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Drama News

Donovan Sherman, Ph.D. '11, gives a lecture on Shakespeare and Stoicism

UC Irvine welcomes back alumnus Donovan Sherman, who will be giving a talk on the connections between Stoicism and Shakespearean performance. Sherman, an associate professor of English and director of graduate studies at Seton Hall University, published The Philosopher’s Toothache: Embodied...

Alumna Chantrell Lewis Named 2023 Community Engagement Grantee

Chantrell M. Lewis, M.F.A. ’22, has been named a 2023 Community Engagement Grantee. Community Engagement is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Orange County, CA. The organization supports artists and art programs that reimagine shared spaces and stimulate social engagement, creative...

The Pursuit of Artistic Inquiry

Research and innovation are at the core of the mission at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts by Greg Hardesty | UCI Magazine, Winter 2023 | March 1, 2023 Annie Loui, professor of acting in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, remembers being recruited to UCI from her cozy, full-time...

Three Faculty Join UCI Faculty Academy for Teaching Excellence

Three esteemed faculty members from the Claire Trevor School of the Arts have joined the inaugural class of UCI Faculty Academy for Teaching Excellence (FATE) fellows. They are Dr. Kelli Sharp from the Department of Dance, David Trend from the Department of Art, and Joel Veenstra from the...

Arts Advocates: Joel Veenstra

INSPIRATIONAL IMPROVISOR Q&A with Joel Veenstra Professor Joel Veenstra, M.F.A. ’11, is a professional stage manager whose production credits span Los Angeles to London, and who co-leads the Department of Drama’s stage management program as a professor of teaching in the Claire Trevor...

The Facemelters join the production team for UCI Drama’s AIRNESS

A Q&A with Jason and Lisa Farnan A conversation with Mia Hammett By day, Jason Farnan is a Director of UX Design; Lisa Farnan is a professional fundraiser and grant writer. By night, they’re doubly known as The Facemelters—San Diego residents and household names of U.S. Air Guitar....

UCI Department of Drama brings the world of air guitar to the Claire Trevor stage!

U.S. Air Guitar Championships — Irvine joins in the fun for one night only Irvine, Calif., January, 29, 2023 — The UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts Department of Drama will present Airness, written by playwright Chelsea Marcantel and directed by Chancellor’s Professor of Drama Eli...

UCI's Creative Engine

Through art, dance, music and drama, UCI artists push boundaries and fuel innovation By Christine Byrd This winter, the Claire Trevor School of the Arts will treat audiences to riveting performances and thought-provoking exhibitions, all of which are the result of a thriving creative engine...

Living the Dream

M.F.A. student Blake Elliott returns to UCI after following career aspirations in New York City By Christine Byrd For students dreaming of a career in theater, nothing beats working on a New York City stage. Just ask second-year M.F.A. student Blake Elliott, who returns to UCI this winter...

Two UCI Drama alums win at the Emmys!

Darcy Prevost (M.F.A. ’09) and Jeanine Ringer (M.F.A. ’09), alumni from the scenic design program in the Department of Drama, each won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) inaugural Children’s...

UCI Drama Professor Daphne Lei, Ph.D. Wins Distinguished Scholar Award

Daphne P. Lei (Ph.D. ’99), professor of doctoral studies in the UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts (CTSA) Department of Drama, has received the 2022 Distinguished Scholar Award for outstanding achievement in scholarship in the field of theatre studies. Presented by the American Society for...

Inside The Making of THE STORY OF BIDDY MASON

A Q&A Interview with Playwright and Director Annie Loui Professor of Acting Annie Loui is a director, choreographer, author and playwright and is the Artistic Director of CounterBalance Theater. She has taught for the Brandeis Theater Arts Department, the Institute for Advanced Theater...

A Name to Remember

M.F.A. candidate Mary Hill stars as Biddy Mason – and hopes you’ll remember them both By Christine Byrd Unlike many of her peers who were on stage from the time they were little, Mary Hill didn’t find her way to the theater until college. In fact, her pursuit of the arts resulted from a happy...

Professor Richard Brestoff will present at the inaugural Theatre Teacher Summit

Professor of Acting Richard Brestoff will present at the inaugural Theatre Teacher Summit, a 2-day conference with inspirational training sessions from renowned acting teachers, authors and industry professionals taking place Nov. 12-13 online.    Brestoff will present on Nov. 13...

Dean Tiffany López featured on Erin Gruwell's podcast series "Freedom Writers"

The new dean of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Dr. Tiffany Ana López, recently sat down with Erin Gruwell (B.A. '91, Humanities) for the podcast series "Freedom Writers." They discuss Dr. Lopez's journey from being a first-generation college student to becoming a leading voice in the fight...

Flourishing this fall: UCI arts

Upcoming performance season includes such bold and ambitious programs as a modern take on ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Nick Schou, UCI | September 26, 2022 After a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UCI once again hosted its popular New Swan Shakespeare Festival on campus this summer. With...

For Alex Dreschke, a role in Hamilton at Segerstrom seems like homecoming

Event-News Enterprise (excerpt) By David N. Young | September 15, 2022 (Read full feature)   When he graduated with a Fine Arts degree from UC Irvine years ago, Alex Dreschke could hardly have imagined he would return to SoCal with a role in HAMILTON, one of the most engaging...

Made in California

The arts and education helped new dean Tiffany Ana López reimagine her own life By Christine Byrd For Tiffany Ana López, joining the Claire Trevor School of the Arts as dean is a double homecoming. Both a return to her native California and to the public higher-education system that shaped...