Related Programs and Organizations

The Department of Theatre and Dance enjoys academic, artistic and professional relationships with a variety of related programs that enhance our students' education.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF)

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) is a program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities, nationwide, that has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents. In particular, final playwriting projects are adjudicated by the Playwriting Awards program of the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival. Many of our departmental productions have received honors at KCACTF.

American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA)

Dance Repertory Theatre (DRT), the Department's student dance company, is an annual participant in the South Central regional American College Dance Festival. Every other year, there is a national festival, where selected regional choreography is showcased. DRT has regularly been selected to perform at the national ACDFA gatherings at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The UT Department of Theatre and Dance is host of the 2002 South Central ACDF.

New Play Development Workshops

The Department hosts workshops of major new material targeted at young audiences in affiliation with major children's theatre companies. "The Yellow Boat," which was co-produced by Metro Theatre Company of St. Louis and Childsplay, was developed with Department direction, dramaturgy, lighting design and graduate student performers. The finished production played in residence and also toured. "The Wolf Child" (Seattle Children's Theatre) and "Time Again in Oz" (Seattle Children's Theatre) are other examples of new works that the Department has produced in conjunction with major children's theatre companies as part of this program.

United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT)

Faculty and students regularly participate in research and design presentations as part of the annual national conference of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology.

Michener Center for Writers (MCW)

Playwriting has a formal relationship with the Michener Center for Writers. The Center is an umbrella organization for creative writing programs at UT, sponsored in part by donations from James A. Michener. MCW provides fellowship support for student writers, as well as program support for visiting writers, residencies, and workshops. Each year, several Department playwriting students hold MCW fellowships. The MCW has also developed an interdisciplinary M.F.A. degree in writing, in collaboration with the Department of Theatre and Dance, Department of Radio/Television/Film, and the Department of English.

University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA)

The Department has held a long relationship with the University/Resident Theatre Association. Department faculty regularly attend the annual U/RTA auditions/interviews.

Sharir+Bustamante Dance Works

The Sharir+Bustamante Dance Works is a professional modern dance company in residence in the College of Fine Arts. Co-artistic director Yacov Sharir is an associate professor of dance in the Department of Theatre and Dance. The company offers internships to UT students and a majority of the company dancers are UT graduates. Sharir+ Bustamante Dance Works celebrated its 20th anniversary season in academic year 2002-2003.