Musical Theatre Pilot Project

Founded in 1938, the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin proudly nurtured the study of musical theatre and regularly featured musical theatre productions in its performance seasons for several decades. Among those featured include Hipsy-Boo, the first artistic collaboration of College of Fine Arts alumni, Tom Jones (BFA, 1949; MFA, 1951) and Harvey Schmidt (BFA, 1952). Jones and Schmidt, who met as members of departmental student organization The Curtain Club, later went on to create the world's longest running musical, The Fantasticks.

Beginning in the 1980s, however, an unprecedented rise in student enrollment and the addition of new graduate curricula prompted the department to focus its training program to take better advantage of the available resources and facilities. While this led to an increased level of national and international visibility, particularly in Acting, Playwriting, and Design, it led to a diminution of other practical training experiences, particularly those related to voice and movement training for musical theatre.

Guest faculty Robin Lewis, The Broadway Musical: Survey of Broadway Choreography Pre-1970

Today, musical theatre training is a top priority to many students who intend to pursue professional careers on the stage. In response to increased student interest, faculty support, and donor patronage, the Department of Theatre and Dance recently launched the Musical Theatre Pilot Project, a program that allows students to transfer their love of music, lyrics and dance from the classroom to the stage.

The two-year project incorporates newly offered courses such as Singing for the Stage and The Broadway Musical: Survey of Broadway Choreography Pre-1970. “The most exciting part of this project is that we are expanding the undergraduate curriculum to make our students' education here more rich and encompassing,” says Bob Schmidt, Interim Chair for the Department of Theatre and Dance. In addition to providing voice and movement training, the department will produce Stephen Sondheim's bold and thought-provoking musical Assassins in April. The project will culminate with the creation and development of a new work. In the summer of 2009, students will participate in a concentrated, intensive workshop in which they will work with various musical theatre professionals to experience the musical production process from conception to performance.

At the end of two years, the project will be evaluated to determine the future direction of musical theatre training at UT. Student and faculty interest, as well as available funding are vital factors in this process. The cost of additional faculty, class accompanists, and an extensive production budget, creates a new challenge when considering the expansion of the pilot program to a fully developed musical theatre curriculum. Although functioning on a modest a budget, the current project would not be possible if not for the generosity of lead donor and UT alumnus, Mr. Allen Becker.

As they participate in the project, students with a focus in design, technology, playwriting, stage management, and directing will gain valuable experience from the production and creation of musicals. Similarly, voice and movement classes allow for a sense of self-discovery among students finding their place on the musical theatre stage. Some students are continuing to pursue their drive to be cast as leads, others are learning to feel more comfortable as dancers and singers who will do really well as members of the chorus, and they are all adding valuable information to their knowledge base and skill set. “They are more marketable,” explains Lyn Koenning, guest faculty and musical director of Assassins.

Guest faculty Lyn Koenning, Singing for the Stage

Senior B.A. acting student, Whitney Zangarine, describes Assassins as, “…perfect for this school because it will challenge everyone involved…be it in voice rehearsals, set construction, dramaturgy, etc., this show provides everyone, including the audience, the opportunity to really expand their creativity, something for which this department continuously strives.” Cast in the role of “Squeaky” Fromme in Assassins, Whitney recognizes the great commitment required to participate in the program. “I, like many other UT theatre students, have been waiting for a project like this to arrive… This show is a ‘once-in-a-college-
lifetime’ sort of thing, and that knowledge engrains in everyone the importance of each person's work and dedication.” The enthusiastic attitude of Whitney and other students is pivotal in allowing the Musical Theatre Pilot Project to provide them with the foundation needed to perform in the department's musical productions, and aid in the discovery of their place in the world of musical theatre.

To learn more about supporting the Musical Theatre Pilot Project, please contact Cassie Gholston, Assistant Chair for External Relations, at gholstonc@mail.utexas.edu or (512) 232–5301.

Prospective students wishing to participate in the Musical Theatre Pilot Project, please contact Kristen Hotopp, Undergraduate Advisor, at khotopp@mail.utexas.edu or (512) 232-5308.