THE FRIENDS OF THE THEATRE GALA IS BACK!

Join us Wednesday, May 13, 2026 on the Stage of Fairchild Theatre. See a preview of Summer Circle Theatre (SCT) and enjoy food, drinks, and the silent auction featuring unique, behind-the-scenes MSU experiences. Reconnect with friends, support the MSU Department of Theatre students, and keep Summer Circle Theatre free for the community!

Celebrate 60+ Years of Summer Circle Theatre (SCT) by Donating!

Become a Friend of Theatre at MSU!

A donation to any of the funds listed above makes you a Friend of Theatre at MSU, an organization created to promote and support activities in Theatre and Dance.

Email: fotmsu@gmail.com
Facebook: Michigan State University Friends of Theatre

An Introduction to the Friends

The Friends of Theatre at MSU (FOT) is a community group committed to: promoting, encouraging, and enhancing activities and programs of the Michigan State University Department of Theatre (DOT); creating fund-raising opportunities to support the DOT and promoting improvements in its programs and facilities; and collaborating with the DOT in organizing events and programs that expand the community experience of theatre.

Some Background

The Friends of Theatre evolved from an earlier group, the Friends of Summer Circle Theater, that was formed to insure the continued existence of Summer Circle by raising funds for its partial support. George Peters, who became Chair of the DOT in January 2006, raised with the Friends the possibility of expanding its activities to include support of activities of the DOT as well as Summer Circle Theatre. This was discussed and approved at a retreat of the Friends. Bylaws were developed and approved at a meeting held 11 February 2008. These Bylaws include in the “Statement of Purpose” the items outlined above. In June 2008, Officers were elected and Board members were chosen, all with terms of two years. The membership of the founding and succeeding Boards is shown below.

Organizational Details

The governing body of the organization is its Board of Directors. Its membership consists of the officers and six members at large. The officers (President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Historian) are elected at an annual meeting of the FOT held in the late spring and serve two-year terms. The at-large members of the Board include the Chair of the DOT and a representative of the Department of Theatre; other members are chosen for their two year terms in late spring. An individual from the College of Arts and Letters Development Office serves as an ex-officio member. The Board meets once a month and at least nine times per year.

Bylaws (PDF)

2025-2026 Friends of Theatre Board of Directors

Deb Bittner, Co-President
Linea Nicholls, Co-President
Jean Lyle Lepard, Treasurer
Craig Gunn, Secretary
Alexis Black, Department of Theatre Faculty Rep
Katie Doyle

Kirk Domer, Department of Theatre Interim Chairperson
Kath Clark, (ex-officio), Department of Theatre

Previous Board Members

Friend of the Year History

2012: Sandy Bryson
2013: Dr. George F. Peters
2014: Christine Knapp
2016: Selma Hollander
2016: Craig Mitchell Smith
2017: Mary E. Austin
2018: Eleanor Holbrook
2019: Debra Bitner
2020: Roy Saper
2021: None
2022: Jeanie Croope