If these Winship walls could talk.

2012 Austin Critics’ Table Awards Nominees Announced

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:47:00 -0500

UT Theatre and Dance Community Among Top Picks

Minus 16, Catalyst, 2012 Photo: Jeff Heimsath

For the 20th year, an informal affiliation of local arts critics has recognized the year’s most exceptional achievements in dance, classical music, the visual arts, and theatre. Department of Theatre and Dance productions, students, faculty, alumni and friends are well represented on this year’s list of nominations. Winners will be announced of the Critics’ Table Awards will be announced on June 4.

Performances listed below are produced by The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance unless otherwise noted.

DANCE 

Dance Concert 

Catalyst  

Short Work

Tango Vesre by Alvin Rangel, MFA ‘12

Watch the Gap by Ellen Bartel, MFA ‘12

Choreographer  

David Justin, Oblivion’s Ink, Department of Theatre and Dance Associate Professor and Co-Artistic Director of Dance Repertory Theatre

Dancer 

Alvin Rangel, Tango Vesre, MFA ‘12

Ensemble 

Ellen Bartel (MFA ’12), Mari Akita, and Adam Sultan in Program C: Butoh (Big Range Dance Festival) 

Dance Repertory Theatre dancers in Minus 16, Catalyst

DESIGN  

Scenic Design 

Rowan Doyle, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA ‘12

Michael Raiford, Hairspray/Spring Awakening/God of Carnage (ZACH Theatre), MFA ‘09

Chris H. Yoo, 360 (round dance), MFA candidate

Costume Design 

Yao Chen, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA candidate

Proletina Veltchev, Love’s Labour’s Lost, MFA ‘12

Lighting Design

Kate Leahy, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA ‘12

Cheng-Wei Teng, Love’s Labour’s Lost, MFA ‘12

Video Design 

Joao Beira, Too & For (Catalyst), Choreographer Yacov Sharir

Jeff Kurihara, Broken Pieces/Just for the Night (New York Stories), MFA candidate 

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 2012 Photo: Trent Lesikar

THEATRE 

Production, Drama  

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Direction 

Daria Davis, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA candidate

Acting in a Leading Role   

Jon Cook, The Aliens (Hyde Park Theatre), BA ‘12 

Acting in a Supporting Role 

Kim Adams, Ghosts/The Pavilion (Penfold Theatre Co. in partnership with Breaking String), BA ‘09 

Kelli Schultz, Next to Normal (ZACH Theatre), BA ‘12

Rommel Sulit, Bacha Bazi (Boy Play)

Ensemble Performance 

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

David Mark Cohen New Play Award 

360 (round dance), Steven Dietz, Department of Theatre and Dance Professor

Bacha Bazi (Boy Play), Gabriel Jason Dean, MFA ‘12

River City, Diana Grisanti, MFA ‘12

Static, Tom Horan, MFA ‘12

Music Direction 

Allen Robertson, Hairspray/Next to Normal (ZACH Theatre), MFA ‘92

Movement 

Quetta Carpenter, Love’s Labour’s Lost , Department of Theatre and Dance Lecturer

Tom Truss, Hair (Texas State University-San Marcos), MFA ‘09

Read the full list of this year’s nominees.

Dance Repertory Theatre Takes the National Stage

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:22:41 -0500

Audiences have the opportunity to be enchanted once again by Oblivion’s Ink, the contemporary ballet by Department of Theatre and Dance Associate Professor David Justin. Dance Repertory Theatre, the university’s student dance ensemble, will perform Justin’s choreography at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on May 25.

Oblivion’s Ink, 2012. Photo: Jeff Heimsath

The performance is in conjunction with the National College Dance Festival, an annual event that highlights exemplary choreography and performance created at colleges and universities across the country. The University of Texas at Austin’s dance program is one of 30 schools recognized at this year’s prestigious event. Oblivion’s Ink was premiered in March 2012 as part the department’s critically acclaimed dance concert Catalyst.

In addition to its debut at the Kennedy Center, Oblivion’s Ink will be performed in American Repertory Ensemble’s (ARE) spring concert at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on May 23. Entitled Fast Approaching Swiftly Gone, ARE’s program includes the Tosca String Quartet as well as work by internationally renowned choreographers Alex Ketley and Julia Adam.

