The University of Texas

Department of Theatre and Dance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT: Nichole Palmietto; 361.774.2277; n_palmietto@yahoo.com

Between March 30 and April 4, 2009, the festival will showcase 31 new works of theatre, dance, art, music, photography and architecture created by teams of students and faculty at The University of Texas at Austin. These artistic innovations will be presented for the first time during the festival, which draws established guest artists from across the country as respondents who connect the art of Austin and the world.

WHAT: The 2009 University Co–op Presents the Cohen New Works Festival, showcasing 31 new works, including:

• Footprints: A Musical Eco–Tale, a truly eco–friendly musical for young audiences
• The Edge of Peace, the first staged reading of Suzan Zeder's final play in The Ware Trilogy
• Looking at Dance: A Journey through the Blanton, a showcase of the divergent perspectives in dance and choreography
• The Shape of White, a multi–media, site–specific dance performance
• The Mariner, a play inspired by "The Mariner's Revenge Song" by The Decemberists
• Look, Listen, Look Again!, a unique collaboration between photographers, composers and choreographers

WHO: The festival is hosted by The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance.
Established guest artists, who will participate by responding to the festival works and leading informational panels, include:

• Rubén Polendo, artistic director of Theater Mitu in New York City
• Wendy C. Goldberg, artistic director of the National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in New York City and an award-winning director
• David Conte, co–author of Theatre Management: Producing and Managing the Performing Arts and manager of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway
• Marlina Gonzalez, programs manager for Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis, a multidisciplinary center dedicated to civic engagement through the arts
• Mac Wellman, playwright, poet and author, whose work has been produced nationwide, and a professor of playwriting at Brooklyn College in New York City

WHEN: March 30 – April 4, 2009. All events are free and open to the public.

WHERE: Sites located in and around the Winship Drama Building, located at the intersection of 23rd Street and San Jacinto.

WHY: The festival is a wee–long, biennial showcase of new work created by University students, faculty, and staff. It celebrates the creation of new work, a concept fostered by David Mark Cohen, whose memory inspires every aspect of the festival.

HOW: Thanks to the generosity of the University Co–op, all events are free and open to the public. A full list of events and guest artists are available at www.coopnwf.org.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: A media kit with more details about this event will be provided in the middle of March. Please visit www.coopnwf.org for more information.