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Alumna Stephanie Chiarello, creator of Over the Lege

"Over the Lege" satire show, created by Stephanie Chiarello (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 1998; M.P.A., Public Affairs, 2008)

September 25, 2024 | Over the Lege

Stephanie Chiarello (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 1998; M.P.A., Public Affairs, 2008) is the creator, producer and host of Over the Lege, a political satire show based on the Texas Legislature, which returns for its seventh year with Over the Lege Part 7: The Last Laughs!! on Oct. 11-13 at the Scottish Rite Theater.
  
Chiarello describes the show as "a little Saturday Night Live meets The Daily Show meets So You Think You Can Dance." This year's special guests include State Representatives Goodwin, Flores and Howard; pastor Jim Rigby and Senator Wendy Davis.

Course instructor Amira Pollock poses in a red blazer in front of an academic building.

Amira Pollock (M.F.A., Theatre, 2009) teaches improv techniques to business professionals

August 28, 2024

Amira Pollock, a McCombs School of Business leadership coach and instructor at Center for Professional Education and Extended Campus, leads a two-day Business Improv workshop weaves together case studies, research, and theater improvisation exercises for Texas Extended Campus.

A collage of headshots for new faculty members Sinclair Emoghene, Katherine Freer, Virginia Grise and Luke Williams

The Department of Theatre and Dance Welcomes 2024-2025 Incoming Faculty

August 19, 2024

The Department of Theatre and Dance is thrilled to welcome a number of new tenure and tenure-track faculty members this academic year. Among the artists and academics joining the department are two Expanding Approaches to American Arts scholars, Virginia Grise in the Playwriting/Directing area and Luke Williams in the Performance as Public Practice area. Sinclair Emoghene also joins the department in the Dance area, while Kate Freer returns to the UT Live Design and Production area as an assistant professor. 

a collage of seven photos of student, faculty and alumni projects over the summer months

ON THE BLOG: Summer Updates 2024, Part II

August 13, 2024 | Off Book: A Theatre and Dance Blog

From conferences and productions to intensives and fellowships, find out some of the ways UT Theatre and Dance artists have shared their talents beyond the Winship Drama Building in our final roundup of summer projects for 2024.

Headshot for writer, performer, director and creative producer Virginia Grise

Playwriting and Directing and Expanding Approaches to American Arts Welcomes Virginia Grise

August 7, 2024

Texas Theatre and Dance is pleased to announce Virginia Grise will be joining the department in the Fall of 2024 as an Assistant Professor in Playwriting and Directing and Expanding Approaches to American Arts at the College of Fine Arts. 

A vocalist, two guitar players and two violin players perform a song from SOLDADERA

Students and Alumni Present Mariachi Musical Across Texas

August 5, 2024

Current student Demian Chavez Galvan and their theatre company Teatro Sin Fronteras presented Soldadera, a mariachi musical for young audiences here in Austin and in El Paso during the summer months. The musical, written by Chavez Galvan and originally performed during The Cohen New Works Festival (2023), featured work by multiple UT Theatre and Dance artists. 

film poster

Sara Gaston (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 1990) writes, produces and directs her first short film, "I Was Gone for Awhile"

July 25, 2024

Headshot for alum and playwright Danny Tejera

Danny Tejera Joins the Alcove New Play Development Program

July 19, 2024 | Lucille Lortel Theatre

Hinge Baby, written by alum Danny Tejera (M.F.A. 2020) and Tatiana Pandiani, was selected for Lucille Lortel Theatre's Alcove New Play Development Program. They're joining a cohort of fellow playwrights writing works that address the climate crisis and imagine possible futures beyond our current times.