兔子先生

The School of Theatre & Dance at the 兔子先生鈥檚 Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts, under newly appointed director , is pleased to announce its 2024-25 season featuring 11 productions that promise to be a showcase of ambition and creativity.

鈥淥ur season offers an exhilarating range of productions featuring the best of contemporary American drama, a classic play by William Shakespeare, a devised theatre piece, dance concerts choreographed by student, local and national artists and an exciting collaboration with the UH Athletic Department,鈥� Ott said. 鈥淎ll productions feature the work of our talented undergraduate and graduate student dancers, actors, designers and stage managers.鈥�

The season kicks off in September with the 鈥淐ircadian Project,鈥� a storytelling event that exemplifies the expression, 鈥渓eap, and the net shall appear.鈥� 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 鈥淏y the Way, Meet Vera Stark,鈥� 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, 鈥淓verybody鈥� takes the stage at Quintero Theatre. This modern, comic adaptation of the 15th-century morality play 鈥淓veryman,鈥� 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. 鈥淪afe at Home鈥� will take audience members on a 90-minute journey through Schroeder Park, UH鈥檚 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.

鈥淭heater 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,鈥� said director Jack Reuler. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what any sports competition does. You have protagonists and antagonists, and you don鈥檛 know how it鈥檚 going to turn out.鈥� 

鈥淎s a young playwright, I feel very lucky and excited to work with an amazing team of artists and educators supporting me as 鈥楨verything Rises鈥� comes to life for the first time.鈥�

-Sage Mitchell, director

The fall season continues with the debut of 鈥淓verything Rises,鈥� 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鈥檚 flashes from the past and connections in the present.

鈥淎s a young playwright, I feel very lucky and excited to work with an amazing team of artists and educators supporting me as 鈥楨verything Rises鈥� comes to life for the first time,鈥� said Mitchell. 鈥淭he 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.鈥�

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鈥檚 鈥淎ll鈥檚 Well That Ends Well,鈥� 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 鈥淭he Moors.鈥� 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 Bront毛 on its head.

In March, it鈥檚 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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance for our students to engage with diverse creative voices and grow as artists, all while bringing something truly special to the stage.鈥�

-Teresa Chapman, UH Dance Ensemble director

鈥淓nsemble Dance Works offers a unique opportunity to experience fresh, innovative choreography by our distinguished faculty and guest artists from across the country,鈥� Chapman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance for our students to engage with diverse creative voices and grow as artists, all while bringing something truly special to the stage.鈥�

The School of Theatre & Dance presents two dynamic productions to round out the season in April.

Aaron Posner鈥檚 鈥淪tupid F*cking Bird,鈥� directed by Brandon Weinbrenner, is a modern adaptation of Chekhov鈥檚 鈥淭he Seagull鈥� 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鈥檚 BFA playwriting program.

鈥淚 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,鈥� said Adam Noble, head of the MFA acting program.