The University of Texas Department of Theatre and Dance
Presents

UT New Theatre (UTNT)

FEATURING
New works from emerging playwrights

WHITE TIE BALL
by Martin Zimmerman
FEBRUARY 12-14, 2010

BLUE POINT
by Kyle John Schmidt
FEBRUARY 19-21, 2010

THE TIDES OF ABERDEEN
by Erin Phillips
FEBRUARY 26-28, 2010

AT THE UT LAB THEATRE – ALL TICKETS $10

The University of Texas Department of Theatre and Dance presents an annual showcase of new plays written by third year MFA in Playwriting candidates in UT New Theatre (UTNT) featuring, White Tie Ball, by Martin Zimmerman, February 12 – 14, Blue Point, by Kyle John Schmidt, February 19 – 21, and The Tides of Aberdeen by Erin Phillips, February 26-28 at the Lab Theatre. Curated by Professor of Playwriting and Screenwriting, Steven Dietz, UTNT is three new plays presented in just three weekends!

An annual favorite since the 2007-2008 season, UTNT has served as a launching pad for highly acclaimed new works like recent graduate, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s Lidless. Originally presented as part of UTNT last spring, Lidless has earned an impressive list of awards for Cowhig, including the $50,000 2009 Keene Prize for Literature and the 2009 Yale Emerging Playwrights Prize.

Now in its third-year, UTNT will showcase Department of Theatre and Dance third-year MFA in Playwriting candidates with realized productions of original works; White Tie Ball by Martin Zimmerman, Blue Point by Kyle John Schmidt and The Tides of Aberdeen by Erin Phillips.

Martin Zimmerman’s White Tie Ball is a human drama about family, relationships and tough decisions. “This play explores cultural identity at its most basic level—the nuclear family. Two brothers have each other, and not much else in common. One of those brothers, a successful Latino attorney and politician, attempts to make a place both for his ideals and his ambitions. This play begins at the precise moment those two drives come to a crossroads,” explains director and MFA in Directing candidate, Steve Moulds. White Tie Ball runs February 12 & 13 at 8pm and February 13 & 14 at 2pm.

Martin Zimmerman is a graduate of Duke University where he received degrees in Theater Studies and Economics. His play White Tie Ball was workshopped at The Kennedy Center this past July, and was a semifinalist for The WordBridge Playwright’s Laboratory. The play will receive a workshop production in the New Stages Marfa Festival in May 2010. Martin’s play Seven Spots on the Sun received a Core Apprentice Workshop at The Playwright’s Center this past May and was a finalist for the 2009 Bay Area Playwright’s Festival. Three Movements received a workshop production on Theatre Row (NYC), was a finalist for The Drama League’s New Directors/New Works Grant, a semifinalist for The Eugene O’Neill Playwright’s Conference, and received The Dasha Epstein Award in Playwriting. Martin has also assistant directed for Steven Dietz at Austin’s Zachary Scott Theatre.

In alternating scenes of New Years Eve and the 4th of July, Kyle John Schmidt’s Blue Point is a story of secrets held tight, violence let loose, and teenage terror reigning free in Middle America. Directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Technology, Charles Otte, Blue Point runs February 19 & 20 at 8pm and February 20 & 21 at 2pm.

Kyle John Schmidt is a third year student from the Michener Center for Writers studying Playwriting and Fiction. Originally from Montezuma, Iowa, Kyle earned a BA in Theatre from Grinnell College and spent a semester studying at the National Theatre Institute at the O’Neill Center in Waterford, Connecticut. His plays have been produced in Iowa, Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, and New York City.

Set in the dreary Northwest town of Aberdeen, The Tides of Aberdeen is a mysterious story exploring the rise and fall of small town perceptions and dreams through the eyes of two young people. Directed by MFA in Directing candidate, Courtney Sale, The Tides of Aberdeen features original music by Paul Bolinger and marks the sixth artistic collaboration for Sale and Phillips, both graduates of Cornish College of the Arts. The Tides of Aberdeen runs February 26 & 27 at 8pm and February 27 & 28 at 2pm.

Erin Phillips is originally from the bay area and holds a BFA in acting from Cornish College of the Arts. She was the 2006 joint recipient of the Corwin Award for best One Act Play, and the 2007 recipient of the Corwin award for best full-length play. She received a meritorious achievement award from the Kennedy Center for The Well. Erin holds a Masters degree in Dramatic Arts from The University of California at Santa Barbara.

For more information on UTNT’s plays, playwrights, dramaturgs, actors and directors, please visit www.finearts.utexas.edu/tad.

CALENDAR LISTINGS:

UT NEW THEATRE (UTNT) (ALL):
February 12 – 28, 2010 – The UT Department of Theatre & Dance presents UT New Theatre (UTNT) at the UT Lab Theatre. (300 E. 23rd St.), located just west of the F. Loren Winship Drama building.
Map of the campus: http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/win.html).
Show times for are February 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27 at 8:00 PM, and 2:00 PM matinees on February 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28. Tickets ($10) available at the Winship Box Office 1.5 hours prior to each performance. Seating is limited.

UT NEW THEATRE (UTNT) (INDIVIDUAL LISTINGS):
February 12 – 14, 2010 – The UT Department of Theatre & Dance presents UT New Theatre (UTNT) presents WHITE TIE BALL at the UT Lab Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.), located just west of the F. Loren Winship Drama building.
Map of the campus: http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/win.html).
Show times are February 12, 13 at 8:00 PM and February 13, 14 at 2:00 PM. Tickets ($10) available at the Winship Box Office 1.5 hours prior to each performance. Seating is limited.

February 19 – 21, 2010 – The UT Department of Theatre & Dance presents UT New Theatre (UTNT) presents BLUE POINT at the UT Lab Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.), located just west of the F. Loren Winship Drama building.
Map of the campus: http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/win.html).
Show times are February 19, 20 at 8:00 PM and February 20, 21 at 2:00 PM. Tickets ($10) available at the Winship Box Office 1.5 hours prior to each performance. Seating is limited.

February 26 – 28, 2010 – The UT Department of Theatre & Dance presents UT New Theatre (UTNT) presents THE TIDES OF ABERDEEN at the UT Lab Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.), located just west of the F. Loren Winship Drama building.
Map of the campus: http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/win.html).
Show times are February 26, 27 at 8:00 PM and February 27, 28 at 2:00 PM. Tickets ($10) available at the Winship Box Office 1.5 hours prior to each performance. Seating is limited.

For immediate release:
Media Contact: Gene Bartholomew; 512.471.0632; gbartholomew@TexasPerformingArts.org
Amanda Flores; 512.232.5337; amflores@austin.utexas.edu

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