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In recent years, musical theater has surged in popularity nationwide. Songs from hit shows like Hamilton and Wicked have wiggled their way onto people’s playlists, the familiar songs playing in cars, homes, and everywhere in between. And St. Olaf College is no exception. This renewed interest has helped inspire the creation of a musical theater concentration that students can now add to their academic studies.

This concentration first became available in the fall of 2023. Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Musical Theater Marita Stryker is a key proponent of this development.

“A team of faculty from music, theater, and dance came together and decided which of the courses that were currently being offered would make the most sense to create a concentration of six credits,” Stryker says. “They hired me as a contemporary voice and musical theater specialist to expand those offerings and continue to build the program.” 

Today there are 31 concentrators, and the Theater Department sees 50–100 students audition for musical theater performances. Many students are building on their high school experience, but even beginners are welcome. St. Olaf’s goal is to prepare all students for the next step.

“At St. Olaf, you will be able to look at musical theater through the viewpoint of a performer, creator, designer, manager, future policymaker, educator, or whatever role you can dream up,” Stryker says. “You can use the tools gained in your musical theater classes in any field, or use your multifaceted credentials from the Hill to create change within the performing arts industry in New York or anywhere.” 

The musical theater concentration has a dedicated musical theater ensemble, Musical Theater Lab, and a new study-abroad program, Musical Theater in Japan, that will send its first group of students this January. Within the next year, the department also plans to launch a Musical Theater Literature class that surveys the eras of musical theater through the lens of auditioning — both in-person and via virtual self-tape. Additionally, the Theater Department recently hired Assistant Professor of Theater Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha to help further shape and personalize the concentration for future students.

Musical theater is more than a classroom experience, though; it’s an outlook on life. For Auggie Lehn ‘26, the concentration has not only provided them with valuable professional experience, but also shaped them into a resilient and persistent person. 

“The road to a musical theater career is never easy, especially with a chronic condition, but I’ve had a community here willing to learn with me,” Lehn says.

Lehn has been there with the musical theater concentration since the very beginning, as one of the pilot members of the Musical Theater Lab ensemble.

“I’m used to entering ensembles and programs that are already established and have a specific vision in mind, but watching and helping Musical Theater Lab grow from the ground up allowed me to explore some of the entrepreneurial aspects of musical theater,” Lehn says.

Helping craft the ensemble into something that the Theater Department truly needed has also been a vital pre-professional experience for Lehn, who plans to pursue a theater career post graduation.

“I came into college as a declared theater major, but I found the practical component lacking. I wanted to be up on my feet, working and building my skills as a practicum rather than sitting in a classroom,” Lehn says. “The Musical Theater concentration fulfilled that with more performance requirements and the Musical Theater Lab ensemble.”

Another musical theater concentrator, Drew Erickson ‘27 — who has been active in theater since age nine and musical theater since age 14 —  says the concentration helps him develop valuable experience and transferable skills. 

“I think communication is key in almost any field, which is something you learn through your classes as a musical theater concentrator. Improving communication through performance classes, voice lessons, and dance is fundamental,” Erickson says.

For Erickson, the concentration also allows him to do what he loves most: perform.

“The musical theater concentration feels unique in its requirements. I’ve been able to take musical theater, opera workshop, and sometime soon lyric theater,” Erickson says. “Through class times, we rehearsed a 20-25 minute opera. Later in the year we went out and did our performance for elementary students, and even took one day to do it outside on the Christiansen Hall of Music lawn. I had so much fun doing it, and loved engaging with the community. I feel like it would be difficult to find that experience anywhere else.” 

The Musical Theater Lab will hold a showcase on Sunday, November 23, in Urness Recital Hall, focusing on musicals from the 1920s. The showcase will be open to everyone, and is a pink card performance.