MFA Acting Major, Amy Toruno’s play, Temporary is the co-recipient of the Kennedy Center’s Latinx Playwriting Award. The Award come with a cash prize and memberships to the Dramatist Guild and the Playwright’s Center in Minneapolis. “Temporary”, for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is based on Amy’s mother’s cross to America and her work for over…
Rebecca Goodman, a junior Theatre Studies student, was selected as a Student Director in KCACTF’s National Playwrighting Program, 2021. As one of only six directors selected from the region, she directed A Home Bar Means You’re Fine by Jayne Deely about how people cope with the “new normal” that the pandemic has brought upon everyone. The plays were…
In September of 2020, the Jr. Studio Actors created The Harlem Renaissance Project, in which they explored poems from the extraordinary African American cultural movement a century before. This was a cherished experience and served the class’ mission of inclusion, decolonization of the canon and expression of our passion and commitment to the Black Lives…
In September, alumnus Robert Falls, Goodman Theatre’s Artistic Director, came back for a visit to Illinois Theatre. Falls was a recipient of the Distinguished Legacy Award through the College of Fine and Applied Arts. This award honors “college alumni and friends who have demonstrated courage, curiosity, and passion in their work” as well as “individuals who have…
Early in 2019, Professor John Boesche was commissioned for a very large scale original public art work. Art on theMART is a collaboration between the City of Chicago and the owners of theMART to project digital artworks on the 2.5 acre façade of that building. A system of thirty-four 30,000 lumen projectors was launched in late 2018….
The department’s two fall productions were a huge success, playing to packed houses and garnering excellent reviews. Gem of the Ocean, which opened on October 17, filled the Colwell Playhouse. The News Gazette’s reviewer described it as “powerful, complex, and sacramental.” She called the production “first rate,” singling out lighting, scenic design, and new dance work for praise….
This August, we welcome nine new faculty members to Illinois Theatre. A combination of new lines, restructuring of existing positions, and faculty replacements result in a total faculty of 40! Please welcome Andrea Bouck (Costume Shop Director), José Díaz-Soto (Visiting Assistant Professor of Scenic Design, not pictured), Richard Gregg (Costume Shop Rentals), Rose Kaczmarowski (Assistant Teaching Professor, Costume Design and Technology), Eric Lin(Associate Technical Director), Allison Moody (Visiting…
Dr. Robin McFarquhar, a prominent member of the University of Illinois community and a long-time leader in the department, retired July 31 after 35 years of service. He was granted emeritus status on retirement. Dr. McFarquhar distinguished himself as a teacher and mentor. He was awarded the Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in…
On May 13, Illinois Theatre welcomed 25 BFAs, 5 MAs, 23 MFAs, and 1 PhD into the ranks of our alumni. The annual commencement ceremony featured a welcome address from Kirsten Pullen, celebrating her first year as head; a message from the College of Fine and Applied Arts, delivered by Associate Dean Linda Robbennolt; and…
We are starting our next 50 years of Illinois Theatre by continuing our commitment to challenge and nurture our students, offer a space for campus conversation, and explore issues within our Champaign-Urbana community. With plays classic and contemporary, plus one musical and one world premiere, we consider the interplay between power and pleasure. An American…