News

The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, by Karen Maness and Richard Isackes, was recognized as the runner-up at the 2017 Hamilton Book Awards, the highest honor for literary achievement given by The University of Texas at Austin. 

The Semester in Los Angeles Program (UTLA) takes senior B.F.A. in Acting majors to Los Angeles for their final semester in order to make connections and begin the transition from student to working actor. The inaugural cohort (Spring 2017) discusses the benefits of the program. 

Through their student employment program, Texas Performing Arts provides the opportunity for students to learn alongside industry professionals and to gain valuable resume-building experience that serves as a unique complement to the university curriculum. Junior Malyssa Quiles works as a student audio assistant at Texas Performing Arts.

Dr. Charlotte Canning discusses how the United States claimed national arts funding after decades of advocacy and why understanding this history is critical to the preservation of art in 20th century America. 

New faculty member Jeanette Yew recently completed lighting design for the world premiere of new musical KPOP by Woodshed Collective + Jason Kim which was recently staged at Ars Nova in New York City. 

As part of our Day in the Life series, we followed fourth-year B.F.A. in Acting major Teddy Santiesteban (Anon(ymous), Twelfth Night, Lost Girl) through his day to give you an inside look at what it's like to study acting at The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance.

Anon(ymous), based on Homer’s The Odyssey, tells the story of a young refugee called Anon journeys through the United States, encountering a wide variety of people – some kind, some dangerous and cruel – as he searches for his family. The Anon(ymous) cast features some familiar faces, along with some new to the Texas Theatre and Dance stage.

Members of the university community can get free rides on LYFT through the new Parking and Transportation Services program called SURE Ride. Learn more about how to register for this new program.

Every year, the B. Iden Payne Council, a volunteer organization sponsored by the Austin Creative Alliance, is tasked with viewing and nominating outstanding production elements in Austin. This year, the Department of Theatre and Dance, its students, faculty, alumni and friends were nominated for several awards across a broad range of categories. 

Described by Austin360 as a "charming, funny, accessible play about the connections that we all miss amid our own self-obsessions," This Random World runs through Oct. 1 at Austin Playhouse.

Faculty member Franchelle Stewart Dorn heads to New York to perform alongside Beth Dixon (The Good Wife), Polly Draper (thirtysomething), Kathryn Grody (Top Girls), Ellen Parker (The Heidi Chronicles) and Charles Socarides (Sons of the Prophet) in Susan Miller's newest work, 20th Century Blues. 

Faculty member Charlotte Canning recently discussed the collaboration between the Brockett Center for Theatre History and Criticism (The University of Texas at Austin) and American Theatre Magazine, This Month in Theatre History. Along with faculty member Andrew Carlson, these features have highlighted major milestones of the American stage. 

New dance faculty member, hip hop icon Rennie Harris has been recognized as a Dance Magazine Award Winner, a prestigious award celebrating the living legends who are making an impact on dance in the 21st century. Previous recipients include Fred Astaire, Pina Bausch and Misty Copeland. 

Faculty member Steven Dietz's Lonely Planet is headed to New York this October, starring Arnie Burton (The Government Inspector) and Matt McGrath (The Legend of Georgia McBride) to kick-start the Keen Company's 2017-2018 season Off-Broadway. 

The Austin American Statesman calls Building the Wall a "taught, timely, must-see new play...an excoriating critique of the virulent rhetoric — and actions — in contemporary American politics." On stage at the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre August 30 - September 10, 2017. 

The Austin Chronicle discusses the creation of Robert Schenkkan's Building the Wall and the challenge of producing a new piece with urgency in a time of political crisis. 

We recently sat down with Building the Wall playwright, Robert Schenkkan, and director, Brant Pope, to discuss where the current state of American politics and artistic expression through the performing arts overlap and how challenging new plays can act as a medium for continued discussion of current issues.

Building the Wall, a new political-thriller, envisions the aftermath following the impeachment of President Donald Trump. Developed with a sense of urgency as a rolling premiere across the country, it will receive its regional premiere at Texas Theatre and Dance this August. 

Professor Susan Mickey was recently nominated for a 2017 Equity Jeff Award for her costume design in Shakespeare in Love (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). The 49th Annual Jeff Awards honor excellence in professional theatre in the Chicago area. Winners will be announced November 6, 2017. 

Laura Gonzalez, a current B.A. in Theatre and Dance student emphasizing in costume design, recently discussed her summer internship with Seattle Children's Theatre and her experience and designing work for Texas Theatre and Dance in her second year.