The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Performances will be held Feb. 13-15 and Feb. 20-22 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

A beloved classic, “Twelfth Night” remains one of Shakespeare’s most iconic romantic comedies, featuring love, laughter and above all, secrets. Surviving a harrowing shipwreck and believing her closest companion and brother to be dead, Viola assumes a new identity as a boy, Cesario, to survive her new reality in a foreign land. But when she meets the Duke, who tasks her with wooing his love, Olivia, chaos and confusion ensue. As Olivia’s love for Cesario blooms, Viola must grapple with her budding love for the Duke and the seeming loss of her brother Sebastian. This production contains non-traditional casting as well as adult themes and situations that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Director Darryl Thompson Norton brings this production to the stage alongside a team of UWF faculty and students. Thompson Norton is an adjunct professor of theatre history. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from UWF and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida. He remains an active performer and theatre historian, having received multiple acting awards and grant funding for his theatre history work. His areas of study are Ancient Greek and Roman theatre, Commedia dell’ arte and Shakespearean theatre.

Returning to UWF after 25 years of theatre experience, Darryl is thrilled to be back at his alma mater. “The students here are so dedicated to the craft,” said Thompson Norton. “It is an absolute pleasure to be a part of their development and passion for the theatre.”

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. All paid ticket purchases are subject to a $2 service fee. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets.

The University of West Florida’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities is proud to announce the lineup of spring events for this year’s Gulf Coast Culture Series: Pensacola Noir. The Gulf Coast Culture Series is an evolution of the longstanding Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series. Launched in 2024, GCC expands beyond lectures to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the U.S. Gulf Coast Region through events linked by yearly themes.

This year’s GCC theme, Pensacola Noir, is inspired by gritty crime fiction and film noir traditions. The fall semester offered a roundtable with three of Pensacola’s most prominent crime writers, a twilight cemetery tour exploring the shadowed corners of the city’s past, and a discussion on how “Murder, She Wrote” shaped pop culture’s fascination with forensic science, while the first event of the spring series presented a lecture on Southern Gothic photography by a nationally recognized curator. The spring events will continue to weave together these themes of history, art and Southern Gothic storytelling through the lens of the Gulf Coast region through a film screening and live performance.

“There has been a fantastic and really gratifying community response to these events,” said Dr. David M. Earle, professor and dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. “The last few events in this year’s theme shift away from looking at Southern aspects of noir and turn instead to performing it. We have another great theme for next year’s series which we’ll be announcing soon.”

The events planned for this spring include:

• Feb. 15, 2026 – Valentine’s Noir: “The Thin Man” Film Screening: UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and the John C. Pace Symposium Series are proud to present a screening of “The Thin Man,” a 1934 pre-Code comedy-mystery film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and based on Dashiell Hammett’s novel. The film stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, a witty, glamorous couple whose flirtatious banter and unconventional detective work helped define the genre. Guests are invited to enjoy the film in a classic theatre setting at the Pensacola Little Theatre, complete with movie popcorn, traditional theatre candy and sodas. The matinee begins at 2:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public
• March 26, 2026 – The UWF Noir Radio Hour: “The Maltese Falcon” Live Performance: UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the John C. Pace Symposium Series and the Jewelers Trade Shop, in partnership with WUWF 88.1FM and RadioLive, are proud to present UWF Noir Radio Hour, a live 1930’s radio drama-style performance of “The Maltese Falcon.” The production features actors performing at the microphone, live organ music, live sound effects and period-style commercial performances, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at how classic radio storytelling was created. The performance is staged in theatre-in-the-round and is designed to encourage audience engagement through live reactions, applause and laughter. This interdisciplinary production involves students and faculty from multiple UWF departments, including Communication, English, Theatre and Dr. Grier Williams School of Music. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required and seating is limited to 100.

The Gulf Coast Culture Series underscores the college’s mission to enrich, educate and connect the community by celebrating the traditions, stories and creative expressions that make the Gulf Coast extraordinary. Through immersive programming, GCC fosters curiosity, creativity, communication and compassion, bringing the liberal arts to life in new and impactful ways.

For more information on the Gulf Coast Culture Series, visit uwf.edu/gulfcoastculture.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Performances will be held Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

A multi-Tony award-winning musical combining the worlds of opera and rock into a gripping and witty gospel, the renowned “Jesus Christ Superstar” traces Jesus’ final days through the eyes of his most unexpected disciple, Judas Iscariot. Embellished with all the rhythm and funk of the 1970s, we dive deeper into the lives of iconic biblical figures like Mary Magdalene and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John entirely through song. Captivating audiences for over fifty years, this musical gospel brings new meaning to some of the Bible’s most iconic and compelling moments. This production contains non-traditional casting as well as adult themes and situations that may not be suitable for all audiences. This production will incorporate the use of strobe lights and atmospheric effects that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Director Sara Schoch leads the team of UWF faculty and students for this production. Schoch is an associate professor and directs the BFA musical theatre program. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Brandeis University.

