Earlier this year, Elon University’s Department of Performing Arts was ranked 23rd on a list of world’s best drama schools for 2025. Now, it has another accomplishment to add to its repertoire. 

Playbill, a world-renowned theatre magazine, recognized Elon for having over 20 alumni on Broadway. It was joined on this list by New York University, Yale and Juilliard. Playbill states Elon is one of a “few honorable mentions that just barely missed making the top 10.”

The magazine analyzed Broadway actors from 2024 to 2025, including where they attended college. 

Jacob Brent, a music theatre professor at Elon, said the program has a strong conservatory-based training where students train professionally at a high level. 

The Performing Arts Program offers seven different degree programs: acting, arts administration, dance performance & choreography, dance science, drama and theatre studies, music theatre, and theatrical design and technology. Four of the programs require an interview to get in. 

Sidney Nicole Wilson ‘21 recently spent time starring as Sarabi in Disney’s “The Lion King” on Broadway.

Wilson said she is very happy with the training she received from Elon. 

“I loved the theater program specifically,” Wilson said. “I felt like I got great training. I got great advisers, teachers who really understood me and saw me and pushed me to get the best out of myself.”

According to the Department of Performing Arts, it strives to create a collaborative, innovative environment where diversity, equity and inclusion are celebrated.

“It’s something that's baked into the program and into the university is that we graduate really smart, interesting people who are able to talk about many things instead of just one.” 

The department’s mission is something Wilson said she can attest to, saying the program is authentic. 

She says, the program puts its students first and accepts them for who they are.

“It’s not a cookie-cutter type program; they understand that when you walk in, you are your own person,” 

The department pushes its students to try everything, and that is something every student can attest to, according to Brent.

“They weren’t people who just took it easy; they really pushed you to explore all parts of your artistry and pushed you to be capable of doing some of everything,” Wilson said.

As of spring 2025, Elon University had 2995 students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.   

Brent said that Elon University is a small school and a lot of students feel as though they will be stuck in a bubble, but that’s not the case. 

Elon University was recognized for its strong alumni base working in Broadway. These alumni come back often to speak to students. 

“It’s really great for the students to see that it’s very possible," Brent said. "It’s not like Broadway is this ethereal thing, but it’s something that they can really see in their future when these alumni come back.” 

Brent said that being recognized for having a lot of Elon alumni on Broadway is something that the department is proud of and they use it to their advantage. 

“It’s a passed down art form that they want to keep on passing down. It just feels great for them to have a hand in producing it,” Brent said.