UNC Charlotte Theatre

Don’t miss this amazing theatre season!!🎭

Announcing the 2024/25 Department of Theatre season, "Old Stories, New Voices" 🕰️📜🗣️

Each show is a contemporary adaptation, a spinoff, or a modern reimagining of a world classic—a play that has stood the test of time and brilliantly articulates universal themes that offer revelations, insights, and clarity to readers and theatergoers of any era. We hope to see you at the theater!

ANTIGONE NOW
by Melissa Cooper
September 26-29, 2024
Black Box Theater, Robinson Hall

CLYBOURNE PARK
by Bruce Norris
November 14-17, 2024
Anne R. Belk Theater, Robinson Hall

THE PL***OY OF THE WESTERN WORLD
by Bisi Adigun and Roddy Doyle
February 13-16, 2025
Black Box Theater, Robinson Hall

MEASURE FOR MEASURE
by William Shakespeare
March 20-23, 2025
Anne R. Belk Theater, Robinson Hall

Don't miss the amazing convocation this year!!!🥳🥳🥳

CoA+A starts the new academic year with a special Convocation gathering featuring the Washington, DC-based theatre company, Verbal Gymnastics! 🤸

Founded/created by John A. Johnson, Verbal Gymnastics is an interactive theater company where storytelling meets community. Verbal Gymnastics believes that our stories embody who we are, just like DNA.

Through live interactive storytelling called "playback theatre," Verbal Gymnastics and the CoA+A community will share stories with one another and build stronger community connections.

"Playback theatre" is interactive, improvisational theatre that retells audience members’ shared stories through movement, dance, and acting. This is an art form that gives the microphone to the people and honors the “storyteller.”

🎤 The Convocation Lecture will take place on Friday, August 30 at 1 PM in the Anne R. Belk Theatre.

🤸‍♂️ Following convocation will be a 90-minute post-performance workshop in Robinson Hall 118 where participants will have the opportunity to learn a few techniques and skills of playback theatre. Bring comfortable clothes to move in, creativity, and an open mind!

We hope you will join us!

*Please note this will be the only college-wide convocation gathering to start the semester. Individual departments may have their own convocations in advance of the University Convocation, on Thursday, August 15.

Professor of Directing Robin Witt is currently in Chicago working on a production of "A Case for the Existence of God."

This show just received a four-star review from the Chicago Tribune. You can read an excerpt of the review below.
"The level of intimacy here, frankly, makes this a difficult work to stage but the accomplished director Robin Witt, whose summer excursions into Chicago theater have invariably been rewarding, keeps the staging deftly toned and profoundly honest. The work never feels overplayed and, crucially, you both fear and pull for these two men, struggling as they are with early middle age, battling back their loneliness, loving their children, fighting off their past mistakes. This is Hunter’s sweet spot in the American theater: he does not, like so many, dramatize angsty elites with first-world problems. He writes of mostly good people doing their best in difficult economic and personal circumstances."

Congratulations Professor Witt!!!🎉🤙

Check out Madison King's spotlight!!!!

If you want to learn more about circus arts, check out this amazing !!

Professor of Theatre Mark Pizzato will present key insights from his new book, "European Churches and Chinese Temples as Neuro-Theatrical Sites," in an online program through the New York Public Library.
How do religious buildings express the inner theatricality of our animal-human drives and staging of self/Other consciousness, with different monumental designs and performance spaces? Tune in on July 20 at 1 pm to join the discussion:
https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2024/07/20/brain-spirits-european-churches-and-chinese-temples-innerouter-theatres

What a great summer intensive!!

Hey we know him!!🤙👏
Check out Alex's article in Niner Insider!!!
He is an alumni of out theatre program and currently working in the CoA+A office!!
https://inside.charlotte.edu/2024/06/17/meet-alexander-gomes/?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Niner+Insider+-+Employee+Version_Monday_New_NoAAND&utm_term=Alexander+Gomes+’21&utm_id=1611453&sfmc_id=202412944

Emeritus Professor of Shakespeare Studies Andrew Hartley has released a new sci-fi thriller with his sometime writing partner, Tom Delonge. Hartley describes the novel, "Trinity," as "Close Encounters meets American Graffiti."

"It's set in the fictional town of Trinity, Nevada, in 1962 during the atomic bomb tests which marked that phase of the Cold War, focusing on a group of high school seniors...The adventure which follows is precipitated by something stranger than A Bombs appearing in the Nevada skies, an adventure shaded with danger and death as hostile elements battle to discover and control the truth about what is flying over the desert landscape."

Hartley will be at Park Road Books this Wednesday (6/19) to speak and sign books. Read more about "Trinity" at Storied Charlotte:
https://pages.charlotte.edu/mark-west/blog/category/storied-charlotte/

Check out the spotlight of our master of electrician and Theatre alumni Rick!!!🥳🥳

New scripts have arrived in our theatre department, courtesy of the Theatre Communications Group! Last summer, professor Tom Burch applied for a small grant from a program called "Plays for the People: In The Stacks," which has awarded $500 in new play scripts to 50 organizations across the country.

The 24 new books just arrived, said Burch, and will diversify the collection in our theatre library.