David Justin serves as the co-artistic director of Dance Repertory Theatre and the artistic director of American Repertory Ensemble.

Lucien Douglas honored with Distinguished Teaching Award

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:57:00 -0500

Lucien Douglas, Department of Theatre and dance professor and senior associate chair, has been named the recipient of the 2012 College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teaching Award. The faculty and student-nominated award is the college’s highest honor for teaching excellence.

As an actor and director, Douglas has taught undergraduate and graduate students at the university since 1997. His highly popular classes include acting and directing, as well as topics courses in contemporary stage performance and acting for the camera.

A consummate ambassador for the Department of Theatre and Dance, Douglas has built vital relationships with high school educators and their students. He presents master classes and workshops for schools throughout the stage, and works closely with University Interscholastic League (UIL) and Texas Educational Theatre Association (TETA). Under his leadership, the Department of Theatre and Dance is developing new curriculum that will enhance the undergraduate actor-training program.

This year, Douglas performed alongside department students, and taught by example in The Cherry Orchard and Love’s Labour’s Lost. At the same time, Douglas continues to work professionally. In February, he performed his solo show A Dream Within a Dream: Performing the Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe at The Arts Cottage in Smithville, Texas. He is the lead voice-over talent for “Pirates 101” and “Wizards 101”, video games produced by Kingsisle Entertainment. He is also currently working with acclaimed director Richard Linklater on a new project.

Douglas was formally presented the Distinguished Teaching Award at the College of Fine Arts spring commencement ceremony on May 18, 2012. Professor Susan Mickey received the award in 2011.

Scholars Shine in Leading Journals

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:52:00 -0500

Open the latest scholarly theatre or dance publication, and you are apt to see articles by Department of Theatre and Dance faculty, alumni and students. The recent March issues of Theatre Topics and Theatre Journal are no exception.

Dr. Rebecca Rossen’s article Jews on View: Spectacle, Degradation, and Jewish Corporeality in Contemporary Dance and Performance is featured in the March publication of Theatre Journal. An assistant professor at the Department of Theatre and Dance, Dr. Rossen’s research focuses on 20th and 21st century American dance, theatrical stagings of identity, and the relationship between scholarship and performance. In addition, she is a faculty affiliate in the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, and the American Studies Department.

Dr. Rossen recently received a National Endowment for the Humanities research grant for her study “Jewish Identity in American Modern and Postmodern Dance.”

Alumna Claire Canavan’s (PhD 2010) article Created by Ensemble is in the March publication of Theatre Topics. Dr. Canavan is a lecturer at Texas State University-San Marcos.

Theatre Topics also features a book review by alumna Susanne Shawyer (PhD 2008). The current book review editor for this respected journal is alumnus Chase Bringardner (PhD 2007), who teaches at Auburn University. In addition, alumnus Ramon Rivera-Servera (PhD 2003) serves on the editorial board of Theatre Topics. Dr. Rivera-Servera is on faculty at Northwestern University.

Prospective Freshmen and Transfer Information Sessions

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:27:46 -0500

Visiting Theatre and Dance
College of Fine Arts Information Sessions provide an overview of degree programs in the Department of Art and Art History, Butler School of Music, and the Department of Theatre and Dance. Sessions also provide an introduction to the college’s audition and portfolio requirements for admission. Information regarding courses and opportunities for non-majors is also provided.

College of Fine Arts Information Sessions are offered on most Monday and Fridays at 2:00 PM in the Doty Fine Arts Building, Fine Arts Student Center, located at the corner of Trinity and E. 23rd Street on the UT campus . Sessions conclude with walking tours of studio, gallery, performance spaces in the Department of Art and Art History, Winship Drama Building, and Butler School of Music. Visitors should register online for campus tours and College of Fine Arts Information Sessions.

Individual appointments are also available for students intending to major in Theatre or Dance on Monday-Friday, from 9 AM- 5 PM. Please email one of the contacts below at least one week in advance to determine if a meeting can be arranged during your visit to campus.

