History

As a student-run venture founded by the Center for Entrepreneurship and the School of Theatre and Dance in 2010. Pipe Dreams is composed of and completely run by Millikin students with a passion for the performing arts. We offer a full season of awesome performance experiences in musical theatre and drama each year. Housed in a 90 seat black box theatre, we offer casual, high quality shows that tear down walls and challenge our audiences at Millikin University and in the larger Decatur community. Just come see for yourself. Sit back, relax, and prepare for the most fun you’ve ever had in a theatre.

Our Executive Team consists of an Artistic Director, Managing Director, Production Manager, Director of Marketing, Director of Development, Director of Education, and Director of New Works – all of which perform duties modeled off of small professional theatres. Like any nonprofit arts organization, we have a Board of Directors consisting of University Staff as well as Decatur community members. Members of our Board hold titles such as: Coleman Foundation Fellows, Actors Equity Association, and USITT members. We are proud to be supported by Millikin’s School of Theatre and Dance, which has produced artists such as Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, Phantom of the Opera, Broadway; Love Never Dies, Phantom of the Opera, West End), Annie Wersching (24, Fox Television), Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, Walt Disney Pictures), Tim Shew (Les Miserables, Broadway) as well as many others.

Our Artwork

We wish to have a season filled with opportunity and enjoyment for all in the community. We want to offer chances to our community that they may not get on a regular basis. We are looking forward to not only producing shows, but giving our space to others for their art, and to promote people’s businesses as well. We are preparing for the unknown too.

OUR MISSION

As a collegiate student-run theatre company at Millikin University, the mission of Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre is to serve both campus and the community of the greater Decatur area. On a yearly basis selected student executives collaborate to program and produce a theatrical season. Our work strives to challenge preconceived notions of what theatre is and change the theatrical traditions to reflect and uplift the diverse community we serve.

OUR VALUES

IDEAS: IDEAS stands for the pillars of inclusivity, diversity, equity, accessibility, and sense of belonging. Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre embraces these pillars by recognizing and striving to eliminate the barriers to access faced by underrepresented individuals of our community, by uplifting a diverse array of creators, and by providing equitable theatrical experiences for all.

COMMUNITY: We strengthen and foster relationships both with SOTAD faculty and students as well as the greater Millikin and Decatur community.

PROFESSIONALISM: We replicate industry standards as well as the professional experiences and working environments available beyond the university setting.

GROWTH: We offer a wide variety of theatrical positions to develop skills, strengthen passions, and nourish a network of life-long learners through collaboration with our peers and industry professionals.

EXPERIMENTATION: We produce a wide variety of boundary-pushing work within our found theatre space using nontraditional methods and resources.

OUR VISION

To provide performance learning opportunities for Millikin students by producing a dynamic theatrical season that amplifies the voices of the disenfranchised and underrepresented of our community. Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre aims to produce experimental and challenging work, promote student voices, and provide a space for collaboration with both the School of Theatre and Dance and members of the Millikin community.