November 9, 2023
For immediate release:
Media Contact:
Megan Bommarito; 512.232.5328; megan.bommarito@austin.utexas.edu
Images available at:
Password: media
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE PRESENTS
THE SMARTEST GIRL IN THE WORLD
NOVEMBER 30 – December 3, 2023
AT THE OSCAR G. BROCKETT THEATRE
Texas Theatre and Dance is pleased to present The Smartest Girl in the World by Miriam Gonzalez, directed by Roxanne Schroeder-Arce. After touring to schools in Central Texas, this exciting play for young audiences returns home to the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre November 30 – December 3. The story centers two children, Leo and Lizzy Martinez, who want to be the smartest kids in the world! The children of hardworking immigrants, big brother Leo has convinced his little sis that being smart is the key to helping their family escape a tough, uncertain reality. The first step in the plan – Leo will win the local TV kid’s quiz show. But when their parents refuse to let him join the quiz team, Lizzy learns there’s something deeper driving Leo – something that makes life that much more challenging and unpredictable for her brother and her family. The Smartest Girl in the World takes a look at the bonds of family and the key to facing life’s challenges together.
“The state of Texas mandates that young people attend live theatre. However, many schools do not have the resources to provide this experience,” shares Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, the show’s director, Associate Professor at the Department of Theatre and Dance and Associate Dean of the UTeach Fine Arts program. “While we are excited to share the production on campus and bring youth and family audiences to [our] building, touring to schools means making theatre accessible to youth throughout the Central Texas area. The Smartest Girl in the World, in particular, is important for UT to share in a variety of schools in different communities—as it centers education access. Our UT students become celebrities to the young people we meet in the schools as they also come to recognize the importance of introducing children to live theatre—through literally bringing it to them. Our [Theatre for Young Audiences] tour is all about access and learning, and it’s a win-win for our K-12 partners and our own Theatre and Dance students.”
For more information about The Smartest Girl in the World, please visit JoinTheDrama.org
CALENDAR LISTING
November 30-December 3, 2023 – The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents Fall For Dance at the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.), located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building. A map of the campus: theatredance.utexas.edu/about/location-directions-parking
Performance times are November 30 at 5:30 p.m., December 1 at 7:00 p.m., December 2-3 at 2:30 p.m. and December 2 at 5:30 p.m. ($26 adult, $21 UT faculty and staff, $15 student/child) Tickets are available for sale at F. Loren Winship Box Office and online at JoinTheDrama.org.. Office locations and hours: theatredance.utexas.edu/ticketing
ABOUT TEXAS THEATRE AND DANCE
The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance is a world-class educational environment that serves as the ultimate creative incubator for the next generation of artists, thinkers and leaders in theatre and performance.
ALSO THIS SEASON
UTNT (UT New Theatre)
Producing Artistic Director, Alexandra Bassiakou Shaw
February 29 – March 3, 2024
Oscar G. Brockett Theatre
Dance Repertory Theatre presents
Points of Intersection
April 4-7, 2024
B. Iden Payne Theatre
Romeo y Juliet
Adapted by KJ Sanchez and Karen Zacarías, written by Karen Zacarías
From William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
April 10-21, 2024
Oscar G. Brockett Theatre
###