To schedule an individual appointment May 7- August 15, email Karoline Liu at kliu (at) austin.utexas.edu (Appointments not available July 1-13). To schedule an individual appointment August 16- December 7, email Barbara Pope at barbarapope (at) austin.utexas.edu

A Legacy of Dance: Shirlee Dodge

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:06:59 -0500

Legacy is vital in dance. Passing from one generation of dancer to the next through the sweat and dedication of practice, dance thrives, evolves and sustains in the light of legacy. Shirlee Dodge founded the dance program at The University of Texas at Austin in 1943 and built a legacy formed from two continents, the womb of modern expressionist dance and a lifetime devoted to true creativity.

From an early age Dodge danced her way through life (tap and acrobatics) with her sister in Vaudevillian acts until she discovered a new way to move and express in the performances of Mary Wigman. An acolyte of Rudolf Laban, Wigman is considered by many to be the founder of modern dance in Europe. At the age of 21, Dodge traveled to Europe with her University of Wisconsin Dance classmates. She convinced her parents that she needed to remain in Europe to study with Wigman in Dresden, Germany. She graduated from the Mary Wigman Central Institute in 1939 with three degrees: Professional Theatre Dancer, Pedagogy for Laymen Dancers, and Pedagogy for Professional Dancers. Later, armed with international experience, an artistic pedigree from the leading edge of modern dance and a professional teaching and performing career spanning parts of Europe, New York and the midwest; Dodge was invited by Anna Hiss (Head of The University of Texas at Austin Department for Physical Training for Women) to found a creative dance program for the university in 1943.

Within two years, Dodge was able to bring the dance program to the College of Fine Arts under Dean E. William Doty. Dodge not only taught dance, but choreographed and performed as well. This began the dance education of university students, as well as the Austin community. In a 1946 program letter, she wrote:

“Creative Dance, like any art, is a matter of personal experience. This experience can be the act of the dancer or the act of the spectator. In a dance concert, a true aesthetic fulfillment is that performance throughout which a free and flowing communication is established between the dancer and his audience.

[….] It is impossible to describe dance with words. Dance is a language which must be met in terms of its nature. As sound is to music, as words are to literature…so is movement to dance.” (Shirlee Dodge, Dance Sketches, 1946)

Dodge achieved full professorship at the university in 1965. She and her colleagues B. Iden Payne, Loren Winship, E.P. Conkle, Jim Moll and Fran Hodge, were forces that shaped the department and the standards of excellence that the faculty and students relentlessly pursue to this day.

Taking a snapshot of the dance program today, it is inspiring to see the thread of legacy continue to be spun. The department’s dance faculty share with Dodge the philosophical perspectives of individual creativity, the professional experiences of working internationally, and making the teaching aspect of this art form a central part of the experience. The bachelor of fine arts in dance, which started in 1998, focuses on three fundamental elements of study to support students living life on a dancer’s journey: performance, creativity and pedagogy. All of these were fundamental to the creative life of Shirlee Dodge.

There are many ways to measure success. One is to look at the success of the pupils. While an educator cannot take credit for students’ innate talents, mentors like Dodge do play an undeniable role in nurturing talents to realize their fullest potentials. Possibly one of the greatest successes has been that of alumnus Tommy Tune, winner of nine Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts, to whom Dodge was an important “haven of sanity.” (Tune, 1998) Tune is a hard act to follow, yet theatre and dance alumni continue to impact the field with great success from New York to Los Angeles; from Maine to Mexico; onstage, behind the scenes and in the studio.

Today’s university dance program is a true partner in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and is considered a model for other programs. The department has evolved greatly since the days of creative dance in P.E. programs. The dance program is developing scholarships, taking students to Europe to perform and study, presenting choreography at the Kennedy Center, and seeking ways to constantly improve the student experience through repertoire, facility improvements, and guest artist interactions. The momentum is compelling. Dance at the university stands to continue as a driving force in the department, the college and the nation.

Contributed by David Justin, Associate Professor of Dance

Photography courtesy of Pam and Edmund McIlhenny

The Shirlee Dodge Theatre and Dance Endowment was recently established by Shirlee’s daughter, Pam McIlhenny and her husband Edmund. This endowment will honor Professor Dodge’s legacy by supporting The University of Texas at Austin dance program and awarding scholarships to the most talented dance students.

