UNC Charlotte Theatre

Three theatre students had an amazing opportunity last month! Supported by the Department of Theatre, Emma Baker, Naomi Diaz and Ashlin Heise, accompanied by Lecturer in Stage Management Rachel Watkins, attended the 2026 Broadway Stage Management Symposium in NYC! 🌟

Led by professionals who have managed Broadway hits like “Wicked,” “Mama Mia” and “Beetlejuice,” as well as the Tony Awards extravaganza, the symposium was filled with lectures and events focused solely on issues in stage management.

“My favorite part about the symposium was the variety of panelists," said Naomi, “from stage managing an immersive show to working abroad in Korea. That opened my eyes to how you can do so much with stage management, and it can take you to great places – not just Broadway.”

For Emma, the session on mental health really resonated: “Stage managers most of the time have to take care of the cast and crew and make sure everyone is OK. It was important to have a reminder to check in on yourself, make sure you’re doing good.”

And Ashlin loved the sense of community and “being validated by people who know exactly what it is like being a stage manager.”

To top it off, they attended the Broadway musical "Death Becomes Her" and had a private Q&A with the show’s entire stage management team!

Andrew Hartley, Emeritus Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare Studies, is the volume editor for the new Arden Shakespeare edition of “Julius Caesar!”

Released on May 14 by Bloomsbury Publishing, “Julius Caesar” is, along with “Titus Andronicus,” the first volume issued in The Arden Shakespeare Fourth Series.

With its first series launched in 1899, Arden Shakespeare has presented acclaimed scholarly editions of Shakespeare’s plays and poems for more than a century. Each edition in the Fourth Series will include an illustrated critical introduction and feature an improved page layout with extensive on-page explanatory notes.

Hartley has a long history with “Julius Caesar” and is the editor of The Arden Shakespeare’s 2016 publication, “Julius Caesar: A Critical Reader.” Now more than 425 years old, the play still demands new study and interpretation, he said in an interview with Bloomsbury.

“Scholarship evolves, and that changes the way we see the plays, even changes the nature of the play itself. The editions we work with as scholars and teachers should reflect the best of current thought on the play and its place in culture. And, of course, we change too. Since reading Shakespeare is in some ways about reading ourselves, editions need to evolve with the larger culture.”

While “Julius Caesar” depicts historical events in Ancient Rome, Hartley said the play “has always had a knack for contemporary resonance” and that it feels “fresh and clear-sighted, even as it balances high-minded principle and profound cynicism.”

Hartley retired from UNC Charlotte in 2022 after 18 years on the faculty. He is the author of various scholarly books, including “The Shakespearean Dramaturg” and “Shakespeare and Political Theatre,” and was the editor of the performance journal Shakespeare Bulletin (Johns Hopkins UP) for a decade.

Under the names A.J. Hartley and Andrew Hart, he is also the award-winning author of nearly 30 works of fiction. His most recent series is “Hideki Smith”; the third book in that series is underway.

Even with all of his academic and literary accomplishments, Hartley said in a recent blog post that the publication of the new “Julius Caesar” volume, which he began working on in 2017, is a “very big deal: the highlight of my career and the chance to shape discussion, classroom teaching, research and theatre/film productions of this play for something like the next three decades.”

Congratulations to Distinguished Professor Rob Conkie and theatre major Ariana Zappley on the first public showing of "Shakespeare's Sass," which took place May 13 at Garinger High School. More performances to come!

We love visiting local schools to share our work!

On May 1, students in theatre professor Beth Murray's “Picture Books Into Theatre” course visited elementary and high school classrooms at Mountain Island Charter School to present classroom drama and playscripts that they adapted this semester from children's picture books.

One group, pictured here, went to the elementary classroom of music teacher Jessi Clarkson.

First, the theatre students shared a process-drama based on the book “The Day the Crayons Quit,” which was planned/scripted by theatre student Erick Flowers and Beth Murray.

Then the ensemble shared three additional scripted pieces: “Knight Owl,” adapted by Mollie Epstein; “The Kissing Hand,” adapted by Ciel Davis; and “Stinky & the Nightmare,” which was adapted by Ava (Teddy) Clarkson from her grandfather’s book.

Other UNC Charlotte theatre students involved include Maddie Crisp, Angelica Keenan, Maxwell Martin, Tina Mendinacelli and Karissa Kimbrell.

Today we are featuring two recent theatre alumni, Julio Hernandez and Morgan Wakefield!

Like Isabel Gonzalez ’19, Alex Aguilar ’17, and other CoAA alums who have gone before them, Julio and Morgan have found artistic employment at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.

Earlier this spring, Julio made his company debut, joining Isabel on stage for the production of “Esperanza Rising,” in which he played the prominent role of Miguel. (CoA+A lecturer Gordon Olson was the show’s lighting designer, and recent alum Kat Fletcher was one of the electrician staff!)

Morgan, who already has several credits under her belt, recently completed the run of "Disney's Frozen the Broadway Musical," which music alum Matthew Primm ’09 music directed!

