Alma College to close Theatre Department

KYLE SCHECK
PHOTOGRAPHER

JORDAN FOX
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

10/6/2025

Alma College has decided to close the Theatre Department in the upcoming academic year. This decision follows the retirement of Scott Mackenzie, Director of the Theatre Department, in 2024 after he served eight years at the college.

The information was shared with students involved in Theatre – major, minor or elective – along with Theatre faculty and staff in mid-September. There has been no formal announcement released by the school, and the Theatre Department did not provide any comments upon request.

“The decision to close the theatre major is effective at the end of the current academic year. This essentially means that at the end of this current fall term, students will no longer have the option to declare a Theatre major or minor,” said Sean Burke, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

“This decision was not made lightly, and it comes after extensive review, consultation and consideration of the long-term sustainability and academic priorities of Alma College,” said Burke.

Kelli Crump, who replaced Scott Mackenzie as Theatre Director just one year ago in 2024, will no longer have her role at the college following the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year. 

Christian Bowyer and Heather Brown, who work in the production side of the Theatre Department, will remain in their roles. Bowyer doubles as the Theatre Technical Director and Heritage Center Assistant Technical Supervisor, while Brown does costume design for both Theatre and Dance.

Without a faculty member to head the department, the standing curriculum for both the Theatre major and minor will cease. “However, students currently enrolled in the program will be ensured a path to degree completion,” said Burke.

Amelia Windeler (‘28) is a sophomore majoring in Theatre at Alma College. Windeler hopes to one day work in the Theatre industry and is considering transferring to a new school following the announcement of the department’s closure. 

“The major originally was set up where you would take specific classes, like acting and directing and scenic design… and then you could take Theatre electives. But when Scott Mackenzie retired, our technical designer also went with him, so a lot of the tech classes already weren’t being offered,” said Windeler.

“We have a technical designer now, he’s just not a professor. And now with the department being closed, we are given options as replacements for those classes,” said Windeler.

These replacements include courses from other departments such as Communication, History and Dance. The major will no longer be theatre-centered, but rooted in related subjects.

“At Alma, I’ve been able to act in all three of the shows that have happened. And it’s been really fun. Everybody here has been very welcoming, very nice. It’s a nice little community that I’ll be sad to have go, especially with Kelli leaving… She’s really built a community,” said Windeler.

Theatre productions will not cease, however, regardless of the state of the department, and will instead occur on a reduced level. 

“Students from all majors will still have opportunities to participate in productions, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the performing arts. Theatre performances will continue to be an important part of campus life,” said Burke.