Recent News

Faculty member Dr. Sara Simons has been recognized as the recipient of the 2020-2021 Department of Theatre and Dance Teaching Excellence Award, a prestigious teaching accolade that celebrates her contributions to student success within the department. This award is granted to educators within the Department of Theatre and Dance who go above and beyond in their work both in and out of the classroom. 

Former student Will Brittain has appeared in indie films and mainstream movies alike, with roles in A Teacher (Sundance Film Festival, 2013), Kong: Skull Island and Let Him Go, among others. Brittain was recently featured in Anthem, including a discussion about his growing film career and his most recent role in The Forever Purge. 

Art director Yvonne Boudreaux (M.F.A. 2007) is among the design team who has earned the drama series Yellowstone an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program. 

Dr. Sara Simons, co-area head and assistant professor of instruction (Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities and UTeach Theatre), has been named a recipient of the 2020-2021 College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing her outstanding dedication to teaching that forges connections and challenges systems of oppression.

Faculty member Kirk Lynn and collaborator Lana Lesley, two founding members of Rude Mechs, discuss their current residency with the Department of Theatre and Dance, past performances and what's next for future creations. 

Faculty member Dr. Lisa B. Thompson earned a spring 2021 Creation Fund Award from the National Performance Network for her new work The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body, which is co-commissioned by The Vortex, Fusebox Festival, the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre and the Pyramid Theatre Company.