Under the new leadership of Director and Associate Dean Kathy Panoff, The University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center has a new name: Texas Performing Arts at The University of Texas at Austin.
The change aligns the program with its prevailing academic mission as a College of Fine Arts unit and the strong recognition and tradition associated with the university.
“Texas Performing Arts is a more comprehensive representation of the remarkable work our students, faculty and staff do on our stages, in our classrooms, studios and production shops and in the campus and community engagement activities we provide for the Austin community,” Panoff said.
In addition to its important academic role at the university, Texas Performing Arts presents significant works of music, theatre, dance and conversation at six venues across the campus, as well as the best in touring Broadway and concert attractions. This breadth of programming is not available anywhere else in Central Texas.
Since Panoff’s arrival, subscriptions for the 2009-2010 Texas Performing Arts season have more than tripled.
“We worked very hard,” she said, “to put together a season of internationally renowned artists, and as the new director I am pleased and honored by the community’s enthusiastic response.”
And while Panoff has only recently begun her tenure at Texas Performing Arts, she was able to put her stamp on the upcoming season while dividing her time last semester between Austin and her former directorial position at the University of Richmond’s Modlin Center. Her involvement in personalizing the season includes a role in developing the look and tone of the 2009-2010 season brochure, an effort to develop stronger faculty, student, campus and community involvement in Texas Performing Arts and the addition of Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer; Robert Crumb and Art Spiegelman: A Conversation hosted by Françoise Mouly; and New Zealand dance company, Black Grace, to the season.
Learn more about Texas Performing Arts.
