UMass Amherst Theater

She's done it again: Jane Cox, who won the Tony in 2024 for her design of Appropriate, is once again nominated for a Tony this year. Jane was mentored by recently retired lighting design faculty member Penny Remsen while on student exchange and has returned since to design and teach at UMass.

This year's nomination is for The Rocky Horror Picture Show musical.

We're holding our breath in anticip ...... ation for the Tony ceremony on June 7!

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NOMINATION!

David Korins '99, scenic and production designer extraordinaire, has been nominated for a TONY for his design of Dog Day Afternoon. David has several other Tony nominations and and Emmy win to his credit, and we were delighted, recently, to welcome him back to the place where he got his start for the naming of the David Korins Design studio.

David spent a long time talking to current students and looking at their work — and posed for a silly picture with them before cutting the ribbon on the studio space in a ceremony with fellow department donors, the Bailey family.

We'll all be rooting for David name to be called at the June 7 ceremony!

KUDOS to Prof. Elisa Gonzales!

American Players Theatre, a company based in rural Wisconsin where Prof. Gonzales has spent the past four summers as a voice and text coach, was selected as the recipient of the 2026 Regional Theatre Tony Award.

Our students have benefited from her professional connection with this Tony-winning company: Prof. Gonzales teaches the Department of Theater Career Prep class and has had numerous members of the company Zoom in to speak to students about their work.

Prof. Gonzales will also be returning to Wisconsin this summer to work with the company.

We're taking a bow!

Thank you to everyone who was part of this school year and our season: students, faculty, staff, guest artists, alumni, donors, and audience members. You're all part of our community and we're so grateful for you.

Have a wonderful summer, and we'll see you in the fall!

For the rest of this week only: Travel to the 4th floor and take a peek at the David Korins Design Studio (BCA 410), where El Bowcut has displayed the STUNNING costume and illuminating poster she created and presented at the Undergraduate Research Conference last month.

Want to know more about how El went about researching and building this costume — and the smart reason why she chose to work in a design field that isn't actually her main specialty?

Read more on our website: https://www.umass.edu/theater/news/el-bowcut-braids-research-and-creativity-together

come see postcards 👀

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe49KINhjhOmlD_YWrYcdjCl2-N8uJ2ussbHWtc6OC37tpBAA/viewform

FRINGE FEST '26

Staged Reading Series, May 9:
Tony’s by Meena Cunniffe
Growing Sideways by Megan LaCroix
The Seance of Emily Dickinson by Allison Reding

Life Is a Cabaret — Produced & directed by Phoebe Ludwig | May 10 at 7:30 p.m., May 11 at 2 p.m.

Swiss Army — Written & produced by Antigone Brandel-Iuliano | May 11 at 7:30 p.m., May 12 at 2 p.m.

Postcards in the Mailbox of a House on a Dead-End Street — by Lena Tutter | May 12 at 7:30 p.m., May 13 at 2 p.m.

Cut Time — Written & produced by Eliza Epstein | May 14 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Free, reservations may be required.

Three 👏 more 👏 shows 👏

Come see Rhinoceros tonight or tomorrow at 7:30 or Saturday at 2.
We WILL have tickets at the door and we take cash, credit, or phone tap.

4 Facts about our 10 a.m. “school” matinees

1. All of the groups for Wednesday’s 10 a.m. Rhinceros matinee are repeat customers
because they love our shows.

2. One teacher reports getting requests to go on the field trip from kids who aren’t even enrolled in her class.

3. We’re not just for traditional drama classes.
Community groups and adult learners are welcome guests at our matinees.

4. Not in a group at all, but free at 10 a.m. and
curious about our show? We’ve got room, join us! Walk-up sales only, starting an hour before the show, cash or credit!
RHINOCEROS
May 6 at 10 a.m.
Rand Theater, Bromery Center for the Arts