New Theatre And Dance Chair Says His Is One Of Country’s Most Coveted Art Jobs

By alcalde in Blog on May 18, 2010 at 8:46 am | No Comments

Brant Pope, a nationally recognized actor, playwright, and director, has been named the lead of UT’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

Pope represents a rare combination: he has spent time both in professional theatre settings as a performer, writer, and director and as an academic (Pope is an Arthur Miller scholar, and wrote the play “Sins of Omission”).

He currently heads the theatre department at the University of Illinois but has taught all over the country.

“Brant Pope is equally at home and accomplished in the world of professional theatre and the world of university and conservatory theatrical training programs,” said Douglas Dempster, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “He will set a new high standard of academic excellence and artistic professionalism for the UT’s Department of Theatre and Dance and for the Austin theater community.”

Although Illinois’ theatre department is considered one of the country’s best, Pope says he’s thrilled to be making the jump to Texas.

“The position of chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas is one of the most exciting, challenging, and coveted arts jobs in America,” Pope says.

He takes over for interim chair Holly Williams June 1.

Welcome, Dr. Pope!

Correction: An earlier version of this post misspelled Theatre as Theater. Thanks to reader Jakquelyn Taylor-Sullivan for spotting the typo.