The Spotlight

Check out the latest department news!

Exploring Technical Theatre Outside of UNT: A USITT Follow-Up

Running from March 5th-8th, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) held its annual conference in Columbus, Ohio, which many of our technical theatre students had the opportunity to attend. At the conference, students attended sessions and hands-on workshops, met with theatre companies and graduate schools from across the country, got first looks at new technology, and collected a lot of cool swag.

Igniting Passion for Young Artists: Alumna Kristianna Hogan Freeman

For the Performing Arts, there is no one more important to communities of artists than our educators. Our educators are life-changing professionals and mentors who empower us to make meaningful changes through our work

Empowering Dancers in Higher Education: ACDA

UNT Dance students and faculty joined more than 400 students and 15 dance programs at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) South-Central conference held at Texas State University in San Marcos from March 12-15. Presenting choreographic works chosen by both students and faculty for the conference, our students represented UNT Dance on a regional platform!

Community Connections: Cabaret Alumni Event

The legacy of UNT Dance and Theatre is a great source of pride for our department. Our alumni are consistently creating opportunities, making themselves seen and their voices heard. In celebration of 30 years as the Department of Dance and Theatre, the department will be holding an Alumni Event in conjunction with the performance of Cabaret to celebrate those incredible graduates from our department!

Right This Way, Your Table's Waiting: A Feature on UNT's Cabaret Choreography

UNT’s upcoming theatre production features their spring musical, Cabaret, written by Joe Masteroff, with music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb. Choreographing the show is UNT Dance faculty member Reyna Mondragon. She currently teaches many of the dance classes, including technique and capstone classes, and has been an advisor for the New Choreographer’s Concert and the Spring Dance Concert for the past few years. Reyna previously choreographed for UNT’s American Idiot in Spring 2023.

Student Spotlight: Highlighting the Hard Work of Momo Sugawara

The UNT Dance and Theatre Department houses many aspiring and fantastic artists and creators. This week, we want to highlight Momoka “Momo” Sugawara for her dedicated and hard work for this department. Momo is a Technical Theatre Major, concentrating in Scenic Design, minoring in Dance, and will be graduating this May.

UNT Alumni Spotlight: Playwright Franky Gonzalez Shares His Story

UNT alum, Franky Gonzalez, is a well-acclaimed playwright that splits his time between DFW and Los Angeles. He works for companies such as the Bishop Arts Theatre Center in Dallas and the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis. He is also involved with projects with Netflix, Sony, and Amazon Prime. Gonzalez also wrote shows like Escobar’s Hippo, which was recently performed at UNT in Spring 2022. I had the chance to sit down with Gonzalez and dive into his playwriting journey

Deeply Rooted in Our Department: Spotlighting Adam Chamberlin

UNT’s Dance and Theatre faculty are a reservoir of talent— juggling professional projects, university duties, and annual conferences all while facilitating a diverse community of artists at the university.

Heart and Sole: The Dedication and Craft of UNT Dance

The UNT Dance and Theatre Department presented their annual Spring Dance Concert (SDC) this past week, running February 6th-9th. SDC featured a variety of works choreographed by the department’s talented faculty and students, as well as featured guest artists. “The pieces are really strong,” comments Daniel Garcia, Dance Adjunct and Rehearsal Director for SDC.

UNT Faculty and Alumni Take the Stage with Shane at Dallas Theatre Center

It examines the forgotten voices of the true Wild West—the People of Color and Native Americans who shaped the American West—but are erased in the John Wanye-esque ideals of Hollywood and the American cowboy myth. The production and its themes are incredibly timely.

Shining a Light on New Equipment in the RTFP

The UNT E-Shop staff was hard at work over the winter break installing new lighting systems into the RTFP 127 and 130 classrooms! The new system has implemented LEDs with allow for color washes and more complex looks with the lighting setup in the classrooms. This opens new opportunities for classes, student directors, student designers and productions.

The Directors Cut: A Look at This Semester’s Student Directors

Love/Sick features nine scenes, each showcasing a different couple dealing with their own unique struggles. “It shows real couples really struggling with life issues, along with a deep love for one another,” Richey comments. Having a full year to conceptualize her show, Richey went through many different concepts along the way. “Our original concept was going to be reincarnated lovers, as if each of the characters become the next characters. Two people in a lifetime destined to not be together, then it became two people in a lifetime who are destined to meet, teach each other something, and then not end up together,” she says.

Congratulations to Professor Sally Vahle on another wonderful performance of "A Christmas Carol" with the Dallas Theatre

Sally Vahle has been working with the Dallas Theatre for 30 years and we are so proud to have her with our theatre!

Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award Winner- Donna Marquet!

Presented Fall 2024

Congratulations to Dance and Theatre's Donna Marquet for winning the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award!

Donna has been working for UNT's Dance and Theatre department for 10 Years.
Donna is known to be direct, honest, and compassionate when advising.
Donna has increased contact, clarity, and care to the students she advises.

THANK YOU DONNA!!!

Take 5: Anatomies

Interview with Director, Nathan Autrey

2024 Texas Dance Improvisation Festival

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.

Take 5: Peter and the Starcatcher

Interview with Director, Morgana Wilborn

Take 5: American Idiot!

Interview with Director, Nathan Autrey