If these Winship walls could talk.
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
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
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
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.
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. 
Rozanne Seelen (BFA 1956) is the owner of New York City’s The Drama Book Shop, recently honored with the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre. Rozanne shares that “our mission is to provide not only a place to buy books but also a place where people can gather and get the help they need for their careers”. Rozanne and her staff will celebrate The Drama Book Shop’s 100th anniversary in 2017.
