MISSION:
The ISU Theatre CoLab Initiative seeks to foster collaboration and engagement between ISU Theatre and other groups both within ISU’s campus and throughout the broader community to create citizen artistry, inspire and be inspired by meaningful public discourse and expand opportunities for ISU students, faculty and staff. The CoLab Initiative is made possible in part by the Transforming Liberal Arts and Sciences Endowment.

“The CoLab initiative allows students to experience the power of theatre’s interdisciplinary nature – that both the stories we tell and the way that we tell them can and should be shaped by the community around us. One of the goals is to bring more voices to the table, so that our productions, courses and programming represent a greater diversity of stories and viewpoints. It also demonstrates the possibilities and opportunities engaged liberal arts education provides.” - Amanda Petefish-Schrag, Assistant Professor of Theatre
“ISU Theatre seeks to be a cornerstone of Liberal Arts education at ISU, as well as a crucible for community engagement, outreach and collaboration. Our doors our open and we are ready to listen and partner. Iowa State University, the Ames community, and the state of Iowa is rich with amazing people working on incredible endeavors. We are excited to connect with these rock stars in order enhance the education of our students, enrich our community, and work to make the world a better place.” - Brad Dell, Director of Theatre
Below are examples of past and future CoLab Partners:
Get Out the Vote - ISU Theatre partnered with the Playwrights Horizons' #Play Our Part initiative and the non-partisan ISU student organization Vote Everywhere to Get Out the Vote in 2018.
Monday Monologues - ISU Theatre is a regular contributor to the Monday Monologues Series at Parks Library.
Salisbury House and Gardens - ISU Theatre regularly presents scenes and songs from their productions as special events at Salisbury House and Gardens in Des Moines.
Campanile Project - Theatre students and faculty worked with Music, Engineering, and Design students and faculty on creating a 1:5 scale replica of ISU's Campanile/Carillon that is accessible, functional, and portable.
ISU Department of Entomology - Collaborated on the ISU Theatre Production: Iowa Insect Pageant in 2022.
Office of Diversity and Inclusion - Partner with the ISU Theatre production: Iowa Odyssey, 2019.
LAS Career Services - Teaching exchange between Career Services courses and Theatre courses, 2018
Classical Studies Program - Provided Dramaturgical support for Iphigenia, 2018
Amy Bix, Professor of Women's Studies and History - Provided Dramaturgical support for The Children's Hour, 2017
Story Theater Company - 10 year history of employing ISU Theatre students as Directors, Stage Managers, Designers, and Teachers
Ames Public Library - Hosted multiple community conversations focused on ISU Theatre productions, 2017-Present. Hosted performances as part of the Student Fringe Festival, 2023.
ISU Jazz Band - Collaborated with Amanda Petefish-Schrag on the Jazz and Puppet Performance: "Rhapsody in Plastic", 2018, and Iowa Insect Pageant, 2022.
Ames Public Library and Parks Library - presented selections of Out of the Fire: The Banned Books Monologues, 2017
ISU React Gallery - Hosted multiple play readings and theatre performances focusing on current event social justice, including gun violence, climate change, and healing the divide
ISU Opera Studio - partnered on presenting fully mounted opera productions of Die Fledermaus (2024), Street Scene (2021), Orpheus in the Underworld (2018), The Magic Flute (2015), Candide (2012), Sweeney Todd (2009), The Marriage of Figaro (2006), Ruddigore (2003)
Does your organization wish to partner with ISU Theatre as a part of the CoLab Initiative?
For more information, contact:
Brad Dell, Director of Theatre
515.294.0184