To be a part of this meaningful tribute to Shirlee Dodge, you may make a gift online or by check made payable to ‘The University of Texas at Austin’ and mail to:

Michele Baylor, Director of Development
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Theatre and Dance
1 University Station, D3900
Austin, TX 78712

For additional information, please contact Michele Baylor at 512-475-6291.

Gregg Hilmar (MFA '86) publishes "Light Plots Deconstructed"

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:24:13 -0500

The fourth edition of Gregg Hillmar’s (MFA ‘86) book “Light Plot Deconstructed” hits the shelves in March. Written for Vectorworks Spotlight 2012, the theatrical lighting industry standard CAD software, this tutorial manual is based on Gregg’s successful Vectorworks Spotlight demonstrations and training courses. Gregg provides a short, accessible, and easy to follow look at Vectorworks Spotlight as an addition to the Vectorworks Manuals.

Gregg (MFA, 1986) is a scenic and lighting designer based in Richmond, Virginia. Gregg’s work has been seen at theatre, dance and opera productions across the country. Non-theatre work includes designing galleries, lighting museum exhibits, and designing convention booths and stages. Gregg has written about Vectorworks in many industry publications and has provided training for professional theatres, dance companies, businesses, educational institutions and individuals. He has done training seminars at USITT, LDI, SETC, and other industry organizations and conventions. Gregg is an associate professor of theatre design and technology at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, the union for professional theatrical designers and artists, and can be visited on the web at www.hillmardesign.com.

The Department of Theatre and Dance to Host PORTFOLIO 2012: The Future of Performance Design and Technology

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:25:27 -0500

Date: April 23, 2012

Event: The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents PORTFOLIO 2012, an exhibition celebrating the work of emerging artists in costume design, lighting design, scenery, media and technology. The annual showcase offers behind-the-scenes access as attendees see imagination manifest itself in works for the stage and film.

In conjunction with PORTFOLIO 2012, the department will host a public lecture by scenic designer Thomas A. Walsh on April 29. Walsh has been recognized with an array of awards including an Emmy for his designs for CBS’s critically acclaimed series, Buddy Faro, and his origination of the hit ABC series, Desperate Housewives, a show for which he designed the pilot and its first 84 episodes.

When:
Opening Reception and Exhibition: April 29, 4-6 p.m.

Exhibition: April 30-May 3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and May 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Lecture: “Narrative Design Training for the Digital Sandbox” by Thomas A. Walsh, April 29, 6 p.m.

Where:
PORTFOLIO 2012 and Thomas A. Walsh’s lecture will be held in the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre, located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN) at the intersection of 23rd Street and San Jacinto Boulevard.

Tickets: Admission is free and open to the public.

Background:
PORTFOLIO 2012 highlights the work of 35 artists from The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance. Showcasing initial ideas born in drawings to fully realized works, the annual exhibit includes costumes, millinery, armor and lighting and scenic designs for the stage and film.

A nationally recognized program, the Department of Theatre and Dance has numerous successful alumni, including Tony Award-winning designer Kevin Adams (Spring Awakening, American Idiot). PORTFOLIO 2012 offers attendees the exclusive opportunity to view innovative works and meet the artists, who are preparing to launch their careers.

Guest artist Thomas A. Walsh is a narrative designer whose body of work encompasses feature films, IMAX, television, documentaries, theatrical dramas and musicals. On Broadway he designed the world premieres of Zoot Suit and Children of a Lesser God, the latter of which received the Tony Award for Best Play (1980). Walsh is the president of the Art Directors Guild and co-chairman of its Film Society.

Walsh’s lecture “Narrative Design Training for the Digital Sandbox” explores the expansion of digital media and the collaborative nature of creation for film, television and the stage.

Contact: Cassie Gholston, gholston [at] austin.utexas.edu, (512) 232.5301

Join the conversation on facebook.

