Jump! Featuring Modern and Flamenco Dance
An Evening of Contemporary Dance By the very best of UNM Student Choreographers
April 18-20, Carlisle South Arena

Jump: to bounce, dance, spring, surge, escalate or vault into the air.
This exceptional concert of curated student works promises to do all that! Pushing the cutting edge of art and movement in a variety of dance forms, the talent and vitality of the young choreographers in the dance program at UNM are highlighted in this extraordinary concert of student works for the stage. April 18-20 in Carlisle South Arena on UNM Campus.

UNM Department of Theatre and Dance Presents THE 2008 WORDS AFIRE FESTIVAL
A Festival of New Works Written by Award Winning Writers In the Dramatic Writing Program at UNM
April 17-27, 2008 Rodey Theatre and the Experimental Theatre

The 2008 Words Afire Festival will premiere plays by national award winners in UNM's Dramatic Writing Program. This year's Festival includes Greek Tragedies and Comedies told through a New Mexico lens, stories of a search for redemption, longing for connection in outer space, struggle to find justice in genocide, a send up of the use of land grants and panic on Central Avenue.

UNM Students attending the American College Dance Festival Association Regional Conference at SUNY Brockport receive awards and accolades!

UNM Students attending the American College Dance Festival Association Regional Conference at SUNY Brockport received awards and accolades. A duet by Allie Hankins and Gabi Rojas, "Waves of Return", has been chosen to perform in the National Conference at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in June. In addition, Gabi Rojas has been nominated for the ACDFA Student Performer Dance Magazine Awards. Illeana Gomez's flamenco solo, in the unadjudicated concert, received a standing ovation. The American College Dance Festival Association exists to support and affirm the role of dance in higher education primarily through the sponsorship of college/university regional conferences and national dance festivals. Central to the educational mission of the association is the fostering of creative potential and artistic excellence in choreography and/or performance. Congratulations to these fine young dancers on their success!
Help these talented young dancers travel to New York and cover their expenses while there. Click here and follow the instructions to donate online (or, if you prefer, mail your donation.) Specify your donation to the Chair's Account: ACDF trip expenses.
http://www4.unm.edu/theatre/giving_opportunities/donate_online.php

Playwright Migdalia Cruz to attend performance of Fur
directed by Barney Lopez
March 12-22 in the Experimental Theater

The UNM Department of Theater and Dance presents Migdalia Cruz's Fur, directed by Barney Lopez. Fur is a dark, poetic re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast, which takes the audience on a surreal journey through the human understanding of beauty, its ownership, and desire. The playwright, Migdalia Cruz, will be in the Albuquerque area to attend the production on March 14th. Fur opens on March 12th, and runs until March 22nd and plays in repertory with Noah Haidle's Mr. Marmalade.

UNM Department of Theatre and Dance Presents Mr. Marmalade
By Noah Hailde, Directed by Steve Pinzone
March 13-23 in the Experimental Theater

Mr. Marmalade, by Noah Hailde, is a sly, darkly comic look at the effects of divorce and too much television, on a precocious four year old, who, ignored by her mother, turns to her imaginary friend, Mr. Marmalade, who is too busy to play. Mr. Marmalade's personal assistant is there, however, to compensate. Adult situations and language.

ROTAtion, An Exhilarating Evening of Dance, Four performances only, March 7-9 in Rodey Theatre.
Featuring the reconstruction of ROTA with Guest Artist Don Redlich. Program Includes Six Additional Pieces by UNM Faculty.

ROTAtion, an exhilarating evening of dance in Rodey Theatre, is a showcase for the choreography of the UNM dance faculty. The featured work on the program is a restaging of Hanya Holm's Rota led by distinguished guest artist Don Redlich and UNM's own Mary Anne Santos Newhall. The National Endowment for the Arts grant that enabled UNM to reconstruct Rota is a first for New Mexico. The concert includes works in various styles-- modern, ballet, flameno, and African dance, by six other faculty choreographers, including Laryea Addy, Melissa Briggs, Marisol Encinias, Donna Jewell, Suzanne Johnston, and Jennifer Predock-Linnell.

UNM Department of Theatre and Dance Presents Life During Wartime By Keith Reddin, Directed by Kristen Loree February 21- March 1 in the Experimental Theatre

UNM's Department of Theatre and Dance opens its 2008 Main Stage Spring Season with Keith Reddin's absurd dark comedy Life During Wartime. Directed by Assistant Professor Kristen Loree, it is a comedy that examines the dangers and fears of modern life, when a home security salesman creates crime rather than prevents it... love, murder, and mayhem, all punctuated with zany appearances by theologian John Calvin!

