Recent News

Faculty member and scenic studio supervisor for Texas Performing Arts J.E. Johnson recently spoke with Texas Connect about his experience with hands-on, experiential learning. Johnson, along with Shelly Rodriguez (College of Natural Sciences), have collaborated to create UT Bridge Makers, a student group that focuses on creation through interdisciplinary collaboration between the College of Natural Sciences and the College of Fine Arts.

Celebrated works at this year's virtual iteration of Austin's Fusebox Festival included faculty member Gesel Mason's NO BOUNDARIES: The Journey to Embody and Archive the Visions of Contemporary Black Choreographers project, a living. ever-evolving performance archive of prominent African American choreographers that received its world premiere as part of the festival.

Now in its 16th year, Fusebox Festival is an annual contemporary art and performance festival in Austin that features adventurous local, national and international artists. With current events suspending in-person gatherings, the 2020 festival has been reimagined as a virtual festival, featuring work by faculty member Gesel Mason (NO BOUNDARIES); the Rude Mechs (A Show of Hands; co-artistic producers are faculty members Kirk Lynn and Madge Darlington, managing director is faculty member Alexandra Bassiakou Shaw) and current Ph.D. candidate kt shorb (INAPPROPRIATE). April 24-26, 2020. 

The College of Fine Arts at The University of Texas at Austin has named Professor Robert Ramirez as chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. Ramirez, head of the Acting program in the department, has been serving as interim chair since summer 2019.

Faculty member Branden Jacobs-Jenkins was recently named one of 175 artists to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. A playwright and associate professor of practice at the Department of Theatre and Dance, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has received many accolades for his works, which have premiered off Broadway as well as at Yale Repertory Theatre.

In our current world of social distancing and isolation, we find ourselves longing for the theatre - a space we collectively share to consume art, enjoy live performance and connect with those around us. Amidst closures and the inability to share these moments together, arts organizations around the world have shifted their content to the digital sphere so that we may all continue to enjoy and support the performing arts across the globe.

We've compiled a list of various outlets where you can access these performances from the comfort of your home. Even as we take this moment to be apart, we can still enjoy the power of the performing arts together.

Given the urgency of the situation regarding COVID-19, the recommendations from leadership at The University of Texas at Austin, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), it is with great consideration and sadness that we have made the difficult decision to suspend the remainder of our Spring 2020 Season indefinitely. This suspension applies to mainstage season performances, studio productions and all public events at the department for the remainder of the semester.

The Department of Theatre and Dance is currently seeking prospective residential mentors and supervisors for the 2020 American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive at The University of Texas at Austin. These are paid positions that work closely with the department and the American Ballet Theatre program. The application process for these staff members has begun and will be open through March 23, 2020.

Coronavirus Updates and FAQs: The latest information on campus operations, social distancing and preventative measures at The University of Texas at Austin.