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
Open the latest scholarly theatre or dance publication, and you are apt to see articles by Department of Theatre and Dance faculty, alumni and students. The recent March issues of Theatre Topics and Theatre Journal are no exception.
Dr. Rebecca Rossen’s article Jews on View: Spectacle, Degradation, and Jewish Corporeality in Contemporary Dance and Performance is featured in the March publication of Theatre Journal. An assistant professor at the Department of Theatre and Dance, Dr. Rossen’s research focuses on 20th and 21st century American dance, theatrical stagings of identity, and the relationship between scholarship and performance. In addition, she is a faculty affiliate in the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, and the American Studies Department.
Dr. Rossen recently received a National Endowment for the Humanities research grant for her study “Jewish Identity in American Modern and Postmodern Dance.”
Alumna Claire Canavan’s (PhD 2010) article Created by Ensemble is in the March publication of Theatre Topics. Dr. Canavan is a lecturer at Texas State University-San Marcos.
Theatre Topics also features a book review by alumna Susanne Shawyer (PhD 2008). The current book review editor for this respected journal is alumnus Chase Bringardner (PhD 2007), who teaches at Auburn University. In addition, alumnus Ramon Rivera-Servera (PhD 2003) serves on the editorial board of Theatre Topics. Dr. Rivera-Servera is on faculty at Northwestern University.
The fourth edition of Gregg Hillmar’s (MFA ‘86) book “Light Plot Deconstructed” hits the shelves in March. Written for Vectorworks Spotlight 2012, the theatrical lighting industry standard CAD software, this tutorial manual is based on Gregg’s successful Vectorworks Spotlight demonstrations and training courses. Gregg provides a short, accessible, and easy to follow look at Vectorworks Spotlight as an addition to the Vectorworks Manuals.
Gregg (MFA, 1986) is a scenic and lighting designer based in Richmond, Virginia. Gregg’s work has been seen at theatre, dance and opera productions across the country. Non-theatre work includes designing galleries, lighting museum exhibits, and designing convention booths and stages. Gregg has written about Vectorworks in many industry publications and has provided training for professional theatres, dance companies, businesses, educational institutions and individuals. He has done training seminars at USITT, LDI, SETC, and other industry organizations and conventions. Gregg is an associate professor of theatre design and technology at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, the union for professional theatrical designers and artists, and can be visited on the web at www.hillmardesign.com.
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. 
Tanya Schurr’s job isn’t your typical “9 to 5”. As the production coordinator for Flow Nonfiction, the 2008 bachelor of arts alumna juggles office management, accounting, and produces on and off-set film shoots. Every day has a new set of challenges to tackle. And Schurr wouldn’t change a minute of it.
A self-proclaimed “theatre nerd” in her youth, Schurr discovered a love for stage management in high school and elected to pursue her degree at The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance. She explains, “After looking at competitive and high dollar schools like NYU, Carnegie Mellon, and conservatories like Webster, I felt that I might want to take a few non-theatre courses and earn a more well-rounded education. I looked back at my hometown and UT was my answer. I remember meeting with faculty member Denise Martel. I was in awe of the possibilities offered.”
Martel quickly became one of Schurr’s mentors. Schurr shares, “Denise’s stage management classes were so much about what to expect as a real world stage manager. We created production binders, shadowed other stage managers, and had a chance to step behind the scenes of many main stage shows at Bass Concert Hall to meet Broadway crews who offered priceless advice and connections to the business. Denise was the one that saw potential in me and gave me the opportunities to stage manage shows from the start.”
During her junior year, Schurr volunteered to stage manage Wireless-less, a new play produced in conjunction with the University Co-op Presents the Cohen New Works Festival. The fortuitous meeting of Schurr and Wireless-less playwright David Modigliani (MFA 2007) led to their ongoing collaboration. Schurr went on to serve as assistant producer for Modigliani’s acclaimed documentary Crawford, and then joined Modigliani at Flow Nonfiction, an Austin-based production company that makes documentary content for socially conscious companies.
Schurr’s favorite project to date is Flow Nonfiction’s short film Espwa, which means “Hope” in Haitian Creole. Partnering with Procter & Gamble’s Tide Loads of Hope program, Flow Nonfiction filmed the company’s volunteers delivering donated washers and dryers to a local hospital and orphanage in Port Au Prince following the Haiti earthquake. Schurr says, “The post-earthquake conditions were devastating, but the positive Haitians we interviewed and the beautiful, smiling children we spent time with at the orphanage gave me a sense of hope. It was a truly eye opening experience and has made me a stronger person.” Flow Nonfiction is currently working on a film about meningitis awareness for the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.
It has been four years since Schurr’s graduation, and her work and talents are making a national impact. Reflecting on her time at the university, Schurr offers her insight for students. “Take advantage of the incredible opportunities both in and around the Department of Theatre and Dance. Take the Business Foundation courses and you’ll be glad you did no matter where you end up. Join a campus organization, like Rotaract,” she advises. “Most importantly, build strong relationships with people, which as a theatre kid, shouldn’t be too tough! It’s all about enjoying the time you have and appreciating the community that you’re a part of.”
Photography courtesy of Flow Nonfiction
Fadi Skeiker’s (PHD 2009) article “Performing Orphanage Experience: Applied Theatre Practice in a Refugee Camp in Jordan” has been published in Applied Theatre Researcher. He is an assistant professor of theatre arts at The University of Jordan in Amman.
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.
Kimber Lee (MFA 2011) was recently invited to workshop her play Different Words for the Same Thing in the First Light Discovery Program at Theatre of the First Amendment in Washington, D.C. The workshop reading was offered as part of the Dramatists Guild 1st National Playwrights Conference in June 2011. Different Words for the Same Thing was also selected as a semi-finalist for the 2012 O’Neill Playwrights Conference.
Kimber and her plays have been selected for the 2011-2012 Dramatists Guild Playwriting Fellowship and as a semi-finalist for the 2012 Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship. Recently, she was named one of four playwrights chosen for the 2012 Hedgebrook Women Playwrights Festival, a two-week residency culminating in readings on Whidbey Island and in Seattle at ACT Theatre.
