University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

Beloved contemporary plays, vibrant works of art in motion, thrilling faculty/student collaborations—dare to be inspired this season at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center! With so much UMD artistry on display, what will you discover in our 2026-27 season?

Explore & Buy Tickets → go.umd.edu/TDPS_2627

Congratulations to the alumni and faculty from the University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) who won 2026 Helen Hayes Awards!

Luis Garcia M.F.A. ’24, theatre design, won Outstanding Media/Projection Design (Helen) for “Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show” at Spooky Action Theater.

Justin Schmitz, a TDPS guest artist in sound design, won Outstanding Sound Design (Helen) for “hang” at 1st Stage.

Ivania Stack M.F.A. ’09, assistant professor in costume design, won Outstanding Costume Design (Hayes) for “Merry Wives” at Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Ariana Caldwell ’20 was a member of the ensemble for “Head Over Heels” at Constellation Theatre Company, which won Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical (Helen).

Jordan Leah Embrack ’24 performed at the awards show in the Helen Hayes Ensemble.

“The Inheritance: Parts One and Two” at Round House Theatre won Outstanding Production, Play, and it featured the work of:
Frank Labovitz M.F.A. ’10 (Costume Design)
TDPS lecturer Kelly Colburn M.F.A. ’18 (Projections Design)
Mark Costello M.F.A. ’18 in theatre design (Associate Projections Design)

For the full list of nominees and winners, visit the link in our bio.

We loved getting to celebrate with some of our graduates at our commencement celebration last week! We'll miss these TDPS Terps! 🐢🎓🎭

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Our next TDPS grad is Wendy Saltsberg who is graduating with degrees in Theatre and Communications 🎓

After graduation, Wendy is participating in the Disney College Program as an attractions host at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Congratulations Wendy!

Want to be featured in our graduating student series? Fill out the form in our bio.

Our next TDPS grad is Jaiden Hanley who is graduating with a B.A. in Dance with a minor in Arts Leadership 🎓

"My favorite memory is dancing in a piece by M.F.A graduate Kaela Lawrence during last May’s EPS. Kaela created a caring and loving environment where all the dancers in the piece were close like sisters and felt connected to the piece. Subsequently, turning it into a space where I could be pushed and grow as a dancer."

Her advice to incoming students:
"Your path is your path. Someone else’s journey may look different to yours but know that it doesn’t make yours any less meaningful or successful."

Congratulations Jaiden!

As we count down the days until our undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies, we’re celebrating by featuring some of our amazing grads 🎓

Congratulations to Beatriz Moreira Leite, graduating with a B.A. in Dance with a concentration in Performance and Choreography. After graduation, she will be finishing her Biology degree here at UMD and completing a Masters in Management Studies via the Smith School.

"I am very proud of the community we have built within TDPS and fondly look back on our opportunities to dance together, whether that be in classes, performances and more!"

Her advice to incoming students: "Balance is key to a healthy and fun college experience."

Want to be featured in our graduating student series? Fill out this form go.umd.edu/Graduates.

Join us today and tomorrow for the last Experimental Performance Series of the semester, featuring two original dance works by our talented TDPS students! Tickets are not required for this event. Info is available at the link in our bio.

"Folds and Folds and Folds", choreographed by Abigail Ash, is a movement exploration of core concepts of existentialist philosophy. The piece is a visual representation of the emotional and social repercussions of isolation as people struggle to connect with themselves and one another. The dancers contend with the lack of inherent and universal meaning of the world and ultimately resolve to define their own essence. They embrace and nurture their individuality and their relationships with one another, all with the awareness that meaning is created, not imparted.


"Sombra da Criança"
Co-Writer/Directors: Heidi Lehan and Eitan Amster
Choreographer: Beatriz Moreira Leite
Costume Designer: Cassie Cornelius
Lighting Designer: Aïda Nyabingi

"Sombra da Criança" is an original horror-choreo play that explores Brazilian folklore and what it means to grow up as a child instilled by the fears of storytelling. This cultural love letter offers a new and often underrepresented perspective on Brazilian theatre.

The reviews are in for "El Ciclón"!

"This production of El Ciclón (The Cyclone) is a perfect example of why everyone should have university and college theater productions on their schedules. Originally produced in 2019 in Miami, Florida, the current adaptation is the result of an intense two-semester “devised research process” with University of Maryland Theatre students and designers. The involvement of youthful performers and craftspersons who are still discovering the possibilities of theatrical production without the economic pressure of the marketplace can bring an energy and ingenuity that often result in startling and inspiring surprises, as it does in this case." -Gregory Ford, DC Theater Arts

To read the full review, visit the link in our bio. Thank you to everyone who came out this weekend to see our sold out performances of "El Ciclón"!

📷: Taneen Momeni

Congrats 🎉 to TDPS visiting guest artist (and director of El Ciclón) Yara Travieso on receiving one of six 2026 Doris Duke Artist Awards!

Each artist receives an unrestricted award of $525,000, along with up to $25,000 in retirement savings support. Beyond the award, recipients gain access to ongoing resources including professional development, financial planning and a network designed to support sustained creative work.

Congratulations Yara on this prestigious award! 👏👏👏

"'The theme of this work is that this world doesn’t have to be this way...We do not have to be trapped in these patriarchal, colonial, violent systems. There are other worlds right here, alive, next to us that we can tap into right now. We just have to wake up to them and start living in them.'” - El Ciclón director Yara Travieso in Maryland Today.

Read more of this article about El Ciclón: https://go.umd.edu/ciclonMT26
Reserve your tickets for Saturday: https://go.umd.edu/ciclon_26