Skip to main content
  • About
    • Dean's Welcome
    • Maps & Directions
    • Dean's Office Team
  • Academic Programs
  • UTRGV ARTS
    • Rio Grande Youth Symphony
    • Festiba
  • Schools and Departments
    • School of Art and Design
    • Creative Writing Department
    • School of Music
    • Department of Theatre
    • Dance Department
  • Research
    • Grants and Projects
    • CFA Research Hub
    • ARC Fellowship
    • Center for Latin American Arts
  • Resources
    • Student Resources
    • Faculty & Staff Resources
DIRECTORY
MAPS
MYUTRGV
UTRGV
The University of Texas
Rio Grande Valley
DIRECTORY
MAPS
MYUTRGV
News
GIVE
Open Search Menu
Menu
utrgv logo
College of Fine Arts
Division of Academic Affairs
  • About
    ▼
    About  Square placeholder image 300px

    Explore creativity at UTRGV's College of Fine Arts – a vibrant hub for artistic expression and innovation. Unleash your passion and talent with expert guidance in a dynamic learning environment.

    • About
      • Dean's Welcome
      • Maps & Directions
      • Dean's Office Team
  • Academic Programs
  • UTRGV ARTS
    ▼
    UTRGV ARTS Square placeholder image 300px

    Explore UTRGV's community initiatives promoting literacy, culture, and the arts in the Rio Grande Valley. Learn about FESTIBA and UTRGV ARTS events. all designed to engage the community through visual and performing arts, theatre, dance, music, and creative writing.

    • UTRGV ARTS
      • Rio Grande Youth Symphony
      • Festiba
  • Schools and Departments
    ▼
    Schools and Departments Square placeholder image 300px

    UTRGV's College of Fine Arts is where aspiring creatives come to be inspired. Distributed across two locations in Brownsville and Edinburg, the College of Fine Arts is comprised of the School of Art and Design, the School of Music, the Department of Theatre, the Department of Dance, and the Department of Creative Writing. Learn more about our programs and the endless possibilities for artistic expression that await you.

    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Art and Design
      • Creative Writing Department
      • School of Music
      • Department of Theatre
      • Dance Department
  • Research
    ▼
    Research Square placeholder image 300px

    The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's College of Fine Arts is committed to empowering creativity, fostering innovation, and nurturing artistic excellence. Our students and faculty are encouraged to explore and discover in the arts and across disciplinary boundaries.

    • Research
      • Grants and Projects
      • CFA Research Hub
      • ARC Fellowship
      • Center for Latin American Arts
  • Resources
    ▼
    Resources Square placeholder image 300px

    Explore UTRGV's College of Fine Arts resources for students and faculty, including scholarships, grants, study abroad, academic advising, and research support. Learn about funding opportunities, ensemble policies, travel grants, application processes, and guidelines. Access essential resources for academic growth, creative activities, and institutional support at UTRGV’s comprehensive student and faculty resource pages.

    • Resources
      • Student Resources
      • Faculty & Staff Resources
Young child waves at an actor

Theatre for Young Audiences

Hexagons
  1. Home
  2. Schools and Departments
  3. Department of Theatre
  4. Theatre for Young Audiences
In This Section
Menu

Department of Theatre Menu

  • Latino Theatre Initiatives
  • Department of Theatre Staff
  • Season Schedule & Box Office
  • Theatre for Young Audiences
  • Past Productions
  • Department of Theatre Faculty

Contact Us

Dr. Brian J. Warren Professor
Professor
Theatre
brian.warren@utrgv.edu
956-665-7474


Theatre for Young Audiences

The UTRGV Theatre for Young Audiences program offers productions and courses with emphasis on working in Children’s Theatre.

The UTRGV Theatre for Young Audiences program is dedicated to connecting to children and families of the Rio Grande Valley through theatre and thereby promoting awareness and knowledge of the human condition and cultures, both our own and world-wide, especially in relation to behaviors, ideas and values expressed in imaginative works of theatre

 

Mission

The mission of UTRGV Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) is to create high quality productions, events and community outreach regarding all aspects of TYA. The UTRGV TYA program believes that audiences of all ages can appreciate, be inspired by, and learn through exposure to theatre arts.   

UTRGV TYA produces a 1 to 3 performance season per year. The TYA program seeks to produce original and culturally significant plays above all. We seek to serve as a voice for diverse opinions in our season. Additionally, UTRGV TYA supports UTRGV’s Latino Theatre Initiative in its goal of offering children’s theatre in Spanish for elementary-age children in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

UTRGV TYA understands the importance of training future theatre directors and educators, so we strive to provide UTRGV senior students with opportunities to direct, design, and perform in our TYA season. The 3-week summer drama camp STRIVE was created in part to help provide these opportunities.   

The UTRGV Theatre Department, which incorporates UTRGV TYA, is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Artistic Director

brian-warren.jpg

The spirit of children is an unstoppable force.  We here at UTRGV's Theatre for Young Audiences are dedicated to bring exciting and inspiring theatre events to the children and families of the
Rio Grande Valley.

Please come and see us!  We welcome you at the plays and events!

-Brian Warren

UTRGV TYA Courses and Program Description

Facets of the TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) program at UTRGV founded by Dr. Brian Warren

UTRGV Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) offers many opportunities for adult theatre artists working with TYA and children attending performances. 