"Plays for the People: In the Stacks" is funded through the Mellon Foundation. Learn more here: https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/03/01/tcg-donates-25000-worth-of-plays-for-the-people/

What a great trip!!!😁

We are so excited for you Kiana!! Go make your mark at Disney!!🥳🥳🤩🤩

Every April 30th, Niner Nation remembers the lives of Reed Parlier, Riley Howell, and all who were impacted on this day in 2019 💚

Reminiscing on this amazing show!!🤩👠💼🎭

Get ready for the show this weekend!!!🤩🩷

Thank YOU for supporting Niner Nation Gives! Thanks to your generous donations, the College of Arts + Architecture was able to raise $20,495 from 126 gifts 💚

Though the 49 hours of giving is over, there's still time to donate to our student scholarship funds! See how you can help support ➡️ bit.ly/NNG-COAA24

Calling all Theatre supporters!!🤙🤙

We have a Ninner Nation Gives Update!! We currently have 10 of our 25 gift goal!
We only need 15 more gifts of ANY amount to unlock our challenge, so GIVE GIVE GIVE!!!

CoA+A Dean Gámez is challenging alumni and friends to make 25 gifts to the Department of Theatre. A $250 bonus gift from the Dean will unlock when the goal is reached!

Use this link to donate now!! https://bit.ly/NNG-TH24

Calling all Theatre supporters!!🤙🤙

The UNC Charlotte Department of Theatre has issued a challenge to our community for Niner Nation Gives to support our department!!!

CoA+A Dean Gámez is challenging alumni and friends to make 25 gifts to the Department of Theatre. A $250 bonus gift from the Dean will unlock when the goal is reached!

Use this link to donate now!! https://bit.ly/NNG-TH24

The Department of Theatre provides a student-focused liberal arts education that develops theatre artists, scholars, and teachers to investigate current best practices and emerging entrepreneurial methods in theatre and other professional performance.

Join us in our quest to empower the next generation of creative visionaries by supporting our theatre scholarship fund! ➡️ bit.ly/NNG-TH24

Check out ZiYonna Brown's amazing spotlight!!🥳🥳

"My favorite thing about the Department of Theatre is the freedom provided here to not only explore but to fail and grow as well."

ZiYonna Brown, BA in Theatre with a Minor in Psychology '26, is this week's spotlight!

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀?⁠
I am the student theatre representative for the CoA+A Equity Council. This council's main job is to advocate student priorities to faculty/staff/college leaders. We want to know what you're thinking and experiencing!

I am also a part of the UNC Charlotte Improv group as Team Captain, film club, and Dungeons and Dragons discourse! Those are more of just fun production/after-class activities that keep me busy, focused, and constantly sharp!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲?
I will be an actor in TV/film who is well known for being professional and passionate about their work. I hope to have a long and full career telling stories that mean something, that impact and touch people, including myself.

SAVE THE DATE!!!🥳🥳

It takes a nation to provide support for Niners to thrive at UNC Charlotte. Now is our time to come together to make that support a reality. Save the date for ⤵️

📅 April 9-11
⏰ 49 hours of giving
🔗: ninernationgives.charlotte.edu

Check out Julio Hernandez's amazing spotlight!!

Clear your schedule for March 16th to audition for the Musical Theatre Certificate Program!!
This audition is for all majors and is an incredible opportunity. Use the QR code or the link (https://bit.ly/unccMT2024) to sign up and learn more info!!🤩🎉

10 students and Professor Jill Bloede went to the Military Training compound this past Friday to participate with about 300 people as actors in an exercise portraying victims of nuclear attack fallout - this was for Health Care Staff/Military Units/First Responders - Charlotte was the third and final city (NYC and Atlanta) to undergo this massive administrative challenge.

What an interesting challenge and unique experience for these theatre students!

Pictured- Amber Jiang, Marley Tatum, and Ethan Kohn.

Check out Kiana's amazing spotlight!!

Congratulations to our amazing Carlos for winning 2024 Engaged Faculty Award from North Carolina Campus Engagement (NCCE)!

We are so proud of Associate Professor of Theatre CarlosAlexis Cruz for receiving the 2024 Engaged Faculty Award from North Carolina Campus Engagement (NCCE)!

Each year, the Engaged Faculty Award recognizes one faculty member in North Carolina for exemplary engaged teaching and scholarship, including leadership that advances students’ community and civic learning, conducting community-based research, fostering reciprocal community partnerships, and building institutional commitments to service-learning and community engagement.

The award was presented at NCCE's 2024 PACE Conference on February 14 at Guilford College.

Read on ➡️ https://coaa.charlotte.edu/news/2024-02-16/cruz-receives-engaged-faculty-award-nc-campus-engagement

All May 2024 graduates be sure to apply!!!!🤩✨

ATTN May 2024 CoA+A graduates❗️ Apply now to be the first recipient of our inaugural CoA+A Launch Microgrant!!

The concept of microgrants, or seed money, has become widely practiced as a way to boost blossoming entrepreneurs and artists. Created in 2023-24 by our CoA+A Distinguished Alumni, the first CoA+A Launch microgrant of $500 will be awarded this spring to a graduating senior.

We know that as you graduate, you could benefit from seed money to help you launch your career or create a worthwhile project.

Apply by *March 15* to be considered for this grant!
🔗: https://forms.gle/tBce2V7sNXigu72fA

Examples of acceptable uses of the funding: getting new headshots; purchasing new materials like paint brushes, a camera, or instrument accessories; creating a performance/ exhibition to showcase your work; paying for transportation costs to an audition or conference; creating a new website...

Don't miss our upcoming performance, "The New South Part 1: How We Got Here."
Use the link below to get your tickets!!
https://coaa.charlotte.edu/events/new-south-part-1how-we-got-here