Rhett Guter, an award-winning director, choreographer and actor,
will be the winter 2026 Granada Artist-in-Residence serving as
director and choreographer for The Drowsy
Chaperone, the Department of Theatre and Dance’s winter
quarter production.
The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of
California, Davis is dedicated to integrating consent-based
practices into all classroom, studio and production environments.
The 180 Series of courses provide exciting practical instruction
and participation in all aspects of theatrical and dance
production. Whether you are exploring these courses as a
Theatre & Dance Major, Minor, or are simply an interested
non-affiliated student, you will find passionate people working
to create art and tell stories on stage. We invite you to
join us at this link.
Since graduating from UC Davis in 2025, alum
Sophie Warnock has been working with Santa Cruz Shakespeare
on two touring productions. A Midsummer Night’s
Dream is an all-ages-friendly version of the classic comedic
play, while Romeo and Juliet is a bilingual spin fit for
older students.
Alumni James Hiser and UC Davis Senior Continuing Lecturer
Michele Apriña Leavy (both MFA, dramatic art, ’94) are
headed to Ireland with the recent Eugene O’Neill Foundation
production of The Hairy Ape.
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Department of
Theatre and Dance spotlights undergraduate student playwrights
Melanie Garcia and Simon Garcia Parra Jr., who are the
authors of To Kill a Certain Painter and No Que
No?, two one-act plays that premiere as part of
Written and Directed By.
The UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance presents “Careers in
the Arts Spotlight: An Afternoon with Chloë
Zimberg, Creative Director at the ODC Theatre” on Oct.
24 at 1 p.m. in the Della Davidson Performance Studio in Nelson
Hall.
Following Zimberg’s presentation, she will be available for
limited one-on-one sessions for those interested in arts career
options. Please sign up for a session using the link above.
With the goal of cultivating new voices for the stage, the UC
Davis Department of Theatre and Dance presents a series of new
one-act plays by undergraduate students. Written and Directed
By features four short student works mentored under the
guidance of Professor Jon D. Rossini and directed by student
directors.
“This project gives students a platform to see their rich,
multi-faceted storytelling come to life and inspire further steps
on their creative journey,” said Rossini.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will present
Control/Shift, the fall dance concert, Nov. 19, 20
and 21 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. in the intimate
Vanderhoef Studio, Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the
Performing Arts at UC Davis.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will present The Drowsy
Chaperone, the delightful award-winning musical comedy, in
winter 2026.
The production runs Feb. 26, 27, 28 and March 5 and 6 at 7
p.m. and Feb. 18 and March 7 at 2 p.m. in the Main Theatre,
Wright Hall.
Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original
Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving
send-up of the Golden Age of the Broadway musical.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will present The
Odyssey in Shadow, a large-scale cinematic shadow
theater experience inspired by the ancient epic The
Odyssey. The production will perform at the end of spring
quarter 2026 in the Arena Theatre, Wright Hall.
