Creativity thrives at the University of Texas Department of Theater and Dance, and they're out to prove it in a big way: next week, they're hosting the fourth biennial Cohen New Works Festival, a seven day whirlwind of original performances, readings, choreography, guest artist panels, and workshops.

Founded in 2001 in honor of David Mark Cohen, a UT Professor of Theater and Dance and respected playwright, the Cohen New Works Festival celebrates original works created by UT students, faculty, and guest artists. The variety of performances--98 in total--is extraordinary; on any given night of the festival, one might catch a play about Andy Warhol as narrated by famous pre-op transsexual Candy Darling, or stumble upon a dance installation where the performers are suspended from the ceiling.

All New Works Festival programming is free and open to the public, thanks to funding by the University Co-op. Approximately thirty free parking spaces at the Co-op parking garage will be made available for each day of the festival.

More information, including full festival schedule, artist bios, and maps, are available at the official website. After the jump, we've featured a selection of recommended works to check out.

[Cohen New Works Festival 2007 Official Site]

Cohen New Works Festival
April 9-15th
UT Campus
Free, Some Works for Mature Audiences

Ashes, Ashes

Written by Eve Tulbert; guest director Dustin Wills

A dark fairy tale for our time. This new play for family audiences explores two sources: real stories of children living with industrial pollution and the myths of Baba Yaga and Kali, mysterious witches who oversee the forces of life and death. In a place where dark ash fills the sky, a young girl must venture into caves and coal mines to restore life to the world. (90 min.)

Dates:
Tuesday, April 10 at 12:30pm
Wednesday, April 11 at 9pm
Saturday, April 14 at 2pm

Location: [map]
Brockett Theatre. Winship Drama Building, 300 E. 23rd Street, UT Austin campus

Between This Breath and You

Written by Naomi Wallace; directed by Corey Atkins

MFA Directing student Corey Atkins presents a new one act play by OBIE award winner Naomi Wallace. The script explores the conflict between Israel and Palestine through the story of an Israeli janitor, an American nurse and a Palestinian patient at a medical clinic in Jerusalem. (1 hr)

Dates:
Wednesday, April 11 at 2pm
Thursday, April 12 at 7:30pm

Location: [map]
Avaya Auditorium 2.302. ACES building on UT campus, 24th and Speedway.

Choreography Exhibit

Created by Kristen Frankiewicz, Ashley DePalermo and Kara Liotta

A dance performance focused on presenting the original work of various student choreographers within experimental and scientific parameters. (90 min.)

Dates:
Wednesday, April 11 at 5:30pm
Friday, April 13 at 1:30pm
Saturday, April 14 at 4pm

Location: [map]
Lab Theatre. Winship Drama Building, 300 E. 23rd Street, UT Austin campus

Kouti Anthropinos Conceptualized and choreographed by Yonatan Mendelsberg and Alex Wood. Directed by Kirstin Grbic

Translation: "Human Box." In this non-stop multi-media performance, contemporary dance is aligned with pedestrian movement, video, music, set and audience interaction to portray the nature of humanism. (90 min.)

Dates:
Thursday, April 12 at 12:30pm
Saturday, April 14 at 11 am
Sunday, April 15 at 4pm

Location: [map]
Brockett Theatre. Winship Drama Building, 300 E. 23rd Street, UT Austin campus

Portrait

Designed by Yvonne Boudreaux; choreographed by Andee Scott

A design and dance installation in which dancers suspended from the ceiling of the Payne Theatre explore the back wall as though it were a floor. (45 min.)

Dates:
Tuesday, April 10 at 9:30pm
Wednesday, April 11 at 1:00pm
Friday, April 13 at 4:30pm
Saturday, April 14 at 9:30pm

Location: [map]
Payne Theatre. Winship Drama Building, 300 E. 23rd Street, UT Austin campus

Querencia - A Search for Home

Written and performed by Michelle Dvoskin, April Gentry-Sutterfield, Kristen Leahey, Elisabeth McKetta, Priscilla Sample and Meg Sullivan

A collection of auto/biographical solo performances that weave performers’ personal narratives with the lives of the historical women they portray. (2 hr 15 min.)

Dates:
Tuesday, April 10 at 4:30pm
Saturday, April 14 at 11 am
Sunday, April 15 at 1:30pm

Location: [map]
Winship 1.134 (limited seating). Winship Drama Building, 300 E. 23rd Street, UT Austin campus

Raven Study - Dance for the Camera

Directed and choreographed by Charlotte Griffin; produced by Christopher Rusch; director of photography Iskra Valtcheva

An interdisciplinary synthesis of music, choreography, visual art, and film production elements inspired by the film genre of “Dance for the Camera”. Animated images intersect with a live-action dancer and drummer to reveal layers of dynamic texture. (4 min; total combined performance is 15 min)

Fit

Created by Kim H. Ngo; produced by Victor R. Moyers; written by Kim Beverett and Robbie Walker

A short film of and by costume designers. Sharp objects and high temperatures are the least of her worries. Watch one costume designer as she navigates the unlikely pitfalls of actors, directors and the always-looming fitting. (6 min; total combined performance is 15 min)

Dates:
Tuesday, April 10 at 1pm & 6:30pm
Wednesday, April 11 at 10:30 am, 3pm & 6:30pm
Thursday, April 12 at 1:30pm & 6:30pm
Friday, April 13 at 4pm
Saturday, April 14 at 1:30pm & 7pm
Sunday, April 15 at 12pm

Location: [map]
B.202 (limited seating). Winship Drama Building, 300 E. 23rd Street, UT Austin campus