"What a Stranger May Know"

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:21:00 -0500

Date: April 13, 2012

The University of Texas at Austin presents “What a Stranger May Know”
A site-specific outdoors reading of a play to commemorate 32 lives lost in the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting

Event: Students, faculty and staff of The University of Texas at Austin community will participate in a daybreak tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings on April 16. “What a Stranger May Know” is a series of 32 plays, one for each victim, written by Erik Ehn, an internationally known artist-activist and the director of playwriting at Brown University.

When: April 16, 2012 at 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Where: The outdoor performance takes place on The University of Texas at Austin’s South Mall at Inner Campus Drive, Austin, Texas 78712.

Background: The University of Texas at Austin’s outdoor reading will follow Erik Ehn’s ambitious, plays-within-a-play format as a series of monologues. “What a Stranger May Know” is produced by Isaac Gomez, Michael Massey, Megan McQuaid and Sam Gorena, undergraduate students from the university’s Department of Theatre and Dance. The event will take place at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 16, on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy, during the time of its occurrence in 2007.

Twenty-seven student actors will be scattered in different stations across the university’s South Mall leading up to the Tower, reading their 90-minute monologues simultaneously. Members of the audience are free to move about, wandering through the scenes as the stories unfold, or to stay with one selection throughout its entirety.

This community performance reaches beyond The University of Texas at Austin’s campus. “What a Stranger May Know” will be presented on April 16 at Santa Clara University, Brown University, City College of New York, Brandeis University, University of Ulster, The New School, The University of Texas at Arlington, Whittier College.

Join the conversation on facebook.

Contact: Cassie Gholston, gholston [at] austin.utexas.edu
Isaac Gomez, isaacgomez8 [at] yahoo.com

PHOTO CALL: First Look at “Love’s Labour’s Lost” photos by Jeff...

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:07:00 -0500

PHOTO CALL: First Look at “Love’s Labour’s Lost”

photos by Jeff Heimsath.

Ears, Eyes + Feet, May 4-5

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:00:00 -0500

The Department of Theatre and Dance presents Ears, Eyes + Feet, collaborative works by composers, choreographers and video artists from The University of Texas at Austin.

May 4, 5 at 8:00 p.m.
B. Iden Payne Theatre

The performances are free and open to the public.

About Ears, Eyes + Feet
This annual performance of collaborative invention and experimentation showcases the talents of students and faculty from the Butler School of Music and Department of Theatre and Dance. Works include:

Accumulation Formal by Ellen Bartel
Combining movement and contemporary acoustic chamber music, ten dancers and five musicians take the stage and reveal a dynamic connection to humanity.

Dervish by Aly DelCueto
Inspired by the idea of whirling dervish, one that possesses abundant/frenzied energy, DelCueto’s work is an exploration of feminine power, combat, strength, survival, exhaustion, struggle, and athleticism.

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 <tel:10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1> by Angela Falcone
A discovery about the number of ways one can find his/her “zero.”

Untitled by Courtney Mazeika and Cooper Neely
An examination of the balance between opposition, synchronization, and experiences that one can or cannot control.

Untitled by Chell Parkins
Is there a connection between the seismic activity of earthquakes and the electrical activity in the brain in gran mal seizures? This piece explores the personal experience of watching a loved one having a seizures and the seismic activity of the brain.

Questionable Conclusions by Chelsea Pierce
An investigation of an endless search for something that seemed clear, but is quickly lost and distant; something that fizzles unknowingly, or abruptly comes to life again.

Untitled by Mackenzie Taylor
A peek into the complexities of human life and how the network can be broken down to reveal something more primal.

Untitled by Morgan Taylor
Testing the question of “How far can you manipulate something until it begins to lose its original purpose?”, Taylor delves into the limits of form and how far it can be changed while retaining its earliest idea.

The B. Iden Payne Theatre is housed in the Winship Drama Building, located at 300 East 23rd Street, Austin, Texas 78712, on The University of Texas at Austin campus.

For more information, call 512-471-5793.

Tell us you’re coming and join in on the conversation on facebook!

