News
UTRGV film student wins two awards for documentary shortFriday, February 25, 2022
UTRGV student Brenda Patricia Garza has garnered two awards for a documentary short film based on her husband’s experiences as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
Friday, October 22, 2021
UTRGV’s Theatre department is getting into the Halloween spirit with a production of “The Weird,” a play by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Peter (Trey) Mikolasky, associate professor of Theatre. “The Weird” ...
University Productions theatre season opens with ‘Tomás and The Library Lady’
Thursday, September 30, 2021
UTRGVs Department of Theatre opens its 2021-2022 University Productions theatre season on Friday with Tomás and The Library Lady, based on the life of Mexican American author and educator Tomás Rivera.
Congratulations Ferenc Moldovanyi for his National Museum of the American History Tuesday Colloquium announcement of his Human and Children's Rights in Documentary Film.
A huge shout out to Assistant Professor, Dr. Ferenc Moldovanyi who has had several of his photos chosen for the Images of Light II Exhibit in Hungary!
Many congratulations on this amazing accomplishment Dr. Moldovanyi!
Four of photographs of Dr. Ferenc Moldovanyi have been invited to be exhibited at the prestigious annual photo exhibition in Hungary:
Images of Light II. | 2nd National Salon of Photography 2021, which takes place from April 24th to September 26th, 2021 at Műcsarnok - Kunsthalle - Hall of Art in Budapest.
Photos are the following:
- Chiaroscuro I.,
- Quincy,
- Smoke I.,
- Vertigo I. (shown below)

http://www.mucsarnok.hu/exhibitions/index.php
About Műcsarnok | Kunsthalle | Hall of Art, Budapest:
"Ever since its establishment at the end of the 19th century, Kunsthalle has been the center of contemporary Hungarian fine art and a key institution in canon formation. It is a national institution with the mission of exhibiting the most significant trends of both contemporary Hungarian and international fine art in Budapest. The art center at Heroes’ Square in Budapest is open to the whole spectrum of Hungarian visual culture. It operates strictly according to the principle of aesthetic value, without any constraint of ideology or age. Besides organizing exhibitions, programs involving other art forms, and academic conferences, Kunsthalle’s publishing activity is significant as well."
A Series of Windows from UTRGV Theatre and Film on Vimeo.
Congratulations Joann Gonzalez! Film "A Series of Windows" directed by Joann was successfully selected for 40th International VGIK Festival, Moscow. It is a very famous student film festival. “Applications for participation came from 52 countries and about 140 different film schools from all over the world. This year we received 345 international applications, which is 30 more than last year”
(Source: https://www.vgikfestival.com/eng)
Dr. Ferenc Moldovanyi, Assistant Professor
Film director, producer
A Series of Windows
a film by Joann Gonzalez
Synopsis:
This film was filmed during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic for a Summer Documentary TV/Film Workshop. Its aim is to resonate with anyone who is also experiencing the current pandemic or undergoing through similar circumstances. Meant to transport the audience so that it feels like they are standing behind the same windows in the film.
Happy fall to everyone! The theatre department is pleased to present to you the UTRGV Halloween Showcase! This was open to submissions of all branches of fine art from all UTRGV students, staff and faculty.
Please enjoy the submissions as our students, faculty and staff have worked hard to bring together these wonderful projects to be shared with the community. We wish you and your families a safe and happy fall season! 👻 💀 🎃
Halloween Showcase - Original Artworks and Stories:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7678959
Halloween Showcase - Costumes:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7722275
Halloween Showcase - Films:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7722281
Halloween Showcase - Audio Plays:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7722294
Congratulations! Our UTRGV - COFA short film, Metamorphosis, directed by Johnny Rodriguez, won the BEST FILM AWARD in the Non-Fiction Category at Y Frames International Short Film Festival in India.
Click below to see his film!