Schoch is an award-winning actress who combines her 15 years of musical theater experience with her passion for teaching students the techniques of the profession. In 2015, she was recognized by the city of Boston as a certified artist, a designation given to artists who have substantial talent and whose vast body of work contributes significantly to the arts in Boston and state as a whole. She is also a two-time winner and four-time nominee for the New Hampshire Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical, which she won in 2012 for her performance as Mother in “Ragtime.”

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents “Steel Magnolias.” Performances will be held Oct. 10-12 and Oct. 17-19 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

A heartfelt modern classic, “Steel Magnolias” by Robert Harling explores a rich culture of friendship through the lens of a small town. Join the women of Chinquapin, Louisiana, at Truvy’s hair salon for your weekly dose of love, laughter and tears in this timeless dramatic comedy. Truvy, the owner and center for all news and gossip in town; Clairee Belcher, former first lady of Chinquapin; Ouiser Boudreaux, the town’s wealthy old bitty who always has an opinion that must be shared; Annelle, the shy and quiet junior hairdresser; M’Lynn, a charming career woman; and Shelby, her daughter, gain so much more than a fresh blow-dry at Truvy’s Beauty Spot each week. “Steel Magnolias” illustrates the bonds of womanhood, “delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel” as they navigate the joys and sorrows of life. This production contains adult themes and situations and may not be suitable for all audiences.

Marci Duncan leads the team as director of this production. In addition to being an accomplished actress and director, she serves as the director of the BFA acting program and an assistant professor of acting at UWF. Duncan is currently in her 18th year of teaching and continues to be an active professional, performing both on stage and on screen. Her credits include professional camera appearances for Disney, Verizon Wireless, Neaxium Films and Lifetime TV. Her credits include roles in the Lifetime TV Network movie “Life is not a Fairytale: Fantasia Barrino Story” and the urban drama “Just Another Day.” Most recently, Duncan was featured in the NBC comedy “Young Rock,” and the one-woman show “Florida Girls” at Emerald Coast Theatre Company, as well as directed “The Mountaintop” and James Webb’s award-winning play “The Contract” at Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, Virginia. As a playwright and actor, Duncan tours frequently in her award-winning original play “DISSONANCE.” In addition to her performing and directing work, Duncan also provides actor coaching through her acting studio, Artists at Play. Duncan currently chairs the Southeastern Theatre Conference Auditions Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Florida A&M University and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida.

Joining Duncan on the creative team is Harlan D. Penn (scenic designer) as well as UWF students Annaleese Frasier (costume designer), Caroline Becker (wig & makeup designer), NyLa Parker (lighting designer) and Sean Travis (sound designer).

Harlan D. Penn is a proud graduate of Florida A&M University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The South Florida native has designed for off-Broadway, Off Off Broadway, cable television, regional theatre and educational theatre. In addition, Penn has served as an art director and assistant art director for film & television productions for Netflix, Hulu, ABC/Disney, NBC, Hallmark Movie Channel, CBS and Turner Broadcasting. Theatre design credits include: “For Colored Girls,” “Blues for an Alabama Sky,” “On Striver’s Row,” “Flyin’ West,” “Dreamgirls,” “Seven Guitars,” “Gem of the Ocean,” “Jitney,” “Radio Golf,” “King Hedley II,” “Chained Dog,” “Drumline Live” (International Tour), “The Mighty Gents,” “Camp Logan,” “Buried Child,” “Looking,” “Catch Me If You Can,” and “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby” to name a few. Film/TV productions include “Go Friended Me,” “For Life,” “Girls 5Eva,” “The Last O.G.,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Raising Kanan,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” “Fire Island,” “The Noel Diary,” “Rise,” “Madame Secretary,” “Katy Keene,” and “Roland Martin Unfiltered.” Penn has served as assistant scenic designer to scenic designer Felix E. Cochren on productions at The McCarter Theatre, Geva Theatre, Syracuse Stage, The Goodman Theatre, Virginia Stage Company and The Cleveland Playhouse and is also a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and IASTE/United Scenic Artist Local 829 in the scenic design and scenic art category. In addition, Harlan made his operatic design debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s world premiere production of “Factotum” (hip-hop opera) in January 2023. Mr. Penn is currently an assistant professor of scenic design at York College in Jamaica, Queens, NY.

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. All paid ticket purchases are subject to a $2 service fee. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets.

Tackling the universal struggles of adolescence, community and belonging, “Akeelah and the Bee” was adapted for the stage by Cheryl L. West, based on Doug Atchison’s original screenplay. In a city where being book-smart gets you nowhere and being street-smart is essential, 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson feels trapped. She is brilliant, but her home life often makes school feel like a chore. When Akeelah finds herself winning her school’s spelling bee, her book-smart brain is suddenly on display for the world to see. Determined to find meaning in spelling, she sets her sights on the National Spelling Bee. Will passion and determination be enough for Akeelah to take home the coveted win? Or will struggling to connect with her peers, family and community be the true challenge?

