THEATRE ARTS - Alum Jana Schmieding, Lakota comedian-actor-writer, has made the journey from struggling artist to success story and vocal champion of Natives in film, TV and comedy. She’ll share what she has learned along the way as keynote speaker for the university’s 148th commencement ceremony, June 16 at Autzen Stadium.

THEATRE ARTS – Olga Sanchez has dedicated her career to creating, directing and teaching theatre that amplifies underrepresented voices. After 20 years working in theatre, she wanted to share her work in an academic setting. She found her place in the doctoral program in University of Oregon's Theatre Arts department and is now a professor at Middlebury College.

THEATRE ARTS – Ever since she stepped on the stage in middle school, University of Oregon alum Jerilyn Armstrong (Theatre Arts, 2017) knew she wanted to be an actor. Her curiosity and eagerness led her to build valuable connections with instructors and explore every opportunity in the Department of Theatre Arts, setting her up to pursue her passion after college.

THEATRE ARTS – At the North Pole, Victor Frankenstein has finally caught up with his Creature, intending to kill him to right his wrong of creating him in the first place. Before he can, the Creature asks, “Why did you make me?” This simple question is the premise of the University Theatre's production of "Frankenstein: Playing with Fire," which opened Nov. 8 and plays for three weekends through Nov. 24.

THEATRE ARTS - When Damon Jones '84 was diagnosed with cancer, he was determined to make some dreams come true. One of those dreams was reviving "The Last Dragon," a stage production he was part of in his last year in the Theatre Department at University of Oregon. Through sheer determination he pulled together the majority of the original cast, and they are staging it live in Portland Aug. 8-10, 2024.

CINEMA STUDIES, THEATRE ARTS - Built in the late 1800s, University and Villard halls haven't been state-of-the-art in a long time. But $68 million interior and exterior construction work is bringing new life to the two iconic University of Oregon buildings, which will host new facilities for the cinema studies and theatre arts departments.