Twist, An Evening of Contemporary Dance By the very best of UNM Student Choreographers Featuring Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Bellydance, November 30- December 2 in the Carlisle Performance Space

Twist is an evening of dance choreographed by the very finest of UNM student choreographers, offering a wide variety of styles, and exploring a vast landscape of emotional and aesthetic content. Pushing the cutting edge of art and movement in a variety of dance forms, the talent and vitality of the young choreographers in the dance program at UNM are highlighted in this extraordinary concert of student works for the stage.

Announcing the Words Afire Reading Series, November 9-18, 2007
An exciting addition to the Nationally Acclaimed Dramatic Writing Program at UNM’s Department of Theatre and Dance

The University of New Mexico Department of Theatre and Dance announces the Words Afire Reading Series, an exciting new addition to the Words Afire Festival, the centerpiece of its nationally acclaimed Dramatic Writing program. Presented will be two weekends of readings of new works selected for the next Words Afire Festival (scheduled for April 2008.) Audiences will be able to catch a sneak peak into the development of individual plays and enjoy the thrill of seeing actors and directors breathe life into these plays for the first time.

Students in the Dramatic Writing Program at UNM Department of Theatre and Dance Win National Awards

In the last five years, students from the UNM Dramatic Writing program have claimed seven national playwriting awards. If 2007 is any indication, the program's success will only grow. Yet again UNM playwrights have brought home national awards, but they have also added to that list with renowned fellowships and attendance in well respected national programs.

UNM Department of Theatre and Dance Presents "Seascapes With Sharks and Dancer", by Don Nigro, directed by Brandon Weaver, November 1-10 in Theatre X

UNM's Department of Theatre and Dance fall season in Theatre X closes with Seascapes with "Sharks and Dancer" by Don Nigro, November 1 through 10, 2007. This production includes the theatrical directorial debut of Brandon Weaver and original music by UNM composition student Mark Oates. Searingly human, Seascape with Sharks and Dancer is a contemporary love story between two people full of flaws and fears.

A reading of selections from recent plays by Elaine Avila, Robert Hartung Endowed Chair of Dramatic Writing Performed by Tricklock Theatre Company Sunday, October 21 in Rodey Theatre

UNM's Department of Theatre and Dance celebrates the appointment of award-winning playwright, Elaine Avila as the Robert Hartung Endowed Chair of Dramatic Writing with a reading of selections from her recent plays on Sunday, October 21, 2007 from noon until 1pm in Rodey Theatre. The reading features UNM's resident company, the Tricklock Theatre Company directed by Joe Perrachio and is free of charge. The public is invited to join in this celebration and enjoy selections from premieres of Elaine Avila's award winning work.

UNM’s Department of Theatre and Dance Presents The New Mexico premiere of Zanna, Don’t! A musical fairy tale by Tim Acito, With additional book and lyrics by Alexander Dinelaris, Directed by Kathleen Clawson
November 16-December 2 in Rodey Theatre

UNM’s Department of Theatre and Dance proudly presents the New Mexico premiere of the Off-broadway hit, Zanna, Don’t!, a musical fairy tale about a matchmaking teen who turns relationships upside-down, challenges our point of view, and changes the world forever. With a high-octane score that runs the gamut from funk, r&b, and classic musical theatre to dance club mixes and touching ballads, Zanna, Don’t! will leave you singing with a smile on your face. Tim Acito, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics for Zanna, Don’t! will attend opening night, and David Geist, the music director of the original production will play and conduct the opening weekend of performances.

UNM brings us Wendy MacLeod's "The House of Yes" as the directorial debut of theater major Elizabeth Dwyer. A sparkling array of talent makes up the fiery cast, who deliver MacLeod's razor sharp dialogue with all the sass and vinegar it deserves.
Oct. 25 - Nov. 9 in Theatre X

A hurricane rages outside the Pascal estate in MacLean, VA as Marty arrives home for Thanksgiving with his naïve fiancée Lesly in tow. Marty’s arrival has been eagerly awaited by his family, and most of all by his twin sister Jackie, who is less than thrilled by Lesly’s unexpected appearance. This dark comedy zings with snappy, stylized dialogue as the story unfolds of a house consumed by violence, incest and a bizarre fixation on the Kennedy assassination. Adult themes, parental discretion highly advised.

2007-2008 Main Stage Season Opens September 28, 2007 with David Mamet’s “The Water Engine”

The Water Engine: An Americn Fable, by David Mamet, directed by Paul Ford, is a tense and darkly comic noir thriller in which one man’s dreams are pitted against big business.

Cloud Tectonics by José Rivera, directed by Barney Lopez
September 6th-15th in Theatre X

Cloud Tectonics is a dreamy exploration of the nature of love and time. On a night that seems to last forever, a man picks up a hitchhiker, and she takes him on a ride through time and space, revealing the love of a lifetime.

Instigate, An Evening of Contemporary Dance by the very best of UNM Student Choreographers
April 27-29 in Carlisle Performance Space

Instigate is a vibrant, eclectic compilation of original works by emerging undergraduate and graduate choreographers from the UNM Dance Program.

Shakespeare’s Romantic Comedy Twelfth Night
Six performances only, April 13-21
Production Marks the Farewell Collaboration of Professors Denise Schulz and John Malolepsy

UNM Professors Denise Schulz and John Malolepsy collaborate one last time before their retirements this May on a production of Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare's greatest and best-loved comedies, April 13- 21, 2007 in newly renovated Rodey Theatre.

UNM's Department of Theatre and Dance Announces Open Registration for Skill Play, An Intensive Performance Program for Middle School Students

The UNM Department of Theatre and Dance announces open registration for ‘Skill Play,” an intensive performance program for Middle School students grades 6-9, June 18-22, as part of the UNM Summer Theatre Academy, an intensive training program led by experienced artists, faculty and students. The director of Skill Play will be UNM Faculty member, Kristen Loree.

Lone Star and Laundry and Bourbon, James McClure’s Comic Double-bill, plays March 29- April 7 in Theatre X

Lone Star and Laundry and Bourbon, a comic double-bill by James McClure, directed by Dodie Montgomery, give a side-splitting snapshot of life in Maynard, Texas in 1974. These tales of husbands, wives, war, love and honor are both hysterically funny and surprisingly relevant.

“eXpanZ” is an exciting evening of dance featuring UNM Faculty Choreographers and special guest artist Stacy Matthew Spence, March 2-4, in Rodey Theatre.

Celebrate the vast landscape of dance with eXpanZ! The program features the choreography of UNM dance faculty, and highlights the talents of the students in the dance program, with special guest artist Stacy Matthew Spence.

Read the full press release here

Dramatic Writing Students Leonard Madrid and Don Garcia Win Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Latina/Latino National Playwriting Award

The Dramatic Writing Program in the College of Fine Arts’ Department of Theatre & Dance has been participating in the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program that is part of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for the past seven years. The Dramatic Writing Program, counting this year’s winners has won seven national awards from the KCACTF. What is unusual about this year is that the Co-Winners of the KCACTF Latina/Latino National Playwriting Award are both from the Dramatic Writing Program: Leonard Madrid and Don Garcia.

Read the full press release here

Pressing Boundaries: three plays exploring the bounds of social interactions and relationships at their most intense.

The Spring 2007 Theatre X Season, “Pressing Boundaries” features three plays presented in repertory: the dreamer examines his pillow by John Patrick Shanley, The War Boys by Naomi Wallace, The Shape of Things by Neil Labute, and a late-night musical cabaret. February 14- March 4.

Read the full press release here

Alumni Reunion and Retirement Celebration for Denise Schulz and John Malolepsy

SAVE THE DATES! It’s a retirement party and an alumni reunion! April 20-22, 2007 we’re celebrating the careers of Denise Schulz and John Malolepsy, who are retiring after 27 years of teaching and creating theatrical magic. They are collaborating one last time on our production of Twelfth Night in newly renovated Rodey Theatre. What a wonderful reason to get together, reconnect with friends, and honor two people who have touched so many lives.  Here’s what’s planned:

Friday, April 20—6:00-8:00 p.m.—cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at a nearby  restaurant for meeting, greeting, schmoozing and maybe even roasting John and Denise.

Saturday April 21—1:00-3:00—a roundtable discussion by alums who have made their careers in theatre or related fields for UNM students; and backstage tour of the new stuff in Rodey Theatre led by current Theatre and Design students.

Saturday April 21—6:00-11:00 p.m.—the final performance of Twelfth Night followed immediately by a reception with food, drinks, toasts, testimonials and entertainment honoring Denise and John.

Sunday, April 22—11:00-1:00 – Friends of Theatre and Design Benefit Champagne Brunch at the Student Union Building -- a scrumptious meal with Mimosas and time for quiet conversation with friends.

We’re exploring some reduced price packages for hotels, play tickets, and meals and we’ll be sending out the invitations in February.

In the meantime, please help us spread the word by doing two things…

First, if you want to attend and or send good wishes, please e-mail the Theatre Department Office at with your mailing address so we can send you an invitation and information. 

Second, please contact other alums you are still in touch with, let them know about the event and urge them to contact us and come.