In addition to being an accomplished actress and director, Marci Duncan, director of the production, serves as the director of acting and an assistant professor of acting at UWF.  Duncan is currently in her eighth year of teaching and continues to be an active director, performing both on stage and on screen. Her credits include professional camera appearances for Disney, Verizon Wireless, Neaxium Films and Lifetime TV. Among her credits include roles in the Lifetime TV Network movie, “Life is not a Fairytale: Fantasia Barrino Story” and the urban drama, “Just Another Day.” Most recently, Duncan was featured in the NBC comedy “Young Rock,” the one-woman show, “Florida Girls,” at Emerald Coast Theatre Company as well as directing “The Mountaintop” and James Webb’s award-winning play, “The Contract” at Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, Virginia. As playwright and actor, Duncan tours frequently in her award-winning original play “DISSONANCE.” In addition to her performing and directing work, Duncan also provides actor coaching through her acting studio, Artists at Play. 

Duncan currently chairs the Southeastern Theatre Conference Auditions Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Florida A&M and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida.  

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. All paid ticket purchases are subject to a $2 service fee. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets. 

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, the classic Peanuts gang comes to life in this musical adaptation of Charles M. Schulz’s beloved mid-century comic strip. Originally debuting off-Broadway in 1967, this vibrant production revolves around the daily antics of Charlie Brown and friends Schroeder, Lucy, Sally, Linus and Snoopy, who push and pull each other through various musical numbers and escapades. Ultimately, through an environment of friendship, Charlie and generations of audiences have had the opportunity to come together as a community and explore what being a ‘good man’ really means, which is treating others with respect and empathy. 

In her directing debut, Dr. Rachel Gibson leads the team of UWF students in this production. Gibson earned her bachelor’s degree from Millsaps College, her Master of Music degree at Southern Methodist University and her doctoral degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. A Mississippi transplant, she has called Pensacola home since just before the pandemic. Gibson serves as an adjunct instructor of voice at UWF and remains an active operatic performer, appearing on stages across the South, Germany and Italy. Her most representative operatic roles are Carmen in Bizet’s “Carmen” Maddalena in “Rigoletto” and Dorabella in “Così Fan Tutte.” She will next perform in Mobile Opera’s “Hansel and Gretel” production in October 2024. 

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. 

Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285, or online at uwf.edu/tickets. Please note, due to the configuration of the seating area, once the play has started, no one will be allowed to enter the space until intermission. 

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Performances will be held April 12, 13, and 14 and April 19, 20, and 21 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

With music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a multi-Tony award-winning musical with its original Broadway run starting in April 2006. Written as an homage to the American musicals of the Jazz Age, the story revolves around The Man in Chair, a mousy, agoraphobic Broadway fanatic who, in an effort to cure his ennui comes home every night and listens to a recording of his favorite 1928 musical comedy, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” As he listens to the record, the musical comes to life around him.

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. 

Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285, or online at uwf.edu/tickets. 

Due to adult subject matter, this show may not be appropriate for all audiences.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” entitled “Macbeth: Sands of Fate” adapted by Ashley McGlothren. Performances will be held February 16 – 18 and February 23 – 25 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Besser Studio Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by environmental disasters and societal collapse, Macbeth: Sands of Fate reimagines Shakespeare’s classic tragedy within a barren wasteland covered in shifting sands. This desolate setting, reminiscent of a once-thriving civilization now reduced to ruins, adds a new layer of symbolism to the tale of power, ambition, and moral decay.

“The stage is transformed into a stark landscape, giving the feeling of a land full of towering sand dunes, remnants of crumbling structures, and a constant haze,” said Ashley McGlothren, adaptor and director of the production.” The aesthetic is a fusion of dystopian and medieval, where remnants of technology coexist with makeshift medieval-style costumes and weaponry.”

Due to the seating configuration, tickets are extremely limited and latecomers will not be admitted. General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. 

Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets. 

Due to adult subject matter, this show may not be appropriate for all audiences. This production is set in a non-traditional setting with non-traditional casting.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents the “Rocky Horror Picture Show with Shadow Cast.” Performances will be held November 18 at 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. Both performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Perfor

It won’t be a typical movie-going experience – a live “shadow cast” of performers will take the stage with the film playing behind them. The audience is also an active part of the show with chants, props, dances and more!
The Rocky Horror Picture Show has such an enduring legacy because it is fun, noisy and rude. It only exists today because of the worldwide dedicated fan base and incredible “shadow casts.” Three generations of partygoers have passed it down from one to another.”

General admission ticket prices are $15 per person. Show Kits/Prop Bags can be purchased online for $5. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets. 18+ Adult Audiences Only.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents the musical “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” Performances will be held September 22-24 and September 29, 30 and October 1 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Besser Studio Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

Take a step back in time with this wonderful Jukebox musical. Follow Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy at their Senior Prom for Springfield High School in 1958 as the four best friends look to their future and how all their hopes and dreams will come true. We next meet them as they perform for their 10-year reunion. As always, life never really turns out exactly the way that we imagined it but true friends are eternal. Featuring hit songs from the ’50s and ’60s, The Marvelous Wonderettes is a nostalgia-packed show that will have you singing and dancing in your seats.

Director, Sara Schoch, leads the team of UWF students in this production. She is an assistant professor teaching musical theater. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Brandeis University. 

Schoch is an award-winning actress who combines her 15 years of musical theater experience with her passion for teaching students the techniques of the profession.  

