The School of Theatre & Dance at the University of Houston's Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts, under newly appointed director Sharon Ott, is pleased to announce its 2024-25 season featuring 11 productions that promise to be a showcase of ambition and creativity.
"Our season offers an exhilarating range of productions featuring the best of contemporary American drama, a classic play by William Shakespeare, a devised theatre piece and an exciting collaboration with the UH Athletic Department," Ott said. "All productions feature the work of our talented undergraduate and graduate student actors, designers and stage managers."
The season kicks off in September with the "Circadian Project," a storytelling event that exemplifies the expression, "leap, and the net shall appear." The incoming MFA Acting cohort will build a world premiere production like no other: in just over 100 hours of rehearsal, an entire play without words will be conceived, devised and performed.
Up next is "By the Way, Meet Vera Stark," a witty comedy that draws upon the screwball films of the 1930s to offer a funny and irreverent look at racial stereotypes in Hollywood. Directed by UH alumna ShaWanna Renee Rivon, the story follows the 70-year journey of Vera Stark, a headstrong African American maid and budding actress, and her tangled relationship with her boss, a white Hollywood star.
In November, "Everybody" takes the stage at Quintero Theatre. This modern, comic adaptation of the 15th-century morality play "Everyman," one of the earliest recorded plays in the English language, explores the meaning of life, death and everything in between.
Also in November, the School of Theatre & Dance presents a unique theatrical experience with production support from the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center. "Safe at Home" will take audience members on a 90-minute journey through Schroeder Park, UH's baseball stadium, on a voyeuristic examination of U.S. immigration policies, racial politics and the intersection of personal ethics and media dollars set against the backdrop of a World Series Game Seven.
"Theater is based on conflict that has some sort of resolution that leads you to feel, behave or think differently about the world in which you live," said director Jack Reuler. "That's what any sports competition does. You have protagonists and antagonists, and you don't know how it's going to turn out."
The fall season continues with the debut of "Everything Rises," a play by School of Theatre & Dance student Sage Mitchell that explores queer love, life in a small town, found family and what people are capable of when fueled by hate through one young man's flashes from the past and connections in the present.
"As a young playwright, I feel very lucky and excited to work with an amazing team of artists and educators supporting me as 'Everything Rises' comes to life for the first time," said Mitchell. "The past few years have seen a record number of attempts to limit safe spaces and protections for LGBTQ+ people, especially here in Texas. For that reason, I feel incredibly proud to be able to tell a story that resonates with my community. I hope those who see this play will show up with an open heart and leave feeling more connected with the people around them, no matter who they love."
The fall season concludes with the annual Emerging Choreographers Showcase, featuring a diverse selection of new works from up-and-coming UH dancers and choreographers. Under the direction of Teresa Chapman, the showcase, an annual audience favorite, provides a preview of the evolving world of dance and its next generation of artists.
The spring season begins in February with William Shakespeare's "All's Well That Ends Well," tale of love, deception and redemption. A blend of comedy and drama, this timeless story explores themes of ambition, identity and the complexities of human relationships, reminding us that even the most complicated journeys can have happy endings.
Next, audiences will be transported into the whimsical satire of "The Moors." The play follows a governess who arrives at her new appointment with the hopeful promise of Gothic romance, only to find an oddball household, a mastiff and a hen. This black comedy's dissonant mix of modern sensibilities and classical expectations turns Brontë on its head.
In March, it's the UH Ensemble Dance Works, the annual spring concert showcasing original dance pieces by faculty and guest artists, performed by our pre-professional dance company, the UH Dance Ensemble.
"Ensemble Dance Works offers a unique opportunity to experience fresh, innovative choreography by our distinguished faculty and guest artists from across the country," Chapman said. "It's a chance for our students to engage with diverse creative voices and grow as artists, all while bringing something truly special to the stage."
The School of Theatre & Dance presents two dynamic productions to round out the season in April.
Aaron Posner's "Stupid F*cking Bird," directed by Brandon Weinbrenner, is a modern adaptation of Chekhov's "The Seagull" that explores artistic pretension and the complexities of love, featuring characters who are aware they are living within a play. The story alternates between irreverent humor and insightful commentary on the pursuit of happiness.
And wrapping up the 24-25 season, the School of Theatre & Dance will present the fourteenth annual 10-Minute Play Festival showcasing new works from the school's BFA playwriting program.
"I am excited by our UH season titles and directors, once again offering students opportunities to work with nationally recognized guest directors as well as local luminaries. We strive to create a season that will edify and challenge our burgeoning artists, as well as invigorate and inspire our larger theatre community," said Adam Noble, head of the MFA acting program.
