Recent News

Creating new work is a challenging process, often riddled with unforeseen obstacles, tough decisions and unique opportunities to develop innovative art. We sat down with the playwrights and directors of UTNT (UT New Theatre) to discuss their process of creating these new plays, how those works have changed and why it’s important to let these works evolve as they are read, developed and, ultimately, presented to an audience.

Department of Theatre and Dance chair, Dr. Brant Pope, has been named a fellow by the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. Presented as one of the highest honors bestowed on educators and professionals of America's educational and theatre community, he will be inducted in a ceremony on April 15 in Washington, D.C. 

The Alcalde recently featured the creation process of the ENRON raptors, discussing the unique course that led students from different backgrounds across campus to develop three velociraptors used in the production to represent companies created to conceal Enron's debt. 

Presented as part of the "Vaudeville!" exhibit of the Harry Ransom Center, this event, created by Dr. Charlotte Canning and Dr. Andrew Carlson, among others, will take place March 8.

Faculty member Roxanne Schroeder-Arce's play Yana Wana's Legend of the Bluebonnet premiere's at Dallas Children's Theatre this March. The legacy of the Coahuiltecans, who originated in Texas, has virtually been erased, but this co-production with Cara Mía Theatre Company revives their legacy through the story of a young girl connecting with her heritage. On stage March 23 - April 8, 2018. 

The world premiere of faculty member KJ Sanchez's Cincinnati King will be staged at Cincinnati Playhouse in November 2018. Written and directed by Sanchez, Cincinnati King celebrates Cincinnati's rich music history based on interviews that trace the career of Syd Nathan, the founder of King Records. 

The Austin American-Statesman review of Lucy Prebble's ENRON praises "director Hannah Wolf [who] has crafted a nuanced, satirical, enraging piece of theater that is more timely in the era of “Me, Too” than ever before." 

The Austin Chronicle praises Texas Theatre and Dance's production of ENRON, "presenting Lucy Prebble's entertaining and historically accurate script, but further reframe[ing] and moderniz[ing] the play with a cast composed of actors whose gender identities are either female or non-binary." 

Alumnus and musical visionary Harvey Schmidt (B.F.A. in Art, 1952) earned his shining spot in theatre history as the composer of the longest-running musical ever, The Fantasticks. He passed away February 28, 2018 at age 88.

"ENRON is a terrifically entertaining and thought provoking piece of work that infuses history with a tautly contained circus sideshow energy to create an immensely engaging evening of theatre." Broadway World reviews Lucy Prebble's ENRON, on stage at the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre through March 4, 2018.