Congratulations to Drama major Priya Hendry (Drama: Performance and Law, Societies & Justice), who has been awarded the 2025 Dean’s Medal by the College of Arts & Sciences. Each spring, this prestigious honor is given to four graduating seniors, one from each of the College’s four divisions, based on academic excellence and faculty recommendations.

The University of Washington School of Drama is proud to announce that Dr. Scott Magelssen has been appointed Executive Director, effective July 1, 2025. A faculty member since 2013, Dr. Magelssen brings to the role a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, collaborative leadership, and student mentorship. 

A Night of Talent and CommunityOn May 12, the Hutchinson Hall Design Studio was buzzing with creativity and conversation as our MFA 3rd-year and 1st-year design students shared their portfolio work with members of the Seattle theater community.

On February 8th, a group of UW Drama students traveled to Vancouver, BC, to attend the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, a premier mid-winter event that brings together bold, contemporary works of live performance from around the globe.

Valerie Curtis-Newton, professor and head of directing and playwriting at the University of Washington’s School of Drama, was recently featured in American Theatre Magazine's roundtable discussion titled "Teaching the Moment." This conversation examined the influence of political forces and the changing landscape of university theatr

Union Arts Center’s New Works Northwest Festival returns January 22–25, 2026, offering staged readings, community events, and artist conversations that center the development of new plays by Pacific Northwest writers. Now in its third year, the festival invites audiences into a vital step of the creative process, supporting stories as they move from script to stage.

Interdisciplinary artist Kyra Miller Himmelbaum (MFA, Acting, PATP ’03) continues to create work that moves across performance, film, and visual storytelling. Her recent project, Bluebeard Gaslight, blends puppetry, horror, experimental film, and handmade design into a striking, genre-defying experience. 

PATP alum Ariel Estrada receives critical recognition for contemporary performance. Actor Ariel Estrada, a graduate of UW Drama’s Professional Actor Training Program (PATP), is earning strong reviews for their performance in Full Contact, with critics noting the work’s physical intensity, emotional clarity, and ensemble-driven approach.

PATP alum Jose Rufino earns praise for emotionally resonant stage work.