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. Continue Reading Summer Updates 2025, Part 1
Beyond the Stage
From Math to Matinees: How Alumni Alice and Chip Gentry Became UT Theatre and Dance’s Biggest Fans
As a performer, there’s nothing like the feeling of peeking through the curtain on opening night and seeing familiar faces in the crowd excited to support you. For the UT Department of Theatre and Dance, those faces include Alice (M.A. 1976) and Chip Gentry (M.A. 1979, M. Ed. 1996), retired mathematics alumni turned devoted theatre patrons and season subscribers. What began with a single dance performance in spring 2019 quickly grew into a deep appreciation for the department’s bold creativity and the students who bring it to life. We spoke with the Gentrys, who have become part of the fabric of the community they admire, about their experience attending Texas Theatre and Dance productions, from experimental new plays to dazzling musicals and dance performances.
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.
Continue Reading Harnessing the Energy of the Cypher: Why CYPHERS is Performed “In the Round”
