In our second story in this five-part series, we’re excited to showcase the value of experiential learning and talented success stories of our students featured in the first-ever Fine & Performing Arts Season Brochure, where all of the arts programming in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences come together in one place.    

Our students exemplify The Franklin Spark, the characteristics that unite the arts and sciences: ambition, curiosity, creativity, innovation and leadership. Join us as we celebrate their accomplishments and invite you to experience their excellence firsthand. To purchase tickets for our complete season of events, please click here.   

Franklin fine arts students merge perspectives and passions to create meaningful work that reflects both their artistry and their academic innovation. Each combines their passion for the arts with another major to lean into the “&” in Franklin College of Arts AND Sciences. Let’s explore our talented, multi-disciplinary students that share their spark and make their mark.   

Each year, the University of Georgia’s Department of Theatre and Film helps students turn academic work into nationally recognized artistry. In 2025, that commitment was on full display at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), where UGA students earned national honors across multiple disciplines—from performance and playwriting to musical theatre. But the path to these stages begins at UGA, with a department that uniquely merges artistic training, academic rigor, and cross-disciplinary innovation.  

Garrett McCord, a recent graduate of the department’s Musical Theatre Certificate Program—a joint effort with the Hugh Hodgson School of Music—won first place in the Region IV Musical Theatre Initiative for his performance of “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton. That win, guided by faculty from both the Department of Theatre and Film and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, exemplifies the kind of collaborative mentorship that fuels UGA’s national impact. Other UGA students—Reagan Simmons, Kaylor Jones, and Jenna Gubran—were also recognized as semi-finalists, while Bianca Cardona, a double major in theatre and psychology, advanced as a Region IV Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship semi-finalist. 

 These accomplishments are not outliers—they’re the result of a department designed to nurture individual voices across the wide spectrum of performance and production. Bella Smith, a recent graduate who earned degrees in both theatre and psychology, represents this kind of well-rounded, forward-thinking education. “While earning a Bachelor of Science, you learn research ethics, collaboration, and critical thinking. I used all of those in my theatre work—especially directing and stage management,” Bella shared. “Theatre is a collaborative art, and constant group projects helped me become a better communicator.” 

 Smith contributed to the development of the department’s Theatre and Film Leadership Forum, a student-faculty group aimed at improving communication across the programs. She is currently auditioning for professional theatre and film opportunities while also exploring long-term goals in education and counseling—combining her passions for storytelling and youth development.  

The department’s creative reach continues to expand. In addition to analytical training in screen storytelling, beginning in Fall 2025 the Film program will also offer practical training with its new production emphasis at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The impending launch of a BFA in Animation—a joint initiative with the Lamar Dodd School of Art—invites students to explore performance, design, and digital media in dynamic new ways. Many students also take advantage of CURO (Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities), developing original projects that deepen both academic and artistic inquiry.  

The throughline is clear: whether it’s on Broadway, behind the camera, or in a collaborative leadership role, UGA students are equipped to lead. As they return from national festivals and professional opportunities, they bring renewed energy to the creative community that launched them. 

Through their creativity, ambition, and curiosity, these students demonstrate how the arts at Franklin extend far beyond the classroom, shaping them into tomorrow’s leaders, prepared to impact the world. Their journeys remind us that the arts are not only performances and exhibitions but living experiences. Discover the power of the arts at Franklin. To purchase tickets for our complete season of events, please click here. 

To read more from our Fine and Performing Arts Brochure, click here.