The Spotlight

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UNT’s production of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie played five sold out shows from October 2nd-5th in the Studio Theatre. As the first main stage production of the fall semester, the diligence of our shop staff, faculty, and designers was instrumental in the success of the production. The show was a blend of technical elements, from developing the multi-leveled set to creating up to five costume looks per character, the designers were hard at work at creating the murderous mystery of the Soldier Island resort.

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An exciting shift in curriculum was made to the dance minor! Between the inclusion of a plethora of new courses and the introduction of four certificates to earn in tandem with your degree, Dance@UNT has your best interest in mind. So, if you are a seasoned dancer interested in continuing your dance education throughout your residency at UNT or an active student interested in beginning your dance education, do not hesitate to take the amazing opportunity presented.

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For many performers, approaching Shakespeare can be jarring, like there’s a language barrier between us and the bard despite Shakespeare being the primary writer of modern English, as well as being credited with over 1700 words we use today. The challenge of connecting the words of nearly 500 years ago to our modern lived experiences requires openness to new techniques. Sarah Rutan, acting professor and Shakespeare mega-fan, is a master of interpreting the Stratford-Upon-Avon born playwright.

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UNT Dance and Theatre has had quite a few staff changes implemented this year. From familiar faces moving into to new roles to new faces entirely in certain positions, we have welcomed two new lovely professionals to the Mean Green Family—specifically in the costumes department.

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This past summer, the University of North Texas (UNT) Department of Dance and Theatre hosted their first annual Momentum Dance Intensive! Over the course of two weeks, high school and collegiate students from the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex joined Dance@UNT to train and grow in movement and community.

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Congratulations to Department of Dance and Theatre alumni Eric Tinkler for his promotion from student to staff! Eric is the new scene shop foreman, where he supervises and collaborates with the student employees in their efforts to build the sets for the theatre productions and maintain the labor of the shop and Radio, TV, Film, and Performing Arts building. As a close member of the Department of Dance and Theatre’s family, Eric manages the scene shop with pride.

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The University of North Texas has many opportunities to study abroad, one of which is UNT Theatre’s Faculty Led London trip in the Maymester. London, and Europe as a whole, has a very different approach to theatre as an art form, and the culture of artistry is different in ways you might not expect from an American viewpoint of the theatre. Fifteen of our students experienced these differences and many general culture shocks this past summer.

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The UNT Department of Dance and Theatre welcomed two new student reporters this semester to spotlight the creative work of students and faculty. As the spring semester comes to a close, we reflect on the stories and experiences captured in our articles. From delving into the artistic process of student directed plays to outlining the ways in which theater skills transfer beyond the stage, our student reporters illuminated the exciting and unique work of the department and what makes it so special. For the final article of the semester, I want to shine the spotlight on the reporters that have worked hard to uplift UNT Dance and Theatre in more ways than one. Carver Olson and Wendy Schwartz stepped into this newly created role and built the reporter team from the ground up. Both theatre majors, they offered an insider’s perspective into the inner workings of Dance and Theatre. Though more importantly, they conveyed and represented the passion and hard work of the department through their own sense of curiosity and love of the craft

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Since 2021, Nathan Autrey has been serving the University of North Texas as an adjunct, director, and mentor. Nathan has been a huge part of our department, teaching several prerequisite courses for the Acting Concentration along with mentoring First Stage and Lab Series productions. Nathan has worked hard to educate, advocate for, and connect with the students in our department. We are so proud of his commitment to advancing the artistry of our students.

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Congratulations to Sarah Rutan on her promotion to a full-time lecturer position! Having worked at UNT since 2017, Sarah has taught just about all the “base level” acting classes there are, including Voice, Movement, Acting Styles & Periods, and Shakespeare. We are very proud of Sarah and look to highlight her previous work as a performer and teacher.

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For incoming freshmen, college might be scary and new, especially for those traveling long distances or coming from out of state. Luckily, our Dance and Theatre department has great Student Ambassadors to be a friendly face and a guiding light for the newcomers. Brianna Lesley and Trevar Howell are among the Student Ambassadors for the Dance and Theatre departments, respectively, and are passionate about welcoming and guiding the new freshmen into the department.

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The UNT Dance and Theatre Department hosts a variety of talented artists, and it’s not just the students. Our wonderful faculty and adjunct professors hold many years of experience from all parts of the industry, both in and outside of the DFW area. Most recently, Main Stage Irving ran their production of Into the Breeches, written by George Brant and directed by the university’s own adjunct professor, Lisa Devine.

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Interview with Director, Nathan Autrey

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TDIF is an annual event curated by Texas artists to inspire and foster diverse improvisational dance communities. We are grateful for the guidance of our event director, Whitney Geldon, and the production support from Reyna Mondragon.

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Interview with Director, Morgana Wilborn

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Interview with Director, Nathan Autrey