In 2015, she was recognized by the city of Boston as a certified artist, a designation given to artists who have substantial talent and whose vast body of work contributes significantly to the arts in Boston and the state as a whole. She is also a two-time winner and four-time nominee for the New Hampshire Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical, which she won in 2012 for her performance as Mother in “Ragtime.”

As a professional actress, Schoch is continuously honing her craft. She has appeared in more than 150 professional productions and worked with many Broadway veterans, including Marc Kudish, Kerry O’Malley, Rob Gallagher, Raymond Sage, Robbie Sella and the legendary Jack Dabdoub. She played Jenny Hill in the premiere of Andrew Lippa’s “Big Fish,” rewritten by Lippa and screenwriter John August for a smaller cast in regional theaters. Her other production highlights include playing Cathy in “The Last 5 Years” (Artie nomination), Roxie in “Chicago,” Kate/Lilli in “Kiss me, Kate!” (New Hampshire nomination), Christine in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (New Hampshire nomination) and Julie in “Some Enchanted Evening” (Joseph Jefferson nomination).

Some of her students and mentees have appeared in the Broadway productions of “Aladdin,” “Finding Neverland,” “Les Miserables” and the revival of “The Color Purple.” 

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. 

Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets. Due to the configuration of the seating area, once the play has started, no one will be allowed to enter the space until intermission. 

Due to adult subject matter, this show may not be appropriate for all audiences.

The University of West Florida Department of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies and UWF Department of Theatre will present the James Meredith Trial Reenactment and Q&A on Saturday, September 16 at 4 p.m. The performance will be held in the Mainstage Theatre at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies will be collaborating with the Department of Theatre to put on a trial reenactment of the James Meredith trial. He was represented by Constance Baker Motley and integrated into the University of Mississippi. The performance will include theatre students, legal studies students and local attorneys. The trial will be reenacted from 4 to 5 p.m. A short Q&A and refreshments will follow. The event is generously co-sponsored by the Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Foundation.

In 1961, James Meredith applied for admission to the University of Mississippi. He was well qualified, had served honorably in the United States Air Force and had taken courses at several colleges. Yet, he was rejected. Meredith was Black and the university had never admitted a Black student.

Represented by Constance Baker Motley and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Meredith sued in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleging that the university had denied him admission because of his race.

The litigation was difficult and hard-fought. Although seven years had passed since the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, many in the South were still resisting the notion that segregation in public education was unconstitutional. Meredith would later describe the case as “the last battle of the Civil War.”

The summary is provided by Judge Denny Chin and Kathy Hirata Chin. The script was provided by Justice for All: Courts and the Community. Scripts for reenactments have been prepared by different organizations, including the Asian American Bar Association of New York and the Federal Bar Council Inn of Court. The scripts are made available by Justice for All with the permission of those organizations. Several different historic cases are available on the site and have been performed across the country. Information can be found at the following link: https://justiceforall.ca2.uscourts.gov/reenactments_instructions.html.

This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required for this event.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents Jane Austen’s “Emma.” Performances will be held April 14-16 and 21-23 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

Set in the same time period as the hit TV show Bridgerton, “Emma,” based on the novel by Jane Austen, and adapted for the stage by Sandra Fenichel Asher, pledges never to marry and focuses on her new-found passion, matchmaking. Her newest project, Harriet Smith, has already received a proposal, but Emma insists she should marry the eligible vicar Mr. Elton. Emma is warned by the family friend, Mr. Knightly, to give up matchmaking, but she ignores all warnings. When Emma discovers that Mr. Elton is more interested in her, she is forced to fend him off and find another suitor for Harriet. When Highbury welcomes two new guests, the mysterious Jane Fairfax and the charming Frank Churchill, things begin to get difficult! Emma finds herself falling in love with Frank Churchill, but decides Frank is better suited for Harriet only to discover that Harriet has fallen for Mr. Knightly! Emma suddenly realizes that SHE is in love with Mr. Knightly. Romantic entanglements ensue as everyone figures out their best match.

Director, Marci Duncan, is an accomplished actress and director and is currently in her seventh year as a UWF assistant professor of acting, teaching acting for the stage and camera along with being the director of the acting program.   

Duncan is a SAG and AFTRA actress who holds multiple credits in stage, film, commercial and television drama. Her credits include professional camera appearances for Disney, Verizon Wireless, Neaxium Films and Lifetime TV. Among her credits include roles in the Lifetime TV Network movie, “Life is not a Fairytale: Fantasia Barrino Story” and the urban drama, “Just Another Day.” Duncan completed a network series for NBC, “Young Rock” and a one-woman show called “Florida Girls” at Emerald Coast Theatre Company. Marci provides actor coaching with her acting studio, Artists at Play, and is currently on tour with her new original play, “DISSONANCE”.” She has also starred in “The Mountaintop” and James Webb’s award-winning play, “The Contract.” 

Duncan currently serves as chair for the Southeastern Theatre Conference Auditions Committee and as a board member for the Florida Theatre Conference. 

Duncan holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Florida A&M and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida.  

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets. 

University of West Florida theatre and English literature student Deja Gamble will present her original play “Wishful Thinking,” March 24-25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Besser Theatre at UWF’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Pensacola campus. Entrance is free and based on a first-come basis.