Congratulations Dr. Ferenc Moldovanyi, Assistant Professor Film director, producer of the Theater TV Film Department! Seven of his students' films have been selected and will be screened at Y Frames - Short Film Festival in India. The screening will take place online on October 3rd and 4th.
The films are the following:
- A Series of Windows by Joann Gonzalez,
- While I Lay There Awake by Gerson Salinas,
- Metamorphosis by Johnny Rodriguez,
- Luis Esquivel - El Lobito by Stephanie Saucedo,
- Expect the Worst, Make the Best! By J. Alexis
- In God's Hands by Marco Rodriguez,
- Un dernier souffle (One Last Breath) by Ed Castañeda
The UTRGV Department of Theatre is now accepting all entries and submissions for the
Halloween Showcase of Shocks and Tales of Terror! 👻 💀 🎃
Open to all UTRGV students!! ✌️
Rules: Any group projects must be created via social media. Any face to face contact with anyone will need to follow UTRGV Guidelines of masks and social distancing. 😷
What can I submit?: Whatever you want! It can be film, music, artwork, stories, etc.
Themed Categories:
Chilling Children’s Stories: Spooky Stories, Children’s DIY crafts,recipe & costume videos
Local Legends, Customs and Costumes: La Chusa, La Llorona, The Chupacabra, El Cuco, Day of the Dead, etc.
Original Work: Scary Stories, Songs, Art, Poems, Videos
Submit all entries by Oct. 19th to: bianca.ramirez01@utrgv.edu
# utrgvcofa # utrgv # universityproductions # wewill # utrgvtheatre # supportlocaltheater
It’s officially the first day of Autumn, and with that we thought it would be great to share with everyone our first online departmental viewing of 2020-2021!
Please enjoy the Film Showcases as our students have worked hard to bring together these film projects to be shared with the community. We are so incredibly proud of our students and all of their amazing work during the summer and fall semesters so far!
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7581913
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7582127
If you’d like to support the department please follow the link below to donate:
https://www.utrgv.edu/theatre/donate/index.htm
Bianca Boyd, a theatre design major within the UTRGV College of Fine Arts, has helped sew hundreds of masks for the UTRGV School of Medicine. "So often when I mention that I’m a theatre major, I get scoffed at like it’s not a viable career choice, but now I’ve become somewhat of a 'hometown hero,'" she said. "... It’s solid proof that my hands are capable of doing everything from putting on a musical to helping save lives." Bianca is this week's PiE student and designated as a "Front Lines" student in her efforts to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Click Here to Read more.
UTRGV Theatre Department and Associate Dean of Clinical and Translational Research, Dr. Jay Morrow, delivered more Personal Protection Equipment to clinics in the Rio Grande Valley.
Friday, May 1st, the Theatre department delivered 150 gowns, 50 face shields and 50 cloth masks to EL Milagro Clinic. Shown in the pictures above are Mateo Ramirez, a theatre student from Brownsville, who helps make PPE equipment from his home during the Covid-19 Crisis. Also shown are Laura Pizano, medical coordinator for the clinic, Marisol Resendez, Executive Director of El Milagro Clinic and Dr. Morrow.
Monday, May 4th, we visited Hope Family Health Center in McAllen and donated 125 plastic gowns, 50 face shields and 30 cloth cover masks for their doctors and staff.
Photo by Peter Mikolasky.
CHECK OUT OUR PHOTO ALBUMS BELOW!
We have also had an amazing amount of support from our community and other UTRGV departments as well! The Department of Theatre would like to give a huge thank you to the members of our community for donating their time, efforts, materials and services to help provide more PPE supplies to the UTRGV School of Medicine during this time.
