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Photo credit: Isaiah Brookshire
Seattle — The University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences announced a change in the structure of the Musical Theater program that will allow greater focus on interdisciplinary study and collaboration.
Changes to the program include the full-time appointment of Program Director and Artist-In-Residence Wilson Mendieta, and the integration of additional faculty, staff, and consultants.
Mendieta, who received an MFA from the UW Dance Program, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Evans School of Public Affairs, has been leading the Musical Theater program since its inception in 2013. A Broadway veteran, Mendieta comes to the appointment with a wide-range of performance credits, including “Jose” in Man of La Mancha, “Salim” in Bombay Dreams and “Harry” in Chicago. He also has extensive teaching and musical theater experience at institutions such as University of Minnesota and NYU Tisch School of the Art’s CAP 21.
In the new structure, Mendieta’s duties will be split between the Dance Program and the School of Drama. He will teach Musical Theater courses in the dance program annually, but will administer the Musical Theater Program (including curricular and production planning) in conjunction with key faculty and staff in the School of Drama and in collaboration with the Dance Program and School of Music.
“Additionally, we will create a steering committee for Musical Theater that speaks to the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of this venture; it will include faculty and staff from Drama, Dance and Music as well as representatives from our community partners,” said Betsy Cooper, Divisional Dean of the Arts at UW. “We are excited about this new administrative structure and believe it will go a long way in highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of our musical theater program at UW.”
Steven Sofia will also be joining the faculty of the Musical Theater program, teaching theater dance technique, repertory, Tap, and other courses foundational for the course of study. Sofia is a 20-year veteran of the Broadway stage, as well as a master Pilates instructor. This coming autumn, Albert Evans, Artistic & Music Associate at the 5th Avenue Theatre, will be joining the College as a visiting lecturer to teach a course on the history of American Musical Theater. Starting July 1, 2015, the College of Arts & Sciences will also fund a dedicated undergraduate advisor for the program.
The first production of the newly structured program will be Tony Award-winning musical comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The production will take place at the Jones Playhouse January 29, 30, 31 and February 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Annie Morro, Siena Dumas Ang, Hannah Leyde, and Shandie Hensley in ‘Sweet Charity’ – Photo credit: Mike Hipple
About the University of Washington Musical Theater Program
The College of Arts & Sciences offers a program of study in Musical Theater culminating in a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Individualized Studies. Through a collaborative and unique cross-departmental partnership with the School of Drama, the School of Music and the Dance Program, the program offers a dynamic range of coursework and practical application including robust training in acting, singing and dancing; performance-based projects; faculty and student directed productions; and special workshops with leading musical theater professionals. The program is designed to graduate well-rounded individuals equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to transition into musical theater professions, and to approach their careers from an entrepreneurial perspective. Learn more at artsci.washington.edu/musical-theater.
About The College
The College of Arts & Sciences, founded 150 years ago, provides an education of tremendous breadth and depth to more than 27,000 students while advancing research and scholarship in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The College has more than two dozen interdisciplinary centers and ties to many other centers, enabling scholars in diverse fields to collaborate on complex research questions in the humanities, demography, labor studies, law, astrobiology, and other areas.
The College faculty generate about $90 million in research funds annually, through public and private grants. The College also serves the community through the more than 280 performances, 60 exhibits and 100 public programs annually offered through the Henry Art Gallery, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, UW World Series, and Meany Hall for the Performing Arts.
