Recent News

Dr. Brant Pope, currently head of the Department of Theatre at The University of Illinois, has been appointed chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin, effective June 1, 2010. Pope has also been appointed as holder of the Z.T. Scott Family Chair in Drama in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

The Austin Critics Table has chosen their favorites for the year in Theatre, Design, Dance, Visual Art and Classical Music. Among the top picks are UT Theatre and Dance students, faculty, alumni and friends for their outstanding achievements in the fields of direction, performance, design and movement.

Todd Lowe (B.F.A. '99) plays “Terry Bellefleur” for a third season in the hit vampire drama while Kevin Alejandro (B.F.A., Attended '95 – '99) joins the cast as “Jesus”, a character expected to appear in nearly every episode of the season.

An original comedy written and directed by Professor of Playwriting and Screenwriting, Steven Dietz, Becky's New Car tells the life-affirming story of an eccentric millionaire who offers Becky the keys to a brand new life.

Theatre and Dance alumnus Kevin Adams (B.F.A. in Theatrical Design, 1984) won a Tony Award for “Best Lighting Design of a Musical” for his design of American Idiot. The award marks a third-career win for Adams.

For the 18th year, an informal affiliation of local arts critics has recognized the year's most exceptional achievements in dance, classical music, the visual arts, and theatre. Department of Theatre and Dance productions, students, faculty, alumni and friends are well represented on this year's list with nearly 40 nominations.

In Austin to deliver the commencement speech at the university-wide ceremony, award-winning actor and Department of Theatre and Dance alumna, Marcia Gay Harden visited her alma mater to lead an intensive acting workshop with selected participants from the Department of Theatre and Dance.

As leaders in their school districts, attendees are actively designing and devising curricula and teaching strategies that help cultivate the talent, passion, and value of arts education in Texas.

In Prague to complete her studies in photojournalism, recent graduate J Elissa Marshall rounded out her European adventure with a trip to Spain to perform with El Colegio del Cuerpo in the International Festival of Music of Dance of Granada.