“Julio was fantastic in Esperanza Rising, and Morgan is always a star on our stage and in our education programs,” said Alex Aguilar, who, in addition to occasionally performing is PR and Social Media Manager for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.

📸 Graham Smith, John Merrick, and Alex Aguilar

Audition Announcement! This fall the Department of Theatre will present John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberely Belflower, directed by Roxanne Wellington.

The department is inviting submissions from professional actors to audition for the role of Carter Smith in the play.

The production will feature undergraduate performers working alongside a paid guest artist in a collaborative educational environment. Rehearsals begin September 21. Performances will take place November 12-15 at UNC Charlotte and November 20-22 at the Booth Playhouse in Uptown Charlotte.

The role of Carter Smith is mid 30’s, he/him, white, with a rural Georgia accent. A former golden boy, but one of those rare smart and sensitive ones, now he’s a great teacher: charming, engaging, goofy.

Auditions will be held by invitation. For consideration, please submit a headshot and resume to Roxanne Wellington at [email protected]. Subject: “John Proctor Guest Artist Submission.”

Huge congratulations to recent alum Chloe Shade '22, '25, who has won two national acting awards! 🎭

Chloe has received the national Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship award from the American College Theatre Festival, the organization's highest recognition in the acting discipline, AND the Jane Alexander Emerging Artist Award. She is the first UNC Charlotte student to ever win the awards.

For the competition, Chloe performed a monologue from Dominque Morisseau’s “Paradise Blue” and a scene from of “Intimate Apparel.” Last fall, she played the lead role of Esther in the Department of Theatre’s production of “Intimate Apparel,” but for her audition, she chose the freewheeling Mayme.

In the campus production, Mayme was played by theatre major Jordan Goddard, who served as Shade’s scene partner for the ACTF audition and was also awarded a scholarship.

“Working with Jordan is a blast,” Chloe said. “She’s one of those people who will keep you on your toes. Acting is about experimenting, about taking risks. When you have someone who’s willing to take those risks with you, it’s fun.”

“Chloe and Jordan’s success reflect the university’s commitment to preparing students to compete and thrive on a national stage," said professor Roxanne Wellington, who coached them for the audition.

Since earning her theatre degree, Chloe has worked locally both on stage and behind the scenes. She has acted with companies such as Charlotte Conservatory Theatre, XOXO Theatre and Theatre Charlotteand has served as assistant director for productions at venues such as the Warehouse Performing Arts Center and Theatre Charlotte.

Next season, she will return to Theatre Charlotte to direct Gabriel Jason Dean’s play “Terminus” in March.

Read on ➡️ https://brnw.ch/21x26OF

Internationally-acclaimed Broadway actor David Hughey visited our musical thetare certificate students earlier this month for an incredible masterclass! 🌟

Hughey's career spans Broadway, television, film and music. Most recently, he starred as Joseph Jackson in "MJ das Michael Jackson Musical" in Germany. He made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award–winning revival of The Gershwins’ "Porgy and Bess," and has since performed in hit shows including "Waitress," "Camelot," and the four time Tony award-winning smash hit, "MJ The Musical."

He has also appeared with the San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and New York City Opera, as well as with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and has a variety of on screen credits.
David worked with students to refine their ensemble numbers, something the musical theatre class has been focused on this semester, as well as spoke about his performance experience and answered questions about his career.

We are so thankful to have David visit our students!

Don't miss the Musical Theatre Workshop Showcase which will take place in Rowe Recital Hall at 5 pm on Tuesday April 28!
📸 Toby Schuetze

🎭 Student's play, "Bad News," is showing in the White Box Theater this weekend!

Written and directed by graduating senior Jackie Cooper, "Bad News" follows the story of a seemingly normal suburban family.

Lila and Sam are married with two teenage sons, Kyle and Emmett — but beneath the surface of a family dinner, every single one of them is carrying a secret. As those secrets come to light, what was once a family begins to unravel.

Jackie is graduating this May with her B.A. in Theatre with concentrations in Directing, Dramaturgy, and Dramatic Writing and Design/Tech, with a minor in Dance.

"I am super excited about this production because it came to me as an idea in a playwriting class, and it's so cool to see it go from a simple idea to an entire production!" Jackie shared.

The cast includes students Angelica Keenan, Alex Tolar, Ashani Pendleton, Emma Baker, Nick Ramos, JA Williams, Erick Flowers and Eleanor Zeng.
🗓️ Friday, April 24th — 7:30 p.m.
🗓️ Saturday, April 25th — 3 p.m. & 5 p.m
📍 Rowe 163, White Box Theater

🎟️ FREE tickets: https://brnw.ch/21x1L63

Come support original student work! See you there! 🌟

It's OPENING NIGHT of the departments of dance, music and theatre's production of "Cabaret!"

You won’t want to miss this hit musical set in 1920s Berlin, where a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes audiences to forget their troubles at the Cabaret.

Join us April 16-18 at 7:30 p.m. and April 18-19 at 2 p.m.! ➡️ https://charlotteboxoffice.universitytickets.com/