Theatre
Our Theatre program includes classes in acting, stage management, technical theatre, design, musical theatre, directing, voiceover work, playwriting, dance and production ensemble.
Our students can perform in campus stage productions and work professionally through internships with Dallas-area companies. Our interdisciplinary program allows students to participate on both sides of the curtain and gain opportunities not always available in larger programs.
Facilities and Faculty
UTD’s University Theatre is one of the most technologically advanced performance facilities in the Dallas area and students get hands-on experience operating the dynamic lighting and sound systems. The 285-seat venue keeps every performance intimate and hosts many different types of events throughout the year.
Our faculty have years of professional experience and continue to work in professional theatre and help connect students to the Dallas arts scene.
Productions
The Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology produces several main stage productions every season in the University Theatre. Plays are chosen from a wide variety of genres, including classics, modern American drama, musicals, and new works. Past seasons have included performances of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Betty’s Summer Vacation by Christopher Durang and directed by Terry Martin (Artistic Director of WaterTower Theatre in Addison), Euripides’ Bakkhai, Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, Chekov’s The Seagull, the Fantasticks, R.U.R., The Foreigner, Tis’ Pity She’s a Whore directed by Raphael Parry (Executive Director of Dallas Shakespeare), I Hate Hamlet, Fuddy Meers, John Guare’s House of Blue Leaves and a new adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, and other original performances and videos created by the Theatre Ensemble Production class and faculty.
Productions are directed by faculty and guest directors from local area theatre companies. Auditions are held at the beginning of every semester, and productions are primarily cast from UTD students. Additional lectures and presentations about productions are often scheduled to enhance understanding of the works and the process of production.
In addition to main stage productions, students are encouraged to produce and direct in other performance spaces as part of Senior Honors Projects and Independent Studies. Past performances have included David Ives’ All in the Timing, a student production of Hamlet, Alice in Wonderland and original works by graduate students. Students’ productions range from fully-staged performances to staged readings. All student productions must have a faculty sponsor to oversee the work.