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Department of Theatre and Dance Announces Retirement of Professor Robert Schmidt

August 22, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas — Professor and former Department Chair Robert Schmidt of the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin will retire on Jan. 31.

With unanimous support of the executive vice president and provost and the faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance, Schmidt has been granted emeritus status as the Frank Erwin Jr. Centennial Professor in Drama, effective Feb. 1.

In Memoriam: Dr. Frederick J. Hunter, Professor Emeritus

August 22, 2012

Austin, Tx— Dr. Frederick J. Hunter passed away on July 29, 2008, at the age of 92. Hunter was a Professor Emeritus at The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance and served as Professor of Theatre History from 1957–87.

Prominent Theatre History Scholar Oscar Brockett Dies at 87

August 22, 2012

Theatre history scholar and University of Texas at Austin Professor Emeritus Oscar G. Brockett died on Nov. 7 in Austin, Texas, at the age of 87 due to complications following a massive stroke.

In Memoriam: Dr. Francis Hodge, Professor Emeritus

August 22, 2012

Austin, Tx–– Dr. Francis R. Hodge passed away on April 6, 2008 in Austin, Texas, at the age of 92. Hodge was a Professor Emeritus in The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance and served as professor of directing from 1949–79. He was presented the College of Fine Arts E. William Doty Award at the College's spring commencement in May 2006.

New Endowment Established Honoring Professor Emeritus

August 22, 2012

Dr. David Nancarrow Scholarship in Theatre and Dance

Alumna Liza Binkley Reviewed in The London Times

August 13, 2012 | Official Facebook Page of Presidential Suite

Presidential Suite, a play currently featuring alumna Liza Binkley (BA, Theatre and Dance, 2007), recently received a four star review in The London Times. Presented in conjunction with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012, Presidential Suite by B&G Productions (New York) runs through August 18, 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Theatre & Dance Alum Denny Berry Announced as Head of Musical Theatre at University of Utah

July 30, 2012 | The University of Utah Department of Theatre

Department of Theatre & Dance alumna Denny Berry (BFA, 1973) was recently announced as the Head of the newly formed Musical Theatre Program at the University of Utah Department of Theatre.

Berry is an esteemed director, choreographer, educator and writer both on Broadway and around the world. She looks forward to bringing together her ongoing relationship with the New York theater world and her students in the Department of Theatre.

Alum Releases Latest Novel

July 19, 2012 | Department of Theatre and Dance Website

Pamela Ribon (BFA, Drama Production, 1997) has just released her latest novel, You Take It From Here. Pamela has written for several television comedies, most notably the Emmy Award-winning Samantha Who?. A national bestselling author, Pamela has adapted her popular novels for both film and television. She was an Oprah.com contributor, where her novel about divorce and roller derby, Going in Circles, was selected as an Oprah.com Book Club pick. She was also a flagship contributor to TelevisionWithoutPity.com. Using her loyal Internet fan base, Ribon sponsors book drives for libraries in need at DeweyDonationSystem.org. Visit her at pamie.com or follow her @pamelaribon.

Alumna Dawn Davis Loring Featured in Upcoming Dance Festival

June 11, 2012 | Spank Dance Festival

Alumna Dawn Davis Loring (BA, Dance, 1992) and Mosaic Dance Body present Danceopoly at the Big Range Austin Dance Festival. Danceopoly is a game involving both audience and dancers and "takes a snarky look at being a struggling artist through the lens of a cheesy reality game show."

Collaborators include Dawn Davis Loring, Jennifer Micallef, Tracy Sadler Machalek, Ivry Newsome, Cinnamon Barton and Dawnerin Wilkinson.

Danceopoly will be shown at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre on June 30th at 8pm and on July 1st at 2pm.

Broadway Dreams Begin at The University of Texas at Austin

May 29, 2012 | The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with Texas State University-San Marcos, is offering the inaugural Texas Musical Theatre Workshop, a three-week, pre-professional summer intensive for high school students exploring a potential career in musical theatre.