Texas State theatre program lauded by Austin Critics’ Table

By Casey Torrance
University News Service
June 11, 2012

Oklahoma!

"Oklahoma!" won the Austin Critics' Table award for Best Musