On July 16, 2020, Sydney Cheek-O’Donnell was named as the interim chairperson of the Department of Theatre, following the departure of outgoing chair Harris Smith. One tumultuous, historical year later, as we prepare for the challenges and opportunities presented by a new school year, we are pleased to announce that Sydney Cheek-O’Donnell has officially been appointed chair of the Department of Theatre.

Sydney brings to the position a wealth of administrative experience, having served for several years on the CFA Executive Committee and Deans Cabinet in her role as Associate Dean for Research. She also holds a vast amount of well-earned support, respect, and gratitude for her willingness to serve the Department and College. 

Due in part to having witnessed her successful “trial by fire” this past year in leading the Department through such extraordinarily challenging times, I have the utmost confidence in Sydney’s abilities to effectively serve in this capacity well into the future.

John W. Scheib, Dean
University of Utah College of Fine Arts

ABOUT SYDNEY CHEEK-O’DONNELL

Dr. Cheek-O’Donnell earned a PhD in Theatre History and Dramatic Criticism from the University of Washington’s School of Drama in 2004, and received her undergraduate degree from Carleton College in Minnesota. Before shifting her focus to applied theatre, Dr. Cheek-O’Donnell served as a dramaturg on more than 20 productions at professional theatres in the United States, including Pioneer Theatre Company, where she has collaborated with Artistic Director Karen Azenberg. At the University of Utah she has taught History of Theatre, New Plays Workshop, Dramaturgy, and a variety of dramatic literature courses; she was head of Theatre Studies from 2005 to 2016. As an Associate Professor, Dr. Cheek-O’Donnell experienced the department’s strengths and its needs firsthand; as Associate Dean for Research, she gained a deeper understanding of the department’s relationship with the College of Fine Arts, as well as the breadth of opportunities available at a top-tier research university.

In addition to her practical experience as an educator and dramaturg, Dr. Cheek-O’Donnell brings to the position a long-time commitment to social, political, and environmental justice, and a keen interest in the impact of the arts on social and emotional well-being. These perspectives have informed every aspect of her work, and her desire to employ theatre as a tool to make positive change has led to a wide range of projects and collaborations in both clinical and educational settings. Previously, Dr. Cheek-O’Donnell worked with a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Nalini Nadkarni (Biology) and funded through the National Science Foundation to explore using theatre, narrative, and ecological restoration as tools to help people to shift the way they see themselves in relation to science. She also recently collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to create a video series intended to support families of children with Down Syndrome.

Dr. Cheek-O’Donnell’s current research focuses on the application of theatre techniques in medical education. Along with Dr. Gretchen A. Case, she is Principal Investigator on a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a rehearsal framework for improving the interpersonal communication skills of medical learners.  This study is funded by a NEA Research Art Works grant. Dr. Cheek-O’Donnell also regularly collaborates with multidisciplinary teams at the Utah Center for Excellence in ELSI Research (UCEER) to leverage the arts—particularly theatre and storytelling—to create health education and support materials for women and families. Her new book, Theatre, one of several titles in Emerald Publishing’s Arts for Health Series, offers practical guidance on incorporating theatre into professional health and social care environments, community spaces, and the family home.  

Since Maud May Babcock first taught “dramatics” at the University of Utah in the 1890s, only three women have been appointed as chair of the department. Each oversaw periods of change and growth: Professor Babcock's efforts led to the formation of the Speech Department, which she led from its inception in 1920. The Department of Speech turned into the Department of Theatre and Ballet, which became the Department of Theatre and Film. With Marilyn Holt as chair, the Department of Theatre finally became a distinct entity in 1986. Now, over thirty years after Dr. Holt's retirement in 1988, Dr. Cheek-O’Donnell is the third woman to lead the department. As we navigate an uncertain but exciting future, we look forward to the ways we will benefit from her experience as a dramaturg; her passion for social, political, and environmental justice; and her penchant for bringing theatre into unexpected places.

As a dramaturg, you’re not the one steering the ship; you’re there to act as a navigator. You provide support and encourage conversations so the production—or in this case, the department—can succeed at what it’s setting out to do. It's not about dictating things, or micromanaging. It’s about helping define a space where people can make their own discoveries and contribute to telling the same story. The work belongs to everyone. We all have a stake in the outcome, so we should all engage in the process of reaching that outcome. So you research and you observe, and you start with questions: “Who is this for? What are we trying to accomplish? Are we succeeding—not as a production, but as a department?” If it were a production, the director would decide the vision, but this show started before I got here, and it’s going to go on after me. It’s incredibly exciting. We get to look at who we’ve been, and who we are, and where we want to go, and I get to ask, “How can I, as chair, support this collaboration? How far can we go together?”

