Last month new and returning students, faculty, and staff gathered in the 75-year-old Penthouse Theatre to greet one another and the new school year. We do this every year, but this year, I realized, we stand at the center of a history reaching 75 years back—to the founding of the School of Drama--and, potentially (given the youth of the new students) 75 years into the future. We’ve been talking a lot about our 75th anniversary…and it’s finally underway. At the end of September we held our… Read more

by Michael Monicatti (BA student) They say, showing up is half the battle. From the time I was a boy, I have considered myself an actor. It began in my backyard with bins of costumes, playing dress up in what I am now confortable admitting were my grandmother’s old shawls and has since taken me to the UW School of Drama and, this last summer, to London. In the winter quarter of my sophomore year, I took a course affectionately called “Shakespeare” with the great (and I really mean it when I say… Read more

Designer Jennifer Lupton (MFA 1980) started her professional Seattle theatre career working for companies such as Pioneer Square Theatre, Empty Space, and Seattle Group Theatre. “All those companies that are gone now were the lifeblood for people like me who were just getting out of school,” says Jennifer. While those companies may no longer be in operation, their legacy continues, and a well-spring of talented theatre artists follow in their footsteps, seen in the recent founding of companies… Read more

The UW School of Drama PhD program hosts a symposium examining the founding visions of our city’s theatres. Presentations by current PhD students include: UW School of Drama—Monica Cortes ViharoThe Mountaineers Players—Robert WighsAlice B. Theatre—Jay Eckard Following the presentations, the symposium will continue with a panel moderated by Seattle Times theatre critic, Misha Berson. Panelists will include Marya Sea Kaminski, Desdemona Chiang, Andrew McMasters, and Myra Platt. Small bites and… Read more

Christine Tschirgi (MFA 2007) designed the costumes for and Yesenia Iglesias (PATP 2014) plays Yaz in Water By the Spoonful, produced by Theatre22 and opening October 23 at West of Lenin. Marya Sea Kiminski (PATP 2004), Lynn Shelton (BA 1987), Jennifer Zeyl (MFA 2003), and Valerie Curtis-Newton (MFA 1996 and faculty) are included in the exhibition … Read more

The Cradle Will Rockby Marc Blitzsteindirected by Valerie Curtis-NewtonJones PlayhouseOctober 28–November 8More info  Seattle Theatre SymposiumJones PlayhouseNovember 2 at 7:30 PMPublic Talk, FreeMore info  Seattle Theatres Lost & Founded: Seattle Group TheatreIn partnership with Meany Hall and One Coast CollaborationMeany Studio TheatreNovember 9… Read more