Classes ended in April and since then students and faculty have hit the ground running, filling their summers with new projects and opportunities. Performing, directing, playwriting, design, education — Longhorns from all areas of the Department of Theatre and Dance are furthering their craft outside the classroom. Check out our summer updates for just a few examples of their wonderful work.
From April 19 to May 18, Barbara Chisholm (faculty) starred as “Ernestine” in Birthday Candles at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. The role was a demanding one: over the course of 90 minutes, Chisholm’s character aged from 17 to 107 without ever leaving the stage. A working oven was even used to bake a real cake during each performance. “Performing Birthday Candles has been one of the most rewarding creative experiences of my career,” said Chisholm. “Ultimately, we found that playing the truth and humanity was the key—not gimmicks or stereotypical tropes.”
On May 25, six recent graduates from the UT Live Design and Production program traveled to New York to participate in the National Design Portfolio Review, joining peers from across the country to share their work with industry professionals. UT presenters included 2025 M.F.A. graduates Katie Concannon, Marisa Lawrence, Gavin Strawnato, Zach Young, AJ Hurtado and Daniel Ruiz Bustos.
At Little Island in New York City, Lisa Laratta (faculty) was the scenic designer for The Counterfeit Opera, a new musical drawing on Threepenny Opera and Beggar’s Opera, directed by alum Dustin Wills (B.A. 2006).
In Houston, KJ Sanchez (faculty) returned to the Alley Theatre, where she previously directed American Mariachi, The Night Shift Before Christmas and Quixote Nuevo, among others. This summer, she had the opportunity to direct and reimagine Noël Coward’s Private Lives, relocating the story from 1920s Paris to 1930s Argentina and infusing it with tango. The lush 1930s costumes were designed by David Arevalo (faculty). The play ran from May 23 to June 15.
Megan Alrutz (faculty) was inducted into The University of Texas at Austin Academy of Distinguished Teachers, which recognizes outstanding educators. Members of the Academy advise university leadership on teaching policy, mentor new instructors and promote teaching effectiveness. Ramón H. Rivera-Servera, dean of the College of Fine Arts, called Professor Alrutz “an excellent teacher whose nationally renowned research and creative practice develops and theorizes new methods to more effectively engage youth in theatre making and spectating.”
On June 9 and 10, the department hosted its 16th annual Drama for Schools Summer Institute in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building. Faculty, graduate students and alumni offered over 50 Austin ISD educators a deep dive into drama-based pedagogy—an educational approach that uses theatre and drama tools to teach a wide range of subjects in school. One participant shared, “I have been in education for 30 years, and this is the best training I have been to. That’s saying a lot.” Lecturer Gabrielle Lewis (M.F.A. 2024) coordinated the institute, with support from Assistant Professor Lara Dossett (M.F.A. 2014). The instructional team also included current and recent students from the Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities program: Lily Odekirk (M.F.A. 2025), Mateo Hernandez (M.F.A. 2025) and current M.F.A. candidates Walker Zupan and Madi Palomo.
Caitlyn Waltermire (M.F.A. candidate) saw her work take the stage at the Theater for the New City in New York. Her play, Persephone Palmer Steps Out opened on June 19.
From June 23 to 27, Leah Cox (faculty) taught the UT Theatre and Dance youth summer camp Contemporary Dance Intensive: Creative Collaboration with assistant teachers Hayley Jeansonne (B.F.A. 2025) and current student Bryli Jameson. The intensive gave young dancers the opportunity to further their dance technique, deepen their artistry and develop their collaborative skills in a community of other passionate dancers.
In the last week of June, the Performance as Public Practice program had an especially good turnout at the Dance Studies Association conference in Washington D.C. The president of the organization, Rosemary Candelario (faculty), joined current and former faculty members, alumni and current students at the conference, including Michelle Parkins (M.F.A. 2013), Raquel Monroe (faculty), Molly Roy (staff), Andrew Carlson (former faculty), Rebecca Rossen (faculty), Luke Williams (faculty), Michael J. Love (M.F.A. 2020), Enzo Vasquez Toral (faculty), Claire Croft (Ph.D. 2010), Paul Bonin-Rodriguez (former faculty), Priya Raman (Ph.D. 2022), Jessica Peña Torres (Ph.D. candidate) and Yuge Ma (M.F.A. 2025).
At the Dance Studies Association conference, Shannon Woods (Ph.D. 2025) was recognized as the recipient of the Gertrude Lippincott Award for best article published in 2024 for her piece “The Threat is Now: Choreography, Temporality, and the Active Shooter Drill.” It was published in Theatre Journal.
Have a summer project you’d like to share? Let us know!
