University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Big news for UNCSA screenwriters!

For the second consecutive year, the School of Filmmaking has been named a partner of the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting program, joining a select group of universities, film festivals and screenwriting labs from around the world.

The partnership gives UNCSA the opportunity to recommend exceptional student and alumni writers for one of the most respected screenwriting competitions in the industry.

Learn more about the partnership and our screenwriting program ⤵️

UNCSA partners with prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting for second year The School of Filmmaking at UNCSA has been named a partner of the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting program from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the second year UNCSA has been a partner in the prestigious program.

Meet the four choreographers selected for the 2026 Choreographic Institute at UNCSA 💚

This summer, Hanna DiLorenzo, Aaron Choate, Cameron Childs and Alana Jones will spend two weeks creating new work in collaboration with dancers from DANCE | CONNECTION NOW, culminating in a public performance on July 10.

Learn more about the artists shaping this year's institute ⤵

Four choreographers selected for this summer’s Choreographic Institute at UNCSA The School of Dance at UNCSA has announced the participants selected for the 2026 Choreographic Institute, a two-week summer residency designed to support choreographers of exceptional promise as they develop new work in a collaborative, process-driven environment.

A hood represents years of hard work, creative discovery and artistic growth.

The day before commencement, graduate students from the Schools of Design & Production, Filmmaking and Music and gathered with faculty, family and friends for UNCSA’s Graduate Hooding Ceremony.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on this meaningful milestone. 🎓💚

UNCSA has announced the recipients of its most prestigious merit-based scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year.

These outstanding student artists from across the United States and around the world have earned recognition for their exceptional talent, academic achievement, leadership and potential to shape the future of the arts.

Join us in congratulating this year's William R. Kenan, Jr. Excellence Scholars, Sarah Graham Kenan Scholar and Thomas S. Kenan Concertmaster Fellows. 👏

Read more about the recipients ⤵️

UNCSA announces prestigious scholarship winners for 2026-27 UNCSA has announced the recipients of several prominent merit-based scholarship programs: William R. Kenan, Jr. Excellence Scholarships, Sarah Graham Kenan Scholarship of Excellence and Thomas S. Kenan Concertmaster Fellowship. Through these scholarship programs, UNCSA attracts talented student arti...

A Broadway dream come true.

School of Drama student Aubrey Segars, the first recipient of the Joe Mantello Full Ride Scholarship, recently traveled to New York City at Joe Mantello’s invitation. She attended a performance of "Death of a Salesman," shared a meal with the Tony Award-winning director and Dean John Langs, and even stepped onto a Broadway stage.

Just one day later, Mantello accepted the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play.

Moments like these remind us that the UNCSA community extends far beyond campus!

As SpaceX makes history with its record-breaking IPO, we're looking back at the journey of UNCSA School of Design and Production alumnus Randy Rees, whose path from backstage productions at UNCSA to leading launch safety operations at SpaceX proves that creative problem-solving can take you anywhere.

From "The Nutcracker" and "Romeo and Juliet" to Falcon Heavy launches and missions to Mars, Rees credits his UNCSA experience with teaching him how to adapt, collaborate and solve problems under pressure.

Read his story ⤵️

From UNCSA student to SpaceX leader: Randy Rees pioneers and pivots One of the things I love about SpaceX is that we have a line on our employee evaluation that says, 'What did you do this year to help get us to Mars,' says D&P alumnus Randy Rees, who is an environmental health and safety engineer.

UNCSA talent is taking center stage on Broadway.

From major revivals like “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” and “Ragtime” to new hits like “Schmigadoon!,” UNCSA alumni and faculty helped shape some of the biggest wins at the 2026 Tony Awards — across directing, design, choreography and more.

Notable highlights:
💼 Joe Mantello (B.F.A. ’84) won Best Direction of a Play for “Death of a Salesman”
🐱 Cats: The Jellicle Ball (with multiple UNCSA alumni contributors) took home 3 Tony Awards
🎶 “The Lost Boys” and “Ragtime” each earned multiple wins with strong Design & Production alumni involvement
💚 Mary-Mitchell Campbell (High School Music, Piano ’92) received a Special Tony Award for her impact through arts advocacy
🎭 The 2026 Regional Theatre Tony Award-winning American Players Theatre shares deep ties with UNCSA, where faculty and alumni continue to contribute to the nationally recognized work that has earned the company its reputation for excellence.

This year’s Tony Awards showcase the breadth of UNCSA’s creative impact, from the stage to behind the scenes.

Explore the full list of UNCSA connections and award-winning productions ⤵️

UNCSA alumni behind award-winning productions at the 2026 Tony Awards UNCSA alumni contributed to multiple Tony Award-winning Broadway productions in 2026, earning recognition in directing, design, choreography, performance and theater leadership.

You could say the Tonys have a type… and that type is UNCSA alumni. 😏

School of Drama alumnus Joe Mantello (B.F.A. Drama ’84) has earned his third Tony Award, directing this season’s most‑nominated play, “Death of a Salesman.” The production took home six awards, including best revival of a play, best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play, best scenic design of a play, best lighting design of a play and best sound design of a play. Mantello previously won Tony Awards for “Assassins” (2004) and “Take Me Out” (2003).

And the UNCSA spotlight doesn’t stop there. High School Music alumna Mary‑Mitchell Campbell (High School Piano ’92) received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award — Broadway’s highest honor for advocacy and service — recognizing more than two decades of transformative, arts‑based work with young people around the world.

Congratulations to Joe, Mary‑Mitchell and all our UNCSA alumni who helped shape this year’s nominated and Tony‑winning productions.

Discover how UNCSA alumni are shaping Broadway ➡️ https://bit.ly/2026-Tonys

📸: Getty Images (CBS) & New York Times

Thinking back to University Commencement 🎓

Just a few weeks ago, hundreds of -uates crossed the stage and officially joined our Pickle alumni family. From standing ovations and happy tears to proud families and unforgettable moments, it was a day worth remembering.

Take a look back at some of our favorite memories from University Commencement. 💚

UNCSA ALERT- This is a test of the emergency notification system. This is only a test.