In 1929, Luther’s enrollment had risen to 172 students—enough to support a musical production. That same year, teacher Miss Elsa Mees led the school’s first show, the operetta Marrying Marion, which was performed at the newly opened Darke Hall. The following year, A Dumb Waiter was staged at Benson School.

During the enrollment decline of the 1930s, operetta productions were paused, though students were still encouraged to participate in shows at other schools. Despite this break, teacher Fred Wagner kept theatre alive by forming a drama club that produced several smaller plays each year.

When a new gymnasium with a stage was built, operettas resumed. In 1951, students presented H.M.S. Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan. The new stage also gave the drama club a dedicated space for storing props, costumes, and equipment.

The musical tradition at Luther College was revived in 1973 with Oliver!, launching a run of annual Broadway-style productions. Since then, the school has staged well-known shows such as The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, and more recently, The Little Mermaid. In the mid-1990s, a notable milestone was reached when attendance at the annual musical surpassed that of LIT.

Although the drama program became inactive for a few years, it was revived in the mid-1990s by teacher Nancy Ostime, who also introduced an improv program.