Drama Department News

The name Sidney Berger brings a smile to many people's faces. He tirelessly built UH's once small drama department into a world-class school ... and in the process entertained Houstonians of all ages.

Known as the 'Granddaddy of Interactive Theater,' Tony n' Tina's Wedding set the gold standard for the genre with an all-inclusive two-part event where audience members take on the roles of family and friends of the bride and groom. Now beginning this spring, the celebration is coming back to the heart of Times Square.

Mellon Visiting Scholar, Professor Jeffrey Sichel is in residence with The Drama Department directing a production of William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. Titus is said to be The Bard's bloodiest and most violent work, dealing with dehumanization, rape, marginalization and cycles of revenge.

Written in 1978, Deathtrap still holds the record for longest-running comedy thriller on Broadway. Sidney Bruhl is a playwright desperately in need of a hit. Just in time, a former student sends him the manuscript of his first play, a murder mystery called Deathtrap. Sidney smells a hit, but he's never been that fond of sharing credit. TIME Magazine said, 'If you care to assassinate yourself with laughter, try Deathtrap.'

Some Girl(s) by Neil LaBute kicks off Dragon Theatre's new 2nd Stages Program.

Elizabeth Swados will direct GUNS at 54 Below tonight, March 6, 2014.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Known as the 'Granddaddy of Interactive Theater,' Tony n' Tina's Wedding set the gold standard for the genre with an all-inclusive two-part event where audience members take on the roles of family and friends of the bride and groom. Now beginning this spring, the celebration is coming back to the heart of Times Square.

Craving a show after the show? 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is expanding its popular late-night series with fresh faces and hot new performances to keep the party buzzing into the wee hours. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th St., 54 BELOW welcomes you to loosen your tie and embrace the night at its upcoming events:

Dragon's brand new 2nd Stages series launches in March. This new series will give local theatre makers the opportunity to fully produce their passion projects with the support of an established theatre company. This dynamic pairing will create an exciting new set of theatre options in downtown Redwood City.

The University of Arkansas Theatre will kick off the 2014 season with a production of 'Spring Awakening', winner of eight Tony Awards and written by Steven Slater.

PSC Founder and Artistic Director Guy Roberts has received the first inaugural Sidney Berger Award from the Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA). The 'Sidney' Award was announced and presented by STA President Jeffrey Watkins on January 25, 2014 at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario at the annual STA conference. Sidney Berger was the founder of the Houston Shakespeare Festival and longtime Chairman of the Drama Department at the University of Houston.

Elizabeth Swados will direct GUNS at 54 Below on March 6, 2014.

Christopher Weare directs Sam Shepard's award winning play A LIE OF THE MIND for UCT Drama Department, on at The Little Theatre for a short season from 1 March 2014- 8 March 2014.

Greg Edwards & Andy Sandberg's acclaimed two-actor, 30-character comedy about travel agents and the people they serve, Craving for Travel, now making its world premiere at the Peter J. Sharp Theater (416 W. 42nd Street, NYC), will close as scheduled this Sunday, February 9. The play is commissioned and produced by Jim Strong, one of America's leading luxury travel agents, and directed by Sandberg.

After five and a half years of residence at the Blue Star Arts Complex, Classic Theatre of San Antonio has made a new home in the Black Box of the Woodlawn Theatre! As a special treat, our debut production in the new space is Death of a Salesman.

Meet Hana Smith, senior at Trinity Valley School and Director/Choreographer of 'Next to Normal.' Discover a bit about the genesis of this project as she tells us how a dream became (and is still becoming) a reality.

The University of Arkansas Theatre will kick off the 2014 season with a production of 'Spring Awakening', winner of eight Tony Awards and written by Steven Slater.

Cascarones, a new play by Irma Mayorga, takes place in San Antonio, Texas.

Some Girl(s) by Neil LaBute kicks off Dragon Theatre's new 2nd Stages Program.