The Department of Theatre and Dance prides itself on creating both new and exciting works of performance-based art and valuable academic pedagogy. This is done through creating works for the stage, as well as the research, design, practice and creativity that goes on beyond what the audience sees.
Community partnerships, educational opportunities, research centers and extracurricular study options all play a part in the work being created for the stage and the Department of Theatre and Dance is continuously exploring new and intriguing ways to reach a larger community of creative thinkers and artists. We invite you to learn about our community-engaged programs, such as Drama for Schools, connect your classroom with our faculty; and explore the partnerships and affiliations that connect us with artists in Austin and across the country.
Summer Programs
Programming is available for those unaffiliated with the university, which includes summer programming for arts educators and the annual American Ballet Theatre summer program for middle and high school-aged students.
Community-Engaged Programming
Partnerships include Drama for Schools, Patchwork Stories, The Performing Justice Project and Voices Against Violence.
Teacher Resources
Resources for educators and school administrators interested in connecting students with the department through partnerships, group tickets and professional development opportunities.
Oscar G. Brockett Center for Theatre History and Criticism
Named after Professor Emeritus and renowned theatre history scholar Oscar G. Brockett, the Brockett Center promotes excellence in the study of theatre by supporting scholarship, education and public history.
Partnerships and Affiliations
We are pleased to be affiliated with numerous leading, national professional organizations. From hosting the Hemispheric Institute's Convergence (2015) to presenting at annual conferences with American Alliance for Theatre & Education and Texas Educational Theatre Association, our students and faculty are at the heart of development of the performing arts.
Off-Book: A Theatre and Dance Blog
Go behind-the-scenes of the performances, programming and projects at the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Rude Mechs in Residency
The Department of Theatre and Dance is pleased to support our resident theatre organization, the Rude Mechs, a nationally-acclaimed, ensemble-based theatre collective. This two-year residency provides students the opportunity to work with and learn from members of Rude Mechs through group workshops, mentorship and respondent feedback on student-devised work and processes.