The Children’s Theatre Workshop (CTW) is a course founded in 2003. This program of student performers takes theatre “on the road” to local elementary or middle schools, connecting children to theatre and to UTRGV.

Children’s Theatre Theory and Practice (CTT) is a course taught in the spring of even-numbered years.  Part of the work in this course is preparing students to cast, rehearse and otherwise prepare a children’s play for UTRGV performance in May. 

South Texas Remarkably Inventive Vaquero Ensemble (S.T.R.I.V.E) was founded in June of 2010 PACT, now renamed STRIVE in 2023.  STRIVE is a three-week summer camp for children ages 7 through 14.  Camp sessions run three or four hours per day.   The mission of STRIVE is to build and perpetuate children’s theatre in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas by providing theatre training for children in at least twelve different teaching areas, as follows:  improvisation and imagination, language and communication, creative problem solving, mental concentration and memorization, vocal articulation and projection, movement skills, emotional expression, acting in an ensemble, and technical theatre training. 

UTRGV TYA Performances for the public are offered regularly, usually in December, May, and/or July.  The program performs plays and musicals for young audiences. 

UTRGV Theatre for Young Audiences is dedicated to connecting to children through theatre and thereby promoting awareness and knowledge of the human condition and human cultures, especially in relation to behaviors, ideas, and values expressed in works of human imagination and thought.  In partnership with UTRGV’s Latino Theatre Initiative, UTRGV TYA also offers Spanish-language TYA for elementary school children.  

The UTRGV Theatre Department, which incorporates UTRGV Theatre for Young Audiences, is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Past Productions

The UTPA/UTRGV Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) Program (founded by Dr. Brian J. Warren).

The TYA program at UTRGV has been going strong since 2002!

Note: PACT = Originally, Pan American Creative Theatre Summer Camp for Youth (name changed in 2023 to South Texas Remarkably Inventive Vaquero Ensemble (S.T.R.I.V.E)

TVY = Theatre for Very Young Audiences (infant to age 5)

List of past performances by TFY
Season  Play(s) Director
2023-24 Snow White and the Seven Dweebs Scot Johnson
2023-24 Wake Up, Brother Bear (TVY) Kanea MacDonald
2021-2022 Seymour the Troll Mateo Ramirez
2020-2021 None (due to COVID-19)
2019-2020 Seymour the Troll 
(Cancelled due to COVID-19
Brian Warren
2018-2019

The Witches

Lucero and the Giants

Brian Warren

Eric Wiley

2017-2018

The Stinky Cheese Man

Get Out and Play: A Play About Playing

Brian Warren

Sabrina Rodriguez

2016-2017 Bug Joy Gina Rodriguez
2015-2016

Slyvester and the Magic Pebble

The Hobbit

Sabrina Rodriguez

Kanea MacDonald

2014-2015

Pastorela

Carolina The Musical 

Maria Alvarado

Brian Warren

2013-2014

The Tlacuaches Find a Home (Studio TVYA)

Twelve Dancing Princesses

Gruff Day (PACT V)

Brian Warren

Brian Warren

PACT Staff

2012-2013

Golden Cobews
Mariachi Girl

A Day in Animal Court (PACT IV)

Brian Warren

Mariana Montero

PACT Staff

2011-2012

James and the Giant Peach

The Yellow Boat

Sleepover Stories (PACT III)

Cassandra Dean

Brian Warren

PACT Staff

2010-2011

From My Imagination to Yours

Humpty Dumpty's Dish

Jackie and the Beanstalk (PACT II)

Xavier Aguilar

Charlie Palacios

PACT STAFF

2009-2010

What Mothers Do

Hansel and Gretel in the Big Woods (PACT I)

Brian Warren

PACT Staff

2008-2009

The Piper and the Rats

The Dream Sailors

John Flores

Brian Warren

2007-2008

A Christmas Carrot

The Happy Scarecrow

Gerardo Sanchez

Brian Warren

2006-2007

Golden Cobwebs

The Great Race: Tortoise vs. Rabbit

Brian Warren

Brian Warren

2005-2006

Bocon!

The Great Race: Toroise vs. Rabbit

Brian Warren

Brian Warren

2004-2005 The Little Troll Without a Soul Brian Warren
2003-2004

Chon, Champion of the World

Snow White and the Seven Dweebs

A Salamander's Story

Brian Warren

Brian Warren

Mark Guerra

2002-2003

A Christmas Carrot Cinderella

Little Red Riding Hood

Brian Warren

Briann Warren

Contact College of Fine Arts


Brownsville

BMSLC 2.210
Email: cofa@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-2175

Edinburg

ELABS 334
Email: cofa@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-2175

Find us on Social Media


LIKE. FOLLOW. SUBSCRIBE. ADD.


UTRGV
  • CARES, CRRSAA and ARP Reporting
  • Site Policies
  • Required Links
  • Accreditation Statement
  • Fraud Reporting
  • Senate Bill 18
  • Clery Act Reports
  • Web Accessibility
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • Reporting Sexual Misconduct
  • Contact UTRGV
  • 1-844-ATUTRGV
  • Facebook
  • X Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Cost and Financial Aid
  • Student Life
  • Search Programs
  • First-Year Students
  • Transfer
  • International Students
  • Graduate Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty Resources
  • Staff Resources
  • UTRGV Careers
  • Visit Campus
  • Directory
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley