25 Photos from the 2017 SMU Meadows Commencement Ceremonies Guaranteed to Make You Smile

Scenes from the spring 2017 Meadows diploma presentation ceremony. (All photos by Kim Leeson)

As faculty and staff at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, one of the happiest days in our year is Commencement. It’s a feeling of unbridled accomplishment and joy, unmatched by events that have unfolded before it. On a balmy day, we sit in the grass of the Boulevard, and hear the inspiring words from our Dean Holland–like “arts and communication inform, uplift and challenge”–and our friends and family cheer as we walk the stage.

“You directed, wrote, choreographed, and practiced, practiced, practiced. You’ve earned this degree,” said Dean Sam Holland at the 2017 graduation ceremonies. In honor, we present our favorite photos–the ones that will make us smile forever–from photographer Kim Leeson below.

Photos We Love from the 2017 SMU Meadows Spring Semester

At the close of ‘The Tempest,’ a groundbreaking community engagement and participatory theater project designed to deliberately blur the line between professional artists and Dallas community members

This semester has been nothing short of groundbreaking. Early in March, the Dallas Theater Center and SMU Meadows’ Ignite Arts Dallas, in association with the AT&T Performing Arts Center, presented a musical theatre production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It was a participatory theatre project unlike anything the city has ever seen.

Just a few of the events of the events to follow include the Meadows Chamber Music Recital, The Meadows Opera’s The Elixir of Love, Regina Taylor’s Magnolia, the Temerlin Advertising and Division of Journalism “Collaboration Room,” and the August Wilson Monologue Competition.

Here are just a few of our favorite photos from the fantastic semester so far:

Photographer Kim Leeson captured the groundbreaking, participatory theater project of ‘The Tempest’ (Photo by Kim Leeson)

Meadows Opera Theatre performed “Elixir of Love,” directed by Hank Hammett. (Photo by Kim Leeson)

Scene from a <a href="http://mcs.smu.edu/calendar/node/1648"> </a> recital held in Caruth Hall. The Chamber <a href="http://mcs.smu.edu/calendar/node/1648">Music Honors Concert</a> is on May 6. — Scene from a recital held in Caruth Hall. The Chamber Music Honors Concert is on May 6.

Former student Ace Anderson shot this teaser for the SMU Senior Dance Concert. (by Ace Anderson)

Meadows student Alissa Roca, behind the scenes of ‘Elixir of Love’ (Photo by Kim Leeson)

Fearless leader of <a href="https://www.smu.edu/Meadows/TheMovement/IgniteArtsDallas">Ignite Arts Dallas</a>, Clyde Valentin, hugs one of the actors from<em> The Tempest</em> (Photo by Kim Leeson) — Fearless leader of Ignite Arts Dallas, Clyde Valentin, hugs one of the actors from The Tempest (Photo by Kim Leeson)

<a href="https://www.smu.edu/Meadows/AreasOfStudy/ArtHistory">Art History’s Dr. Langin-Hooper</a> and her Grad Seminar take behind-the-scenes look at ancient cylinder seals in vault of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. — Art History’s Dr. Langin-Hooper and her Grad Seminar take behind-the-scenes look at ancient cylinder seals in vault of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth.

The Collaboration Room is the new facility within the <a href="https://www.smu.edu/Meadows/AreasOfStudy/Advertising">Temerlin Advertising Institute</a>. This is a scene from Willie Baronet’s, Stan Richards Professor in Creative Advertising, class in the creative advertising program. — The Collaboration Room is the new facility within the Temerlin Advertising Institute. This is a scene from Willie Baronet’s, Stan Richards Professor in Creative Advertising, class in the creative advertising program.

<a href="https://www.smu.edu/AboutSMU/ProminentAlumni">Regina Taylor</a>, Meadows alum and award-winning actress and playwright, led a workshop of “Magnolia.” — Regina Taylor, Meadows alum and award-winning actress and playwright, led a workshop of “Magnolia.”

Meadows hosts the 2017 <a href="https://www.smu.edu/Meadows/NewsAndEvents/News/2017/170213-AugustWilsonMonologueCompetition">August Wilson Monologue Competition</a> for the second year in a row. — Meadows hosts the 2017 August Wilson Monologue Competition for the second year in a row.

The 2017 Meadows at the Meyerson gala (Photo by Kim Leeson)

15 Can’t Miss Photos from Public Works Dallas’ The Tempest

tempest shakespeare smu — Photographer Kim Leeson captured the groundbreaking, participatory theater project

Dallas Theater Center and SMU Meadows / Ignite Arts Dallas, in association with the AT&T Performing Arts Center, presented a musical theatre production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a community participation project conceived by Lear deBessonet and directed by Kevin Moriarty, with book, music and lyrics by Todd Almond.

Photographer Kim Leeson was on set to capture the moving moments. These are our favorite shots.