VCSU Theatre produces four shows every school year, ranging from comedy and musicals to classics and modern drama. One outstanding feature is our annual Festival of One-Act Plays, held every April in Theatre 320. In the festival, we feature plays actually written and directed by our own students, and it has become a university student and community favorite.

We produce in two theatres: beautiful Vangstad Auditorium, a traditional proscenium theatre, and in Theatre 320, a flexible black-box theatre that seats just over 100.

We have a successful season ticket program which brings in audiences from around the area and which helps finance some high-quality productions on stage.

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
February 28 - March 3 - Vangstad Auditorium

In this masterpiece of modern realism, by Norway's greatest writer, a door slams that was heard around the world. Nora, a young housewife, has been concealing a secret for years, out of a desire to sacrifice for her husband, as she believes he would for her. With her husband's promotion, events are set in motion that builds the tension. As a woman's basic dignity is revealed, the dishonesty of a marriage based on illusions is exposed in one of the greatest plays of world theatre.

A Festival of One-Act Plays written/directed by VCSU students
April 25 - 28 - Theatre 320

Here are some brand new ones! With a bit of mystery and suspense, some real insight, a lot of laughter, and just a little bit of discomfort, our one-act plays allow us into the minds and hearts of young people of today -- here and now. The joyous laughter is a gift, the spirit of youth is sometimes heart-wrenching, but these plays allow our students and our audiences to sample home-grown orginality and the quest for humor and honesty in our confusing present reality.

The VSCU Theatre box office is standing by, so reserve your tickets today! Or if you wish, become a season subscriber. Both options are available to you when you call the box office at the following number - 701-845-7320. Box office hours are 12 noon until 5:00 pm starting one week before each production and until closing night of each.

Vangstad Auditorium is the venue of many productions in the performing arts in addition to hosting formal University events such as commencement and other celebrations. The EBC fraternity produces an annual Christmas show, the Valley City Area Concert Association hosts concerts and ballet, and VCSU Theatre produces two large theatre events each year, usually a comedy, a musical or a classic play. The Auditorium also hosts two one-act play competitions every year for the North Dakota High School Activities Association.

The auditorium is named for the Vangstad Twins, Lena and Thilda, who taught at VCSU for many years, spending a total of more than sixty years of service to the University (then Valley City State Teachers College, and later Valley City State College). Thilda passed away in November of 2005 at the age of 104, and, as of the present date, Lena still lives close to relatives in Osakis, Minnesota.

Theatre 320, located on the third floor of McFarland Hall, is the home of theatre at VCSU. Students at all levels of interest and ability work together to make the magic of theare come alive. Different plays are produced each semester and students may act on stage or work on props, set construction, technical work, publicity, costuming, etc. in each production.

My Three Angels by Sam and Bella Spewak
Fall 2006 - Theatre 320

Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling
Fall 2006 - Vangstad Auditorium

Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring
Fall 2005 - Vangstad Auditorium

Dr. Martin Kelly was born in San Diego, California, but grew up in the Missouri Ozarks. On graduating from high school, he enlisted for three years in the U.S.Army, and saw duty at Fort Leonard Wood, Chicago, and Seattle. After his enlistment, he did construction work for two years, then began work on a bachelor of arts degree in speech and dramatic arts at Brigham Young University, where he acted onstage, directed, and wrote for the stage.

After graduating from BYU, Dr. Kelly went to New York City, where he pursued a Master of Fine Arts in Directing for the stage at Brooklyn College, city of New York. He also did some acting and directing off off-Broadway. After three years in New York, he accepted a teaching position at a small community college in Wyoming, but after another three years, decided to pursue a doctorate.

Returning to BYU, Dr. Kelly earned a Ph.D. in playwriting. He has plays published and produced, and is also a member of The Dramatists Guild.

Dr. Kelly has taught at colleges and universities in Wyoming, Utah, Missouri, Louisiana, and now is happy to be director of theatre at Valley City State University. He and his wife are the parents of five grown children, and are now grandparents.

Having been invited to join the faculty at VCSU in 1996, Dr. Kelly has taught a variety of theatre classes, English, Speech Communication, and Humanities. In addition, he has directed many fully staged shows for both VCSU and the Valley City Community Theatre.