UT Department of Theatre and Dance Presents EMERGENCY PROM 12/4

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents the world-premiere of "Emergency Prom," a brand new theatrical event by third-year James A. Michener Center for Writers fellow and MFA in Playwriting candidate, Steve Moulds and directed by Courtney Sale.

A few days after the biggest night of the year, the students of Glen Burnie High face the fact that prom was a huge disappointment-especially for Gus and Corey, the school's resident couple, who broke up in spectacular fashion. But, Gus refuses to let Corey go, so he stages a do-over of Saturday's dance-an "emergency prom"-to not only win Corey back but give the entire school a chance to correct the mistakes of the first prom. "Emergency Prom," is a comedy about expectation, disappointment, and the precarious threshold between high school and the adult world.

When: Dec. 2, 3, 4 at 8 p.m.

Where: Oscar G. Brockett Theatre in F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN) at the intersection of 23rd Street and San Jacinto. For parking and a map of the area, please visit http://texasperformingarts.org/visit/maps_directions.

Tickets: $10, limited seating. Tickets available at the Winship Box Office 1.5 hours prior to each performance.

Background: "Emergency Prom" is a theatrical event created and written specifically for its acting ensemble. The playwright and director cast the play before crafting a narrative and characters around the individual actors involved. "The result of this process is a team spirit--an ensemble focus that shows up in the creation of an entire world," explains director, Steve Moulds. "This isn't the story of a few individuals--it's a look at a small culture. Plus, it's really funny!"

Steve Moulds is a James A. Michener Center for Writers fellow and MFA in Playwriting candidate. His plays "See You Next Tuesday" and "Buyer's Remorse" were top-ten audience hits at the 2010 and 2009 Minnesota Fringe Festivals, respectively. Also a director, Steve has worked on two productions at UT Austin, Ben Snyder's "Rivers of January" and Martin Zimmerman's "White Tie Ball". He has also directed new plays for the Humana Festival, Walking Shadow Theatre Company and History Theatre, and assisted at the Guthrie and Children's Theatre Company. Other productions include "Compound/Complex" (The Brouhaha Comedy Festival, Southern Theater). "Problem Box" (The University Co-op Presents the Cohen New Works Festival), "Von Rollo" (Illusion Theater, Minneapolis), and "Killer Smile" (Minnesota Fringe), as well as multiple short plays for Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Second-year MFA in Directing candidate, Courtney Sale joins the UT community by way of New York City, where she spent five years as Co-Artistic Director of The Management. Her production of Kristen Kosmas's "The Scandal!" was nominated for a New York Innovative Theater Award and featured in American Theatre Magazine. She assistant directed Pulitzer Prize finalist Dael Orlandersmith's Seattle premiere of Monster at A Contemporary Theater. She was also selected as one of fourteen emerging directors to participate in Peter Brook's workshop in conjunction with his tour of "Hamlet". UT directing credits include, "The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later an Epilogue," "The Tides of Aberdeen," and "The Man With the Dancing Eyes." Directing credits with The Management include "Bruecklen," "The Chalk Boy" (Co-Production in Los Angeles), "Aloha," "Say the Pretty Girls," and "The Well." Seattle directing credits include "A Bright Room Called Day" (Strike Anywhere Productions), "Henry VI Part 1" (Babes with the Bard), and "Singer Stories" (Seattle Children's Museum). As an actor Courtney has worked with San Francisco's Crowded Fire, The Jewish Theater of New York and Seattle's ArtsWest. She holds a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts.

Need more Utah Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...