Chelsea Roach (BA 2010) stars in acclaimed play "Foreign Lands"

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:47:49 -0500

Chelsea Roach (BA 2010) stars in acclaimed play "Foreign Lands"

New Professorship and Center Posthumously Honor Theater Historian

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:54:46 -0500

New Professorship and Center Posthumously Honor Theater Historian

PHOTO CALL: “Love’s Labour’s Lost” in...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:11:00 -0500

PHOTO CALL: “Love’s Labour’s Lost” in Rehearsal

Stay tuned for a sneak peak of photos from the show!

photos by Raymond Thompson.

Dark Play or Stories for Boys, April 27-29

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:21:00 -0500

About the play
An unpopular teenager, Nick spends his days online, where he quickly discovers an addictive pleasure in creating fake personalities in a teen chat room. It’s here he meets Adam, a young man in search of love. In response Nick creates a fictional dream girl for Adam. Obsession builds and catastrophe looms as fantasy and reality collide.

A story for the Internet age, Dark Play or Stories for Boys is a coming-of-age tale of desire and the consequences of deception.

For director Jeremy Lee Cudd, “This is a story about a defining, transformational experience – one of those times in your life when you do several years of growing up in just moments. Nick discovers his powers to create and to destroy. He becomes intimately acquainted with the worst parts of himself and experiences hell as a place of his making – a place where you are separated from love by a lie. But telling the truth conjures the scariest question of all: Am I worthy of being loved…as I truly am?”

Performances:
April 27, 28 at 8:00 p.m.
April 28 and 29 at 2:00 p.m.

Winship Room 2.180

Admission is free. Seating is limited.

This is play is approximately 75 minutes. There is no intermission.
Dark Plays or Stories for Boys has adult language and mature content.

The Winship Drama Building is located at 300 East 23rd Street, Austin, Texas 78712, on The University of Texas at Austin campus.

Tell us you’re coming and join the conversation on facebook!

For more information, call 512-471-5793.

PORTFOLIO: The Future of Performance Design & Technology, April 29 - May 5

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:38:00 -0500

Opening Reception: April 29, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition Hours:
April 29, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
April 30 – May 3, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
May 5, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Public Lecture by guest artist Thomas A. Walsh
“Narrative Design Training for the Digital Sandbox”
April 29, 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.

Oscar G. Brockett Theatre

About PORTFOLIO 2012
The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents PORTFOLIO 2012, an exciting exhibition celebrating the work of emerging artists in costume design, lighting design, scenery, media, and technology. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Come see how imagination manifests itself on stage and film!

Above: Costume design by Yao Chen for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

In conjunction with PORTFOLIO 2012, the Department of Theatre and Dance will host a public lecture by scenic designer Thomas A. Walsh on April 29 at 6:00 p.m. in the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre.

Walsh is a narrative designer whose body of work encompasses feature films, IMAX, television, documentaries, theatrical dramas and musicals. He has been recognized with an array of awards including an Emmy for his designs for CBS’s critically acclaimed series, Buddy Faro, and his origination of the hit ABC series, Desperate Housewives, a show for which he designed the pilot and its first 84 episodes.On Broadway he designed the world premieres of Zoot Suit and Children of a Lesser God, the latter of which received the Tony Award for Best Play (1980).

Walsh’s lecture “Narrative Design Training for the Digital Sandbox” explores the expansion of digital media and the collaborative nature of creation for film, television and the stage. Admission is free and open to the public.

Tell us you’re coming and join the conversation on facebook!

For more information, call 512-471-5793.

A sampling of works by the artists in this year’s showcase.

The Tempest, Scenic Design by Chris H. Yoo

Susan MacCorkle sculpting a mask. Photo: Renee Berthelette

Static, Scenic Design by Rowan Doyle

UTNT (UT New Theatre) presents Static by Tom Horan. Photo: Tom Horan

Yao Chen (L) and Renee Berthelette fitting Stephanie Busing for Armor Making. Photo: Renee Berthelette

Alumnus Fred Parker (BA '03) Broadway Bound

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:21:23 -0500

Fred Parker (BA 2003) is Broadway-bound with a the role in Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, starring James Earl Jones, John Larroquette, Candice Bergen, Angela Lansbury and Eric McCormack. “I portray an inexperienced young journalist who is trying to keep up with the fast-paced political swirl,” Parker explains. “It’s a small role, but a stellar learning opportunity for my first Broadway production.”

