth.

Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre & Dance

Contact Us

Location

Office Location

River Campus Seminary, 454

Mailing Address

One University Plaza, MS 7850
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701