As a child growing up in West Palm Beach, Florida, Gamble was a natural creative dreamer. That creativity evolved into a love for writing short fiction stories and eventually, theatrical playwriting.

While still in high school, two of Gamble’s 10-minute plays were published and produced by Palm Beach Dramaworks which really sparked her love of playwriting for the stage.

The idea for “Wishful Thinking” came to Gamble when she was a senior in high school. “I saw a dandelion fly past me on a full moon night and thought that someone must have lost their wish,” Gamble said. “That sparked the idea and I went on to write the whole play in a span of two weeks. I have been rewriting and editing it ever since.”

“Wishful Thinking” takes place in a magical world of fairies who are responsible for granting human wishes. The main character, flower fairy Ollie Petal, finally gets to grant her first wish, but it is stolen from her. If she doesn’t find and grant that wish in one week, she will be executed by the king. It is a tale of goodness in a sometimes dark and scary world, and about the journey to fulfill a noble destiny.

In 2020, Gamble started her freshman year at UWF and found faculty in the theatre department dedicated to helping students hone their crafts and a community of students helping students.

Each week, theatre students are invited to attend a portion of the faculty meetings to provide input on potential department-sponsored productions and to submit proposals for student-led projects. In early 2022, Gamble was invited to hold a table reading of “Wishful Thinking” and later learned her play had received the green light.

“The energy at the table read was amazing,” Gamble said. “We laughed; we cried; there was applause at the end. It was a beautiful experience for me. After a few more rewrites, I thought the play was ready.”

Marci Duncan, assistant professor of acting, said once student proposals have been accepted, they are encouraged to begin searching for funding opportunities available through University resources.

“That search always starts with the Office of Undergraduate Research,” Duncan said. “Many of our theatre students have been awarded OUR grants to fund student-led productions, work studies, conference travel and professional audition fees.”

Gamble worked with the OUR team who explained grant opportunities and the application process. She was awarded a project grant through OUR and grants from UWF’s Alumni Association and Student Government Association. To fill in additional gaps in funding, Gamble made and sold backpack and clothing pins.

To help Gamble learn about getting a script produced and ready for the stage, she received an OUR work-study grant to develop the play under the mentorship of Duncan.

“Deja is smart, creative and very motivated,” Duncan said. “When she first started this process, she was very nervous about being able to write, produce and direct a play predominantly on her own. Since then, she has been gaining more confidence every day. I am so proud of how far she has come.”

OUR also encouraged Gamble to submit a proposal to have her play presented at the 2023 National Conference of Undergraduate Research in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. NCUR hosts almost 4,000 students from across the globe and features students from all fields and academic disciplines who present the results of their research and creative work. Gamble’s proposal was selected and “Wishful Thinking” will be performed by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire theatre department at the conference in April. Gamble will be in attendance to introduce the play and to answer audience questions afterward.

“UWF theatre has taught me what I really want to do in life,” Gamble said. “Now I know that my passion can be my profession, and that is playwriting.”

As Gamble completes her last semester at UWF, she is focused on big plans for her future which include applying for internships with professional theatre companies throughout the U.S. and saving for graduate school.

“Through all of these experiences, Deja has learned how to ask for help, build her confidence as an artist and really put herself out there,” Duncan said.” All are skills she will take with her into the world and help make a space for herself creatively as a young black woman.”

For more information about UWF’s Department of Theatre program, visit uwf.edu/theatre.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents the musical “Nine.” Performances will be held February 17-19 and 24-26 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

“Nine,” with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and script by Arthur Kopit, is based on Federico Fellini’s 1963 film “8½.” It tells the story of film director Guido Contini, who dreading his imminent 40^th birthday and facing a midlife crisis, must navigate his way through a creative block and a web of romantic difficulties. Guido’s wife, Luisa, has threatened to divorce him unless he gives more attention to their marriage, which is difficult to do when his saucy mistress, Carla, keeps showing up at the most inconvenient times! In an attempt to find peace and inspiration, Guido takes his wife on a trip to Venice. As Guido struggles to find his creative muse, he starts to lose track of what is fantasy and what is reality! It doesn’t help that Carla arrives in Rome to provide naughty distractions. Guido must come to terms with all the women in his life, both past and present. As he tries to create a new masterpiece, Guido must face the ultimate decision of life and death.

Director, Sara Schoch, leads the team of UWF students in this production. She is an assistant professor teaching musical theater. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Brandeis University. 

Schoch is an award-winning actress who combines her 15 years of musical theater experience with her passion for teaching students the techniques of the profession.  

In 2015, she was recognized by the city of Boston as a certified artist, a designation given to artists who have substantial talent and whose vast body of work contributes significantly to the arts in Boston and state as a whole. She is also a two-time winner and four-time nominee for the New Hampshire Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical, which she won in 2012 for her performance as Mother in “Ragtime.”

