Students take UTEP front stage

by Alejandra Hernandez
March 30, 2010

I have recently had the pleasure of attending all three of the most current productions here at UTEP. The Department of Theatre and Dance truly places and emphasis on the involvement of the community and also public outreach beyond the UTEP campus.

At UTEP, student productions of all background and diverse style techniques take place every year as a means to bring awareness to the Fine Arts department and the talent of its students. Moreover, as I have had the opportunity to experience the raw production process of the current musical inspired piece by the name of Billy the Kid and the mellow-dramatic-comedic piece, Some Girl(s), I have seen the dedication and time set forth to represent the department. This spring semester alone, the Department of Theatre and Dance took vigorous months worth of practice and rehearsal to prepare for the years productions, plays and musicals. Some of the most admirable pieces of work thus far consist of Billy the Kid (dance piece), SHOUT (musical), and Some Girl(s) (play). The soon to sell out Of Mice and Men is set to play thought-out April 23^th , 24^th,25^th,29^th,30^th, May 1^st and 2^nd, along with La Cage: Aux Folles, overlapping into mid May.

Personally, Some Girl(s) has been the most memorable UTEP piece. Not only does this piece of work set itself apart from others by its choice of stage; the Studio theatre but also by the style of technique used to incorporate a modern day period within four walls. In this outrageously funny yet serious dialogue you are likely to find a “Portrait-of-the-Artist-as-a-Young-Seducer casts an insightful light on our society’s views of the contemporary American relationship.” What makes this play all the more entertaining is the stage performed on.   The play takes places in the Studio Theatre also known as a “black box”, which is placed just feet from the audience in an almost personal environment, with minimal scenery or props. The experience of such a live performance is not only innovative but also an attribute that calls attention to a younger crowd of people. In Some Girl(s), a young blossoming writer is portrayed as a stud, ready to take on the married life that is before he takes a journey to his past ex-girlfriends to rattle up some unanswered questions before tying the knotting. It is performances like this one that help to engage not only the student body but also members of our community into UTEP funded programs and to provide an incentive for people to take part in what UTEP has to offer as a whole.

For more information on dates of performances and ticket prices visit:

http://theatredance.utep.edu/Site/Production_Photos.html

http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=12633

Print

Alejandra Hernandez

Hernandez is a freshman Marketing major at the University of Texas at El Paso. She plans to work in the fashion industry.