Recent News

M.F.A. in Design and Technology candidate Bill Rios and alumna Ally Tufenkjian (M.F.A. 2019) have been selected for two separate awards from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE). This organization celebrates and encourages the work of theatre artists and educators through initiatives including workshops, awards and an annual conferences. Both Rios and Tufenkjian have been recognized for excellence in theatre for young audiences, earning them invitations to this year's AATE conference in July where they will be recognized for their achievements and have the opportunity to share elements of their research and design. 

Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance Robert Ramirez recently served as a commentator for Austin Shakespeare and Spectrum Theatre Company's Monologue Acting Workshops. The workshops, which took place on July 8, 2020, providing young Black artists a chance to get feedback from Ramirez and two other local theatre practitioners. President of Spectrum Theatre Company Marilyn Stewart shared that the goal of this workshop was to provide a "stepping stone for children to watch, enjoy and perform theater" and to equip them "with skills to understand the world we live in, and perhaps change it for the better by bringing stories and people from all walks of life, together.”

The College of Fine Arts recently spoke with Theatre and Dance lecturer and scenic art supervisor for Texas Performing Arts Karen Maness about how her Scenic Art and Figurative Painting class coped with the transition to online learning. Maness adjusted coursework to enable students to complete projects using materials they had access to at home. The class met virtually twice a week, once for lectures and again for group drawing and painting sessions, providing students with connections and familiarity during an unprecedented semester.

Earlier this summer, a group of UTeach Fine Arts students, alumni and faculty presented a session entitled "Social Emotional Learning (SEL) through the Fine Arts" at a summit for teachers hosted by the Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts. The group examined new ways to foster human connections through Zoom, providing examples of fun activities to engage with their K-12 students. Among the students and alumni who helped with the presentation, led by faculty member Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, were Nathan Tran (B.F.A. 2020), Juan Angel Leyva (B.F.A. 2020) and UTeach Theatre students Indya McKnight and Deja Criston.

This week (June 30 - July 5, 2020), Performance as Public Practice professor and head of the Oscar G. Brockett Center for Theatre History and Criticism Dr. Charlotte Canning will be at the helm of the "Tweeting Historians" Twitter page. Each week, one historian from around the globe is selected to present their research and foster discussions through the page, giving Twitter users a view into the minds of many brilliant researchers. Dr. Canning will serve as the first theatre historian to take over the page. 

The Conejo Players Theatre is currently preparing for a live stream performance of faculty member Steven Dietz's play Lonely Planet. Dietz's play explores the anxiety caused by the AIDS epidemic through the eyes of two gay men as they cope with the loss of friends in their community. The Conejo Players Theatre's production addresses themes of fear, loneliness and the importance of friendship, which have become especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. The California-based theatre company's production, filmed live on their stage each night, will run online from July 31-August 2, 2020.

Alumnus Drew Paryzer (M.F.A. 2017) co-created SUPERFLUXUS, an interactive theatrical experience that is available online through June 30, 2020. The sci-fi adventure story takes players on a choose-as-you-go journey to the moon in the distant future. Paryzer and fellow creator Seth Bockley originally intended for the storyline to take shape as an immersive theatrical installation, but made a quick pivot when the pandemic forced their project online.  

The Hollywood Reporter recently interviewed Stranger Things actor Finn Wolfhard about working on Kirk Lynn's novel-turned-film Rules for Werewolves. Wolfard is set to reprise the role of "Bobert" in the upcoming film, which is an extension of the recently released short film of the same name. In the interview, he discussed themes of the story and Lynn's unique writing style for both the novel and screenplay. Wolfard also mentioned meeting Lynn, who he described as "an absolute genius from Texas" and "one of the best writers of our time."

Graduation is now behind us, but this year’s commencement and the final semester of many students’ college careers will be remembered for years to come. The resilience and diligence of our students when faced with unprecedented challenges has been nothing short of inspirational. Without the ability to honor these graduates in a usual commencement ceremony, programs within the Department of Theatre and Dance utilized new and creative ways to celebrate their seniors, including everything from car parades to socially distant yard processionals and Zoom celebrations.

The College of Fine Arts recently interviewed faculty member J.E. Johnson to discuss his experience moving his Digital Fabrication course online. Johnson discussed the challenge of adjusting curriculum for a class that is rooted in physically creating projects with resources including 3-D printers and laser cutters. He shared the ways he adapted the class's final assignment with inspiration from his child's marble run, inciting creative digital designs from his students that he then printed in his home studio.