                                               Sydney Cheek-O’Donnell, Chair
Department of Theatre

"Bob Week" is a weeklong celebration in honor of Bob Nelson, on the occasion of his retirement. "Bob Week" runs from 10/2/2020 to 10/9/2020.

"Bob Week" is a weeklong celebration in honor of Bob Nelson, on the occasion of his retirement. "Bob Week" runs from 10/2/2020 to 10/9/2020.

"Bob Week" is a weeklong celebration in honor of Bob Nelson, on the occasion of his retirement. "Bob Week" runs from 10/2/2020 to 10/9/2020.

 "Bob Week" is a weeklong celebration in honor of Bob Nelson, on the occasion of his retirement. "Bob Week" runs from 10/2/2020 to 10/9/2020.

This fall, Professor and former Chair of the Department of Theatre, Robert A. Nelson, is retiring from the University of Utah after more than fifteen years.

Following a BA in Dramatic Theory (Arizona), Bob first came to the University of Utah to earn his PhD in Theatre. He remained in Utah, teaching theatre at BYU for many years--including a stint as Department Chair from 1998 to 2004--before he returned to the University of Utah. He served as Chair of the Department from 2005 to 2009, staying on afterward as Professor and Head of the Theatre Studies Program. His varied interests and depth of knowledge about the history, theory, and practice of theatre allowed him to teach a wide variety of subjects; however, as he states in his bio, "he particularly enjoys theatre history, dramatic literature, new-play development, acting, directing, and Shakespeare." This last affinity led him not only to teach and act the plays of the Bard, but also to publish his own writing about teaching Shakespeare.

Bob's unflagging passion and enthusiasm, coupled with his innate generosity, have led to widespread involvement in every aspect of theatre. Over the years, Bob has presented at and participated in a wide array of organizations and associations, including ASTR (American Society for Theatre Research), ATA (American Theatre Association), ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education), Comparative Drama Conference, RMTA (Rocky Mountain Theatre Association), UTA (Utah Theatre Association), and KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival).

In addition to the time and resources he has contributed as an educator, Bob has also maintained a notable and diverse career as a theatre actor and director throughout Utah, as well as in film and television. As stated in his bio, "he and the former Char Pomeroy are the proud parents of four, and grandparents of seven."

During our weeklong celebration of Bob Nelson, we will be updating our blog daily with interviews from members of our department and community, each remembering and celebrating Bob as an educator, an administrator, an actor, a director, and friend. Don’t forget to visit our Wall of Thanks to post your own memories, stories, pictures, videos, and wishes for Bob.

“Bob Week” runs from October 2 to October 9, 2020.

For the past few months at the UNP Hartland Partnership Center, four University of Utah Theatre Teaching students lead by Kelby McIntyre-Martinez worked with the Hartland Youth Center to put together a social action theatre piece, “We are Hartland!” The goal of the performance was to share youth hopes and dreams with the broader community.

On Tuesday evenings, we met with the youth at Hartland to teach them theatre skills such as projection (using a loud and clear voice), being in control of their voices and bodies while on stage, facing toward the audience, smiling and always giving 100% effort. We had fun dancing and playing theatre games with the youth while adding a different piece of the performance every week.

In small groups, the youth shared with us the dreams they have for their futures, the dreams they have for their families, and the dreams they have for their world. Some examples were to play professional soccer, to go to college, to buy houses for their moms, to be kind, to give back to the community, and to help others. The youth used Tableaux, which is a frozen picture that represents a story, to express their dreams in the performance. The Youth studied the words of Dr. Martin Luther King in his famous speech “I Have a Dream” and recited phrases from it with movement during the performance.

On the day of the performance you could feel the excitement and jitters in the room as we practiced our piece at the Sorenson Unity Center before the show. Once the youth came out on stage in their bright matching Hartland t-shirts, you could feel the energy and the love as they recited, “We are Hartland bright and fun, watch out world ‘cuz here we come!” The audience participated in our dance routines by clapping with us and even shared their hopes and dreams after the performance! The Hartland Youth had so much fun performing in front of their fellow students and the community. They really shined! Hopefully they will be able to take the skills they learned and use them to shine in all aspects of their life.