Prior to this break Parker had recently booked the role of a pleasant-but-persistent waiter in the Holiday Madness episode of the new 90210 television series. He has guest-starred in Comedy Central’s web series Never Do This, and has had lead roles in the festival-winning films Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace and Crush.

The Art of Giving Back: Tanya Schurr (BA '08)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:31:55 -0500

Tanya Schurr’s job isn’t your typical “9 to 5”. As the production coordinator for Flow Nonfiction, the 2008 bachelor of arts alumna juggles office management, accounting, and produces on and off-set film shoots. Every day has a new set of challenges to tackle. And Schurr wouldn’t change a minute of it.

A self-proclaimed “theatre nerd” in her youth, Schurr discovered a love for stage management in high school and elected to pursue her degree at The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance. She explains, “After looking at competitive and high dollar schools like NYU, Carnegie Mellon, and conservatories like Webster, I felt that I might want to take a few non-theatre courses and earn a more well-rounded education. I looked back at my hometown and UT was my answer. I remember meeting with faculty member Denise Martel. I was in awe of the possibilities offered.”

Martel quickly became one of Schurr’s mentors. Schurr shares, “Denise’s stage management classes were so much about what to expect as a real world stage manager. We created production binders, shadowed other stage managers, and had a chance to step behind the scenes of many main stage shows at Bass Concert Hall to meet Broadway crews who offered priceless advice and connections to the business. Denise was the one that saw potential in me and gave me the opportunities to stage manage shows from the start.”

During her junior year, Schurr volunteered to stage manage Wireless-less, a new play produced in conjunction with the University Co-op Presents the Cohen New Works Festival. The fortuitous meeting of Schurr and Wireless-less playwright David Modigliani (MFA 2007) led to their ongoing collaboration. Schurr went on to serve as assistant producer for Modigliani’s acclaimed documentary Crawford, and then joined Modigliani at Flow Nonfiction, an Austin-based production company that makes documentary content for socially conscious companies.

Schurr’s favorite project to date is Flow Nonfiction’s short film Espwa, which means “Hope” in Haitian Creole. Partnering with Procter & Gamble’s Tide Loads of Hope program, Flow Nonfiction filmed the company’s volunteers delivering donated washers and dryers to a local hospital and orphanage in Port Au Prince following the Haiti earthquake. Schurr says, “The post-earthquake conditions were devastating, but the positive Haitians we interviewed and the beautiful, smiling children we spent time with at the orphanage gave me a sense of hope. It was a truly eye opening experience and has made me a stronger person.” Flow Nonfiction is currently working on a film about meningitis awareness for the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.

It has been four years since Schurr’s graduation, and her work and talents are making a national impact. Reflecting on her time at the university, Schurr offers her insight for students. “Take advantage of the incredible opportunities both in and around the Department of Theatre and Dance. Take the Business Foundation courses and you’ll be glad you did no matter where you end up. Join a campus organization, like Rotaract,” she advises. “Most importantly, build strong relationships with people, which as a theatre kid, shouldn’t be too tough! It’s all about enjoying the time you have and appreciating the community that you’re a part of.”

Photography courtesy of Flow Nonfiction

Alumnus Fadi Skeiker Published in "Applied Theatre Researcher"

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:32:05 -0500

Fadi Skeiker’s (PHD 2009) article “Performing Orphanage Experience: Applied Theatre Practice in a Refugee Camp in Jordan” has been published in Applied Theatre Researcher. He is an assistant professor of theatre arts at The University of Jordan in Amman.

Bill Green (BFA '50) Returns to His First Love - Acting

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:18:49 -0500

Bill Green (BFA 1950) has been a member of The Drilling Company, a New York-based equity theatre company, for the past eight years. This season Bill is playing the role of “Sheriff Bart” in The Great Pecan, a new comedy about a cockeyed pecan festival and beauty contest set in Seguin, Texas. In addition, he recently performed in an outdoor production of Hamlet as “The Ghost” and “The Player King”, and in The Seagull as “Sorin”. Prior to returning to his first love of acting, Bill wrote and directed thousands of on-air promotions of ABC Television as well as published six novels.