UA students have worked tirelessly to hone the art of storytelling, culminating in an exciting roster of UA theatre and dance performances this spring. Mark your calendar now for these dynamic stage productions.
Danielle Mullenix is an award-winning seasoned performer. Majoring in theatre with a concentration in musical theatre and a news media minor, the senior from Fairhope is ready to take the stage.
“The adrenaline that comes with mixed excitement and nervousness creates a storm of undefinable power that comes with being an artist. It’s an honor to perform with my peers and mentors at UA, who impact our community beautifully beyond the final product onstage,” she said.
To experience this electric atmosphere, buy tickets now for the UA theatre and dance department spring shows.
Theatre
“The Odd Couple”
Directed by Tom W. Jones II
Feb. 17-23, Allen Bales Theatre
Hilarity ensues when opposites become roommates. Tensions arise when compulsively neat Felix Unger moves in with slob Oscar Madison. “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon has spawned a film and two American television sitcoms. This classic comedy examines friendship and the spirit of perseverance.
“Cabaret”
Directed by Stacy Alley
April 14-20, Marian Gallaway Theatre
Set against the backdrop of an ostentatious nightclub, Clifford Bradshaw and Sally Bowles fall in love. However, a darker secret on the horizon will soon threaten not only their passionate romance but their freedom.
“‘Cabaret’ is a classic Broadway hit that has brought awareness to significant societal error and oppression beyond the glitzy and gritty façade it may initially present,” said Mullenix.
Dance
Every dance tells a story. This sentiment resonates with Presley Bauer. The dance major from Carriere, Mississippi, will perform in the upcoming spring shows.
“Dance matters because it is a powerful form of expression that allows individuals to communicate emotions, stories, and cultural experiences without words,” said the junior, who was honored last year with the Outstanding Sophomore Award from the department. “It connects people across differences, fosters creativity, and promotes physical and emotional well-being.”
“My favorite thing about dancing is that I get to tell a story and express my emotions solely through movement,” she said. “When dancing, I step into another world and embody different characters. Dance has always given me the best community of friends, especially here at college, and has shaped me into the person I am today.”
Emerging Choreographers’ Showcase
Feb. 26-March 1, Dance Theatre
Only two years old, Emerging Choreographers’ Showcase is a sui generis dance concert arranged by talented students enrolled in a yearlong choreography course. Bauer is currently working on her piece to be presented at this showcase.
Emphasizing artistic growth and innovation, each performance reveals the varied viewpoints and imaginative expressions that define the future of dance. Get ready to be moved by the passion, commitment, and uniqueness in this enthralling experience.
Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre – Syzygy
April 2-5, Dance Theatre
“Beyond its artistic value, dance can serve as a catalyst for social change, provoke thought, and build communities, offering a space for shared understanding and connection,” added Bauer.
This spring, be transported into a sparkling otherworld known as Syzygy. Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre is choreographed by renowned guest choreographers and UA faculty. Get ready for fresh energy that celebrates the beauty of movement.
“When guest artists come in, we typically rehearse multiple hours a day for a week to learn all the choreography. After that, we rehearse anywhere from four to eight hours a week leading up to the concert. It can be tiring at times, but it is all worth it in the end,” Bauer said.
Audience Etiquette
Because these performances are live, arrive on time to avoid interrupting the performance and to fully experience the magic of the stage.
Staying off your phone, avoiding photography, leaving food at home, and refraining from talking are other general rules for polite audiences.
Untold hours of preparation both on stage, behind the scenes and at home go into rehearsing for these shows.
Asterilla Joanne Monteiro, an instructor within the UA theatre and dance department, noted, “We often talk about how it takes a village to put on a production and that is true! This includes the rehearsal process, the technical aspects including lighting, sound, set, costumes and more as well as managing the front of house and back of house once the show ending with striking or taking down the show once it closes.”
Tickets
Purchase tickets online or by calling 205-348-3400. A discount package is offered to buy tickets to all the department’s spring shows. Group discounts start at $10. Patrons can call the ticket office for more information. Students can purchase a discounted package at the start of the spring semester.
To further support UA’s emerging artists, consider donating to UA theatre and dance Scholarship fund and attending as many shows as possible.
Mullenix said, “Funding is a great way to support our theatre department as we transition into a new space and usher in a significant new era of artistic academia for University students. Beyond funding, audience engagement and reinforcement of the productions here can transform our department’s presence at the university and uplift its students.”
Beyond the Stage
Outside of these shows, UA students are committed to reaching their goals. Mullenix is no exception. After competing against hundreds of other singers, she was honored as a top 10 finalist in The American Pops Orchestra’s “NextGen National: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow.”
Bauer represents the UA theatre and dance department as an ambassador, helping facilitate the audition process and leading tours to high school students. This summer, she interned for the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and San Francisco.
Theatre and dance student organizations produce student-led shows each year. Dance Alabama!, Alpha Psi Omega and Crimson Stage help lead the charge in student productions, which are also open to the public. For example, #SICKMOVES is a free show produced by Dance Alabama! which will be Feb. 15 at 7 p. m. at the Bama Theatre.
“UA student performers work passionately to achieve their dreams, often engaging in entrepreneurial endeavors and philanthropic work through their respective organizations,” said Mullenix.
