The Department of Theatre and Dance has been expanding its education & outreach program over the past few years. It has grown from a small number of one-time events in the 2013-2014 school year to a full calendar year of programs. The department now serves a wide range of audiences including K-12 students, adults, senior citizens, and everyone in between. With many annual events, festivals, and community outreach initiatives, the Department of Theatre and Dance aims to expand our programming and bring more theatre and dance to the surrounding community in the years to come.
Festivals
High School Theatre Festival
The University of Alabama’s High School Theatre Festival, open to 7th-12th grade students, provides students with the opportunity to attend workshops led by UA Theatre and Dance faculty, staff, and graduate students, featuring many theatre disciplines (performance, technical theatre, stage management, etc.). Additionally, attendees have the chance to explore campus, watch performances by current students, and meet the many performing arts organizations here at The University of Alabama. Lunch is provided, along with snacks throughout the day.
The 10th annual High School Theatre Festival will be held on October 7 2023. Follow @uatheatredance on social media for updates and new information!
High School Dance Day
The University of Alabama’s High School Dance Day offers high school students the opportunity to participate in a day of dance workshops with our outstanding students and faculty members. Offered every spring, the day includes workshops, lunch, and a ticket to Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre. In 2023, High School Dance Day will be held on Saturday, March 4th. Students can register online now!
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 17th
College Prep
Understudy Program
Do you want to be a UA Theatre and Dance student for a day? If so, come participate in the Theatre and Dance Understudy Program! This program is designed to give high schoolers and prospective college students the opportunity to explore campus, attend classes, meet faculty, shadow current students, and learn more about careers in theatre and dance. Understudies can choose between a full-day or half-day schedule. Available tracks are General, Musical Theatre, Acting, Dance, and Design/Technical Production. If you’re interested in participating in this program, please fill out this form and you will be contacted by one of our student ambassadors!
Musical Theatre Audition Masterclass
UA Theatre and Dance offers a Musical Theatre Audition Masterclass for students who wish to pursue a career in Musical Theatre by helping them understand the nuances of auditioning for college and university Musical Theatre programs. Conducted by Dr. William A. Martin, Director of Vocal Instruction, students have the opportunity to present their audition package, receive feedback, and ask questions about the process.
Talkback Series
Theatre Talkbacks
Following Friday performances in the Marian Gallaway or Allen Bales Theatres, UA Theatre and Dance hosts a talkback, providing audiences the opportunity to further engage with the show. These unique events take many forms—Q&A with cast/crew, guest speaker, group discussion—and vary depending on the content of the current production. These events allow students and patrons to learn more about the production process and continue a dialogue even after the curtain falls.
Dance Talkbacks
Throughout the season, UA Theatre and Dance will host a number of Q&A talkbacks with dancers, choreographers, and faculty following concerts or prospective student events. For the latest updates on Dance Talkbacks, follow @uatheatredance on social media.
Campus & Community Partnerships
Capstone Creative Partnership
Created in 2021, the Capstone Creative Partnership serves as a link between The University of Alabama Department of Theatre and Dance and local school districts. Its mission is to promote the arts throughout Alabama, through generating educational materials easily accessible to teachers and students. The support offered by this program is conveyed by two primary methods; education packages and in-school programming. These methods are unique to each school’s needs and gives the students an opportunity to explore the arts at different capacities. If you’re interested in getting your school involved in this partnership, email us at uatheatredance@gmail.com.
Al’s Pals
Every spring, UA Theatre and Dance partners with Al’s Pals to bring educational programming to area elementary schools. For eight weeks, several graduate and undergraduate students work with the students and their mentors to create theatrical or dance-based representations of classic fairy tales. The elementary students learn character development, story structure, teamwork, improvisational skills or basic dance technique. This program is designed mainly for elementary students, but we are able to also reach other UA students who serve as mentors.
Storytelling
UA Theatre and Dance partners with the Children’s Hands-On Museum to provide theatre and dance education programs to elementary age students and their families. The University of Alabama students use movement and acting to narrate books, fables and other familiar stories.
Other Programming
Stage Talks
Starting in 2020, Stage Talks is the UA Theatre and Dance podcast. While currently on hiatus, past episodes can be found and enjoyed on Spotify. Topics range across all of theatre and dance. Stream our episodes now!
Virtual Series
The Virtual Series are workshops and outreach programs that allow the audience to connect with the performing arts from their homes. The Virtual Series consists of the Virtual Black Box which includes live theatre and dance videos and meet and greet sessions as well as the Movement series which consists of mini-Masterclasses hosted by the distinguished faculty at the department.
Custom Workshops
UA Theatre and Dance sets up custom workshops upon request for middle and high school teachers. We host workshops at the University in addition to sending instructors into the High Schools to work in their space. For more information about scheduling a custom workshop contact theatredanceua@gmail.com.
Other Events
UA Theatre and Dance participates in several community events each year, including Druid City Arts Festival, Volksfest, Hospice 5k, and Duck Derby. We also foster partnerships with other departments and organizations on the UA campus. You will find us at Night at the Museum, Get on Board Day, Graduate Student Orientation Welcome, and several other events. These events help bring awareness of our department’s season and programs to the community outside of the campus, helping us share theatre and dance with a larger demographic.