Content provided by Carly Taylor, University of Utah Theatre Teaching student.

Department of Theatre Performing Arts Design Program alumna, Iris Salazar premiered her play, American Pride as one of four short plays that comprised “…Of Color” at Plan-B Theatre Company in March, 2019. Story below retrieved from planbtheatre.org

Mexican playwright Iris Salazar on creating “American Pride” for …OF COLOR

Nov 27, 2018

Playwright Iris Salazar was born in Gomez, Palacios, Durango, Mexico. She has lived in Salt Lake City since she was eight months old and became a citizen in 2000. A member of Plan-B’s Theatre Artists of Color Writing Workshop, she makes her playwriting debut this season with a very, very dark comedy about making America great again: “American Pride” is one of four short plays that comprise …OF COLOR, premiering in March of 2019.

I knew when I signed up for the Theatre Artists of Color Writing Workshop that I wanted to write a piece that reflected my political thoughts. I am not a politician, and I have never been able to articulate or debate politics in any way. I went through a torrent of emotions as I watched Donald Trump attack groups of people and brag about his sexual predatory behavior during his campaign but I naively believed that we would never allow this man to preside over our country. My disappointment, anger, and sadness were far too large to measure and simply get over as some would suggest. I found myself posting everything anti-Trump that I could post on social media. In the process, I discovered that people who I knew, went to church with and even admired were supportive and defensive of this individual.

One day I saw a picture of an acquaintance on social media standing next to Mike Pence. She is an educated, well-to-do and respected Christian Lady. She studied politics, is in-the-know when it comes to political policies and she is persuasive. That picture was the beginning of my short play. As a person of color, I didn’t think I could write a play about white racists, but white people write about people of color all the time, and not always in a good light. So I took what I saw and created “American Pride.” This was not only a fantastic writing workshop for artists of color but, on a personal level, it was a way for me to work through my emotions surrounding our current political state.

Congratulations to Gavin Yehle, our 2019 Department of Theatre Outstanding Student!

Gavin is a dedicated and compassionate leader in the department who graduated with a BFA from the Actor Training Program in 2018, and is now graduating with a BFA in Stage Management.

During his time in the Department, he has appeared in Our Country’s Good You Never Can Tell The Two Noble Kinsmen, and Arcadia. He has stage managed or assistant stage managed on such shows as Company Amahl and the Night Visitors Julius Caesar The Beautiful Game, and The Importance of Being Earnest.

In addition to acting and stage managing, he also has sound designed, mixed and assisted sound on various shows including You Never Can Tell Steel Pier, Bring It On: The Musical, American Idiot, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Recently he was the lighting designer for The Rivals and has helped with lighting on various projects inside and outside of the department.

The Department of Theatre faculty nominated Gavin because of his commitment to the department, his fellow students, and the theatre community. Serving as a member of the Student Advisory Committee throughout his time as a student, he has a vested interest in the continued success of the department and of his fellow classmates, helping with various student-led projects and productions. Outside the University, he’s worked at various companies including University of Utah Youth Theatre where he got his start in theatre (thank you Penny!), as well as Salt Lake Acting Company, The Grand Theatre, and Pioneer Theatre Company. He appreciates all the support he’s gotten from his professors, family, and friends.

He is a recipient of an Honors at Entrance Scholarship, Department of Theatre Scholarship, Magic Space Entertainment Scholarship, Christine Macken Theatre Scholarship, and the College of Fine Arts Advisory Board Scholarship.

Lynn Nottage's 2017 Pulitzer Prize winning play, Sweat starring Actor Training Program Head Chris DuVal is now playing at Pioneer Theatre through Saturday, April 13. The poignant and powerful play examines race, economics, personal and collective identity, and what it means to be human. Dramaturg and Theatre Studies Professor Alexandra Harbold asks the question, “Is the “American Dream” still alive? And if so, who gets to pursue it?”

Set during divisive economic conditions in a small manufacturing town in Pennsylvania, Sweat takes us on the journey of nine people—friends, co-workers, mothers and sons, former spouses and lovers. —as their lives intersect as they try to hold onto, or reach for, the American Dream in the face of the increasingly precarious and divisive economic conditions of America at the dawn of the new millennium.

SWEAT Now-April 13 | tickets available here.

Contains strong language.