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Department of Theatre and Dance Blog | College of Fine Arts | University of Texas at Austin

, Filed Under: New Work, On Stage

Meet the Casts of UTNT (UT New Theatre) 2025

UTNT (UT New Theatre) is a collaborative showcase of new plays and readings by M.F.A. candidate playwrights from Texas Theatre and Dance and the Michener Center for Writers. Now in its 18th season, UTNT (UT New Theatre) continues to serve as a launching pad for the next generation of playwrights and directors. Many of the works debuted here continue on to be professionally produced across the country, giving the audience a special chance to get a taste of the future of theatre, right here in Austin. This year’s UTNT (UT New Theatre) presents works that span centuries and locations, featuring performers, designers and collaborators from The University of Texas at Austin and beyond.

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, Filed Under: Beyond the Stage, New Work, On Stage

Harnessing the Energy of the Cypher: Why CYPHERS is Performed “In the Round”

“This is not going to be your traditional black box theatre performance,” shares Gesel Mason, choreographer, professor, dancer and artistic director of CYPHERS. Mason stands in a corner of the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre, gesturing towards the rows of seats, the DJ booth and the circular projection screen suspended above the stage. The stage is surrounded by seating on all four sides, breaking the barrier between audience and performer. We spoke with Mason, student choreographer Megan Davidson and dancers Madeleine Birmingham and Bryli Lee Jameson to understand why audiences seated “in the round” is significant for CYPHERS and what opportunities it has presented for performers and viewers alike.

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, Filed Under: Beyond the Stage, On Stage

Honoring Complicated Truths and Childlike Wonder: A Dramaturg’s Reflection on JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

M.F.A. candidate and dramaturg Walker Zupan reflects on the importance of telling stories like James and the Giant Peach, which thoughtfully explore the challenging and beautiful truths of childhood – 

Several years ago, while reflecting on his work as a children’s book author, Matt de la Peña asked: “How honest should we be with our readers? Is the job of the writer for the young to tell the truth or preserve innocence?”

As dramaturg for James and the Giant Peach, currently onstage at The University of Texas at Austin’s B. Iden Payne Theatre, I’ve found myself grappling with similar questions. In particular, I’ve wondered: How much should we emphasize some of the darker elements of this classic Roald Dahl story? Does telling the truth and tending to the experience of our young audience members with sensitivity and care exist in contradiction?

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