Chair of Performing Arts Becca Kenneally remembers the exact day 18 years ago that marked the beginning of theater at Endicott College.
“A chorus student came to me and asked if she could start a drama club and if I would petition the administration for funds to do a musical,” Kenneally recalled. “We did that first show dumpster-diving for cardboard to make sets and with faculty and staff running tech and doing cameo appearances—and we’ve only gone up from there.”
Today, Endicott’s theater program consistently produces top-tier performances, like this spring’s Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, while preparing students for creative careers both on stage and behind the curtain.
A stage for growth
In an era when the arts are increasingly under fire—facing budget cuts, censorship battles, and skepticism about their place in the modern workforce—Endicott has stood firm in its commitment to theater. The Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts at Endicott’s School of Visual & Performing Arts is more than just a venue; it’s a sanctuary for students who find their voice, passion, and resilience through performance.
Coordinator of Theater Katie Clarke-Robertson ’13 has prioritized building a strong, inclusive community among students, faculty, and staff. She said this not only establishes safe spaces for creativity but also serves students in their careers.
“I like to say, ‘we’re kind, and then we do theater,’” she shared. “If you can walk into a space and be your authentic self and really think about the good of the whole production, people will want to work with that more than they will want to work with the best high note.”
For performing arts major Eamon Arthur ’26, the solid presence of peers and mentors in the program has made learning some of life’s most important lessons easier.
“What’s great about studying theater is that you're taught how to face rejection, how to be versatile, and how to compartmentalize the difference between the work you’re producing and who you are,” he shared. “I will walk away from this experience having many, many mentors who have forever shaped how I will proceed in the world as an artist and as a human.”
Kenneally said the program’s inclusivity and warmth are the direct result of intentional community building by Clarke-Robertson and her predecessor, Penny (Hansen) Singh.
“I think I am as proud of that ethos as I am of the amazing production values on our stage,” she said.
These supporting connections aren’t just for performing arts majors. Each Mainstage production is open to the whole campus for auditions or behind-the-scenes roles. Students like photography major Madison Durfee ’24 merged their academic studies with theater offerings to create an extended college experience. Durfee discovered a love of taking theatrical headshots while also performing on stage.
“Everyone is there because they love theater, and that is something you can really feel at Endicott,” Durfee shared. “There’s not a lot of competition; instead, there’s camaraderie and a massive amount of support.”
For Clarke-Robertson, the interdisciplinary nature of the theater productions helps students experience the world differently.
“I have nursing majors, football players, and performing artists in the same room,” she shared. “It keeps us aware of other people and the strengths that having those different perspectives lends us.”
For Endicott theater alumni, these lessons have paid off. Graduates have gone on to careers in performance, arts administration, and creative industries, proving that a degree in theater isn’t just about standing in the spotlight—it’s about learning how to confidently navigate an unpredictable world.
More than performance
As an alum working in the field before her current role at Endicott, Clarke-Robertson noted that most of her paid jobs were behind the scenes—like stage managing, lighting, and costuming. Her experiences directly influenced her desire to give Endicott theater students well-rounded opportunities that will open doors in an industry that functions much like gig culture.
“We’re going to ask you to jump in and figure out how to shine in the spotlight, but also how to make sure the spotlight shines on other people,” she quipped.
Arthur, president of the student-run drama club, campus tour guide, and resident assistant, said one of the biggest benefits of the Endicott program is the wide exposure to both performance and administrative, backstage, and technical preparation.
“My goal after graduation is to audition, audition, audition and see what I can book,” he said. “If that’s not as fruitful, or if I decide to change paths, I can see myself teaching or directing in community theater or regional theater spaces, or maybe in an administrative capacity. There are so many different ways I can see my career going, and I’m happy with all of them.”
In today’s constantly shifting sands of employment in the arts, the broad career preparation in Endicott’s signature style and training in flexibility and resilience are giving graduating Gulls a script for success.