As a professional actress, Schoch is continuously honing her craft. She has appeared in more than 150 professional productions and worked with many Broadway veterans, including Marc Kudish, Kerry O’Malley, Rob Gallagher, Raymond Sage, Robbie Sella and the legendary Jack Dabdoub. She played Jenny Hill in the premier of Andrew Lippa’s “Big Fish,” rewritten by Lippa and screenwriter John August for a smaller cast in regional theaters. Her other production highlights include playing Cathy in “The Last 5 Years” (Artie nomination), Roxie in “Chicago,” Kate/Lilli in “Kiss me, Kate!” (New Hampshire nomination), Christine in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (New Hampshire nomination) and Julie in “Some Enchanted Evening” (Joseph Jefferson nomination).

Some of her students and mentees have appeared in the Broadway productions of “Aladdin,” “Finding Neverland,” “Les Miserables” and the revival of “The Color Purple.” 

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets. Due to the configuration of the seating area, once the play has started, no one will be allowed to enter the space until intermission. 

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” with music and lyrics by David Nehls and book by Betsy Kelso. Performances will be held December 2-4 and December 9-11 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

“The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” takes us to Armadillo Acres (North Florida’s premier mobile-living community) where everyone is filled with Christmas spirit and beer! But when a freak bout of amnesia strikes the park Scrooge (Darlene Seward), neighborly love is put to the test. Can the group rally to show Darlene the true meaning of Christmas? Can they take home the Mobile Homes and Gardens holiday decorating prize? It will be a cat-fightin’, chair-throwin’ good time – but with tinsel and Keg Nog!

Director, Sara Schoch, leads the team of UWF students in this production. She is an assistant professor teaching Musical Theater. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the State University of New York at Fredonia, and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Brandeis University. 

Schoch is an award-winning actress who combines her 15 years of musical theater experience with her passion for teaching students the techniques of the profession.  

In 2015, she was recognized by the city of Boston as a Certified Artist, a designation given to artists who have substantial talent and whose vast body of work contributes significantly to the arts in Boston and state as a whole. She is also a two-time winner, and four-time nominee, for the New Hampshire Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical, which she won in 2012 for her performance as Mother in “Ragtime.”

As a professional actress, Schoch is continuously honing her craft. She has appeared in more than 150 professional productions and worked with many Broadway veterans, including Marc Kudish, Kerry O’Malley, Rob Gallagher, Raymond Sage, Robbie Sella, and the legendary Jack Dabdoub. She played Jenny Hill in the premier of Andrew Lippa’s “Big Fish,” rewritten by Lippa and screenwriter John August for a smaller cast in regional theatres. Her other production highlights include playing Cathy in “The Last 5 Years” (Artie nomination), Roxie in “Chicago,” Kate/Lilli in “Kiss me, Kate!” (New Hampshire nomination), Christine in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (New Hampshire nomination), and Julie in “Some Enchanted Evening” (Joseph Jefferson nomination).

Some of her students and mentees have appeared in the Broadway productions of “Aladdin,” “Finding Neverland,” “Les Miserables,” and the revival of “The Color Purple.” 

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets. Due to the configuration of the seating area, once the play has started, no one will be allowed to enter the space until intermission. Recommended for mature audiences due to adult language and situations.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents “Blithe Spirit” by Noël Coward. Performances will be held October 21-23 and October 28-30 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Studio Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola Campus.

Noël Coward’s comedy “Blithe Spirit” revolves around socialite and novelist Charles Condomine who hopes to find material for his next book by holding a séance. However, he quickly learns that the marriage vow “Til death do us part” does not mean exactly what he thinks when the eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, conjures up the ghost of his temperamental first wife, Elvira. Despite him being happily married to his second wife, Ruth, Elvira refuses to let Charles go. Can Madame Arcati solve the problem that has now been created or will she continue to only make it worse?

Director Kayla May leads the creative team consisting of UWF student Brittney Barton, scenic designer; UWF student Becca Hall, costume designer; and Charles Houghton lighting designer.

Kayla May ’16 is an alum of the UWF Theatre program. Onstage at UWF, she was seen as Fanny in “On the Verge,” Christmas Past in “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas” and Violet in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” Since graduating she has worked professionally as the camps director for the summer seasons at the New London Barn Playhouse 2016-2022, and is founder, owner and director of Neighborhood Children’s Theatre here in Pensacola. Her professional acting credits include: Annelle in “Steel Magnolias” at Emerald Coast Theatre Company (upcoming), Grace Banker in “The Hello Girls” (PenArts) and Nurse/Ensemble in “The Secret Garden” at the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, NH.

General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets. Due to the configuration of the seating area, once the play has started, no one will be allowed to enter the space until intermission.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” written by C.S. Lewis and adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette. Performances will be held March 25-27 and April 1-3 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola Campus.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a timeless adventure and a classic for our age. The story follows four brave children who find a wardrobe that transports them into a magical and beautiful new world. Once there, they must choose sides and enter the battle between the righteous lion Aslan and the wicked White Witch. This story of love, faith, courage and giving, with its triumph of good over evil, is a true celebration of life.

Director Marci Duncan leads the creative team consisting of Holly Dixon, set designer; Anastasiia Sennikova, costume designer; Rafik Doujar, lighting designer; and Tom Baroco, sound designer.

General admission ticket prices are $18 per person for adults, $14 per person for senior citizens and active military, $12 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets.

University of West Florida theater and engineering students are collaborating to bring C.S. Lewis’ classic, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” to life this month at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, complete with an engineered puppet version of Aslan the lion. The partnership is made possible by a high impact practice grant, as well as two student grants from the Office of Undergraduate Research.

“This was the first project in a few years that has allowed us to collaborate on the more challenging pieces of the ‘Narnia’ production,” said Glenn Breed, professor of theater and project/technical lead for the production. “The grants helped us fund this project in a way that showcases University talent in multiple disciplines, emphasizing the impact of STEAM opportunities in higher education.”

As with all theater productions, UWF students have assumed major leadership roles to craft the production from start to finish. Seven theater students worked under the leadership of Marci Duncan, UWF assistant professor of acting, who serves as the show director to build Aslan and develop costume, makeup and wig design.

“This is a great opportunity for the theater and engineering students to work together in a way that usually keeps our departments apart,” Breed said. “The cross collaboration has proved very useful in sharing ideas and problem solving.”

Dr. Michael Reynolds, associate professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said he was approached before the Fall 2021 semester to assist in building a lion equipped with motion and the ability to be controlled by several actors inside. He recruited five first-year students in the Introduction to Engineering course to design the head, body and some of the animation features, under his guidance and that of Dr. Hakki Sevil, assistant professor of intelligent systems and robotics.

The students made great headway throughout the fall semester, and the lion was completed in early spring with the help of Kevin Gallup, program manager and computer numerical control machinist for mechanical engineering.

Reynolds said it was an invaluable experience for engineering students, not only to learn about balancing engineering principles with the needs of customers but also to see a design come to reality, while contributing to the UWF community.

“Every engineer needs to learn how to translate engineering knowledge to a design that meets the needs of the public,” Reynolds said. “These collaborations help both theater and engineering students understand each other and apply what they are learning. It’s exciting to see your design literally ‘come to life’ in a theater production.”

Since the Narnia books are frequently a part of school reading curriculum, this production also gives the theatre department the opportunity to reach younger audiences. Seeing the story that they have read come to life in front of them is a tremendous opportunity to show the power of theatre to students at a younger age. There will be one weekday student matinee with students from a variety of area schools in attendance. In addition, a number of smaller school groups will be attending the evening performances.

“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” will be performed at the UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts from March 25-27 and April 1-3. To view showtimes or purchase tickets, visit uwf.edu/cfpa.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents Shakespeare in Love based on the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, adapted for the stage by Lee Hall with music by Paddy Cunneen. Performances will be held Oct. 29-31 and Nov. 5-7 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the UWF Pensacola Campus.

Young Will Shakespeare has writer’s block and is late in finishing his most recent play “Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter”. He is in desperate need of inspiration until he finds his muse – Viola, a beautiful young woman who wants nothing more than to perform onstage, where women are not permitted.

Set amidst a bustling background of mistaken identity, ruthless scheming and backstage theatrics, Will and Viola’s love blossoms and their passionate, forbidden love affair goes on to inspire Shakespeare’s masterpiece, the most romantic tragedy ever written.

Director Christine Kellogg leads the creative team consisting of current students Brittney Barton, set designer; Kristen Taylor, costume designer; Cole Hudson, wig and makeup designer; and department chair Charles Houghton, lighting designer.

General admission ticket prices are $18 per person for adults, $14 per person for senior citizens and active military, $12 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets.

Throughout their lives, Valmae and Ron Besser were ardent advocates for the University of West Florida, supporters of the arts and committed to community improvements in Pensacola. Their longstanding history of generosity led to the establishment of three endowed scholarships at UWF.

After a 27-year career with the U.S. Navy, Ron Besser enrolled at UWF, graduating in 1992. From the 1990s until his passing in 2010, he took photos for the UWF student newspaper, The Voyager, as well as UWF Athletics, the Department of Theatre and other campus organizations and departments, earning the nickname “Papa Paparazzi.”

In 1999, the Bessers established two endowed scholarships—one for the Department of English and another for the Department of History. At the time, Val Besser explained their choice in departments saying, “Without English or history, you’re lost in the world. Without English, you can’t communicate and without history, you will continue to make the same mistakes.”

In 2010, Val Besser established a third scholarship endowment, created specifically for students working in theatre design and technical theatre programs. It was also at this time that they indicated that they would like to include the University in their estate plans. Following Val’s passing in summer 2019, the University learned it will receive a gift of approximately $2 million in support of their scholarship endowments.

“Val and Ron Besser provided a transformational gift for students in the departments of theatre, history and English,” said Howard J. Reddy, vice president for the Division of University Advancement. “Their commitment to higher education and the advancement of UWF students will live on as their legacy.”

For more information about giving to UWF, visit uwf.edu/give.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents, William Shakespeare’s “Othello.” Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, 25-26 and at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 and 27. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82 on the UWF Pensacola Campus.

Shakespeare’s “Othello” is one of his most intimate and devastating tragedies. It is a story about society, status and the nature of the outsider–but it is also a story about the love and trust between friends, and between men and women.

“This play is about love, trust, betrayal and honesty, especially trust,” said UWF theatre major Azayah Suggs, who plays the lead role of Othello. “There might be somebody in the audience who thinks this relates to me, because when I read the play my first thought was this man is really gullible.”