- Xpress Printing, for their laser cutting fabric for face mask patterns, and the use of a sealer and electric fabric cutting machine
- Stephanie Block, creating and donating plastic gowns
- J.B Garza, Donating supplies for face shields and 3D printing supports
- Professor Noe Vargas, UTRGV Department of Mechanical Engineering, initiation of a collaboration with Engineering department for 3D printing of face shield supports and other PPE
- Jeannette Zallar- Fabric Donation
Emergency PPE Materials have been distributed to:
UTRGV School of Medicine
UTRGV Child Development Center
UTRGV Police Department
UTRGV testing sites across the valley
Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen; with the help of School of Medicine Assistant Professor, Dr. Jose Campo Maldonado.
Our department hopes to continue to get these materials to where they are needed most!
HOW TO MAKE A CLOTH FACE MASK
This past weekend the UTRGV Theatre Department teamed up with the School of Medicine to craft much needed face shields, face mask covers and plastic gowns as the UTRGV School of Medicine has officially begun drive by testing for COVID-19 in the community. All of our costume shop and scene shop staff and faculty have been hard at work to help with the preparation for this.
Drive thru testing is located on both Edinburg and Brownsville campuses. If you or someone you know would like to get tested please contact the School of Medicine. Please remember you MUST complete a phone screening prior to visiting the screening site.
To receive a phone screening and/or schedule drive-thru appointment:
1-833-UTRGVMD (1-833-887-4863)
Monday - Friday from 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
For additional information visit:
https://uthealthrgv.org/coronavirus/
If you would like to help craft face masks or mask covers to donate to the School of Medicine check out some of the links below! Please be sure to contact the UTRGV School of Medicine as well in regards to donation and drop off information at (833) 887-4863.
Face Masks:
https://www.sewthecurveflat.com
https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/
https://www.ecommunity.com/giveppe/homemade-mask-instructions
Face Shields:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noehwkOKYvc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxIOFz0kWj4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsU3wyLELlI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owiAiM03DJE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNnxoXNScSA
If you would like to donate to the department to help us purchase supplies as we continue our efforts to support the school of medicine please visit:
https://give.utrgv.edu/up
Student Experience - Profiles in Excellence - Jesenia Riojas
Why UTRGV?
I’m a first-generation college student, so for me it was really important to find an affordable college close to home. UTRGV provided me with that security as well as gave me an opportunity to get to know the community that makes up the Rio Grande Valley. Read the Full Article!
‘Black Panther’ costume designer Ruth Carter to headline UTRGV’s Distinguished Speaker Series
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – FEB. 27, 2020 – Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter will be the next speaker for UTRGV’s Distinguished Speaker Series.
Her work in the film "Black Panther" led to her historic win as the first African American to receive the "Best Costume Design" Academy Award.
She will speak at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the Student Union on the UTRGV Edinburg Ca m pus, in the PlainsCapital Bank Theater.
Ruth Carter ( bio) is an Oscar award winning(and several times nominated) costume designer who has worked in the film industry for many years. Her costume design work includes Serenity, Chi-Raq, The Black Panther, Amistad, Malcolm X, Dolemite is My Name, Selma, Old Boy, and others.
Click Here to Read More.
Student Interns - Summer 2019
- Zachery Da Silva, Shakespeare & Company, photography and video intern
- Aimee Ambriz, Shakespeare & Company, graphic design
- Olivia Garza, Hill Country Theatre costume intern
- Desery Pacheco, The Theatre At Monmouth, stage management intern
- Rosa Cano, The Illinois Shakespeare Festival, electrics intern
Student Experience - Profiles in Excellence - Zoe Sesin
Why UTRGV?Initially I chose to attend UTRGV due to the convenience of being close to home. Originally, I was going to transfer to another school, but ended up staying at UTRGV. I realized that the relationships I had made with others, as well as my involvement in the theatre department, was irreplaceable. Read the full article!
Alumna says UTRGV’s Latino Theatre Initiatives helped set her career path
The stage is home for the UTRGV theater alumna, a place where she can express her love for the performing arts.Alvarado, of Edinburg, is originally from Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, and graduated from UTRGV in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a concentration in Performance. Read more about Alumna says UTRGV’s Latino Theater Initiatives helped set her career path!