21 July 2025
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Story Onthatile Tikoe
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Photo Supplied
Students from UFS and SMU light up the Wynand Mouton Theatre in a dynamic scene from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel a stirring start to a new cross-continental collaboration.
The recent staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel at the University of the Free State (UFS) marked a significant moment in international collaboration between the UFS and Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas. Held at the Wynand Mouton Theatre on 21 and 22 June, the production brought together students and staff from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, the UFS’s Odeion School of Music (OSM), and the UFS Department of Drama and Theatre Arts.
The project originated from PERB 5310, a musical theatre class at SMU, and was produced and entirely funded by SMU. All production responsibilities, including the hiring of the stage director, were managed by SMU as part of its SMU-in-South-Africa Study Abroad Programme, which forms part of a broader academic initiative combining performance with learning. It includes modules such as Human Rights, taught by Dr Brad Klein.
Building the play
The collaboration was initiated through discussions between Marius Coetzee, Manager of Innovation and Development at the OSM, and Prof Barbara Hill-Moore, Senior Associate Dean and Meadows Distinguished Professor of Voice at SMU. Crucial support in negotiating the project came from Prof Jan Beukes, Artistic and Operational Head of the OSM. These joint efforts helped establish a shared artistic vision that brought students and faculty across institutions into one cohesive ensemble.
A transformative experience
For many students and faculty, the experience proved to be both transformative and enriching. Prof Hill-Moore described the welcome they received on arrival in Bloemfontein as “one of the most heartfelt” in her years of travel to South Africa. She reflected on how the collaboration quickly took shape through shared learning and daily rehearsal, and how students described the production as “life-changing” and “the most meaningful performance experience of my life”.
Beyond academic growth, Carousel responded to a cultural call in Bloemfontein. With professional musical theatre performances becoming increasingly rare in the region, the production drew strong audiences and renewed public interest in the genre. The positive reception has already prompted discussions about future collaborations, with a follow-up project planned for 2026.
A lasting legacy of artistic exchange
This partnership stands as a model of global artistic exchange. It created lasting connections, expanded learning across disciplines, and demonstrated the power of music and theatre to unite people across borders. As the curtain closed on Carousel, a new chapter opened in the ongoing relationship between SMU and UFS, one built on shared creativity, mutual respect, and a commitment to excellence.
The UFS Odeion School of Music extended its gratitude to SMU for its generous financial and artistic investment.