This is the second performance by Suggs since transferring to UWF from Coffeyville Community College, where he ran hurdles for the track and field team. Suggs decided to switch his focus from the track to the stage after watching a performance of “Antigone” during his final semester at the community college.

“I was like, whoa, that doesn’t look so bad. I can actually do this,” Suggs said. “After watching ‘Antigone,’ I was just so amazed. I really wanted to get on the stage.”

The desire to act lured Suggs back to his hometown of Pensacola. He enrolled at UWF, declared theatre as his major and debuted as the crab Sebastian when the UWF Department of Theatre presented Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” in February. Suggs wowed audiences with his stage presence and Jamaican accent as the loveable Sebastian, but the role of Othello requires him to channel a wide range of emotions.

“I feel I have to dig deeper when it comes to Othello because it’s not singing and dancing on stage,” he

said. “It’s more like how does he really feel about this. How can I make a character go crazy from happy to sad to mad to anger?”

Director Sara Schoch leads the creative team consisting of Hannah (Rock) Roccisano, fight choreographer, Charles Houghton, scenic & lighting designer, Glenn Avery Breed, costume designer and UWF student Joshua Hemming, sound designer. Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and military, $12 for UWF faculty and staff and non-UWF students, and $7 for high school students. UWF students get in free with a valid Nautilus card. Reserved seats can be purchased for an additional fee of $2 per seat. For more information or to reserve tickets, please contact the CFPA Box Office at (850) 857-6285 or online at uwf.edu/cfpa.

The University of West Florida Department of Music presents the UWF Singers in the concert “Arise!” The performance will take place on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1212 East Moreno St. in downtown Pensacola.

Under the direction of Dr. Peter Steenblik,the choral ensembles will present a program of dynamic highs and lows with texts by Anne Frank, Hafiz, Rumi and John Lennon. The moving words will be set to the music of such greats as Rachmaninoff, Betinis and Morley.

The centerpiece of the program is Tarik O’Regan’s “Triptych,” a meditation on death inspired by Rumi’s words: “So, why then should I be afraid? I shall die once again to rise an angel blest.”

Special guests will include the Pensacola West Percussion Ensemble, Pensacola Children’s Chorus, Dr. Leonid Yanovskiy as well as faculty and students from the UWF Department of Theatre.

This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required for this event. For more information, please contact the CFPA Box Office at 850.857.6285.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents “The Skin of Our Teeth”, a play by Thornton Wilder. Performances will be held April 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and April 15 and 22 at 2:30 p.m. All performances will take place in the Studio Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82.

“The Skin of Our Teeth” follows the Antrobus family – George and Maggie who have been married for 5,000 years, their children, Gladys and Henry, and their maid, Sabina, as they prepare for and endure one world-ending catastrophe after another. Combining farce, burlesque, satire and elements of the comic strip, this play broke free of the established theatrical conventions of the time and went on to win the 1943 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The members of the Antrobus family are allegorical representations of the human race as a whole. The themes of transformation and rebuilding spoke volumes to contemporary audiences in the uncertainty of the Second World War and they are no less pertinent today. Through his work Wilder reminds the audience that no matter what tragedies may come, no matter how bleak the prospects, one must never discount the indestructibility of humanity.

Director Marci Duncan leads the student creative team of Maranda Straub, set design; Elizabeth Blanco, costume design; and Jennifer Cullen, lighting design.

Ticket prices are $18 per person for adults, $14 per person for senior citizens and active military, $12 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre recently received a $25,000 check from Pensacola comedian James Terryl “T. Bubba” Bechtol in honor of his son Robert Clayton “Carter” Bechtol, who graduated from the UWF theatre program in 1998. The check presentation was held on Feb. 16 at the Center for Fine & Performing Arts on the opening night of UWF’s spring musical “The Music Man.”

The donation will establish an endowed scholarship for the Department of Theatre and will provide scholarships for juniors and seniors in the department. This is T. Bubba Bechtol’s second donation to the University; in 2015, his first gift of $25,000 set up a scholarship for women’s basketball. T. Bubba Bechtol supports higher education because of the opportunity he received after a college sports injury.

T. Bubba Bechtol, 2014 and 2015 Inspirational Country Music Association’s Comedian of the Year, serves as President of the Board at the Pensacola Little Theatre. As a comedian on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, he toured the world in support of his five comedy albums.

“I spent 30 years of my life in the performing arts. Carter had a great run as well, and we are both theatre people,” T. Bubba Bechtol said. “I hope that any student that gets assistance from this scholarship will know that someone like me or my son wanted to help them graduate and find a way to the stars.”

After graduating from UWF in 1998, Carter Bechtol went on to make six Hollywood movies before returning home. Now, T. Bubba Bechtol hopes to get him involved with his alma mater and other local theatre companies.

“UWF really helped me find the spark. I found it in the arts, in theatre, and that’s when the passion of what I wanted to do came to life. That was able to happen at UWF,” Carter Bechtol said. “So many people leave to go find themselves. The whole time, what I was looking for was right where I grew up.”

For more information about the UWF Department of Theatre, visit uwf.edu/theatre.