Recent News

The University of Texas at Austin Theatre and Dance department was well represented at USITT's Awards, Awards, Awards ceremony as part of their 65th Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Karen Maness, a faculty member in the UT Live Design and Production area, was honored as an incoming Fellow of the Institute and UT Live Design and Production M.F.A. candidates Daniel Ruiz Bustos, Matthew Smith and Zach Young were recognized for their excellent work in theatre design. Behind the scenes Katelyn Nguyen, an undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Theatre and Dance, was able to work on the conference and expo itself through USITT's Stage Management Mentorship Program.

Faculty, graduate students and alumni will play an integral role in Planet Texas 2050's annual symposium, where they will present, perform and participate in roundtable discussions with fellow scholars.

The College of Fine Arts and the Equitable Arts Infrastructure Research Group, co-led by UT Austin Department of Theatre and Dance Professor Charlotte Canning, University of Michigan Professor Paul Bonin-Rodriguez and Duke University Associate Professor of the Practice Sarah Wilbur, are hosting a national symposium focused on the enduring challenge of cultural, economic and racial equity in the nation’s performing arts sector.

Ph.D. candidate Aysha Upchurch has been selected as an incoming United States Artists Fellow. Upchurch is among 50 artists and collaboratives from across the country who were nominated and selected. The 2025 USA Fellows will receive funding and support to continue innovating in their respective fields.

Karen Maness, a faculty member in the UT Live Design and Production area, has been selected as an incoming Fellow of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. She will be honored on March 6, 2025 at USITT's Awards Awards Awards ceremony in Columbus, Ohio. 

Samantha Garcia (B.A. 2003) appears as one of the three actors in Oil Lamp Theater's witty, chaotic romp The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged]. The show runs from January 24-February 16, 2025 at the Glenview, Illinois theatre.