News
School of Performing Arts
-
February 9, 2026
Double Stop wins Ovation: RIT Performing Arts Showcase
Ovation was created nearly a decade ago to push students to be more creative, innovative, complex thinkers, traits that are desirable with prospective employers.
-
February 5, 2026
RIT’s Ovation brings the spotlight to performers
WROC-TV highlights the performances taking place at Ovation, RIT's performing arts showcase, on Feb. 6.
-
November 20, 2025
Game design student develops virtual seat viewer
Annalee Dorozynski, a fifth-year game design and development major, has created a VR recreation of the Music Performance Theater that audience members can use to locate their seat to see the view of the stage from that location.
-
November 7, 2025
First-year Performing Arts Scholar lands major role in 'Macbeth'
After arriving on campus for the first time just a few weeks before their audition, Angel Ash landed a major role in Macbeth, showing in the SHED’s Sklarsky Glass Box Theater.
-
November 7, 2025
Music Performance Theater passes first acoustic test
Five months before the first audience is expected in RIT’s new Music Performance Theater, a string quartet from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and students from the RIT Philharmonic Orchestra were the first to take the stage to help conduct acoustic testing.
-
September 4, 2025
Performing arts lineup includes productions, concerts, dances, and a new theater
With more than 3,000 students participating in the performing arts at RIT, including a record 601 new Performing Arts Scholars and more than 50 performing arts-focused student clubs, it’s not hard to find instrumental, vocal, theatrical, and dance performances on and around campus throughout the year.
-
May 30, 2025
Sneak peek of Michael Maltzan's RIT Music Performance Theater construction progress
Archinect details updates from Michael Maltzan Architecture regarding the firm's forthcoming project: RIT's Music Performance Theater. The 750-seat venue is expected to open to the public later this year, according to the LA-based firm.
-
April 15, 2025
RIT Players cast spells in 'Midsummer Night's Dream'
WHAM-TV speaks to director Ben Waterhouse and assistant director Adrian Dowd-Pettingill about the production.
-
March 7, 2025
Eight Places to Experience a Movie Like It’s 1925
The Smithsonian Magazine features RIT's theater organ, set to be placed in the new performing arts theatre.
-
February 24, 2025
Reimagining a classic: RIT and NTID present “The Cracked Nut” April 4-6
NTID’s Department of Performing Arts and RIT’s School of Performing Arts will present “The Cracked Nut,” a reimagining of the classic ballet “The Nutcracker,” April 4-6 in the Robert F. Panara Theatre on the RIT campus. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on April 4-5 and 2 p.m. on April 5-6.
-
February 17, 2025
Rochester City Ballet and RIT present ‘Visionary’
Rochester City Ballet is teaming up with RIT to present “Visionary,” a four-piece showcase of classical and contemporary movement, including a world premiere version of Boléro.
-
February 3, 2025
Music, dance, even yo-yos featured at Ovation competition
Ovation will feature 14 acts of dance, vocal and instrumental music. The first-place act will win $1,000, with a $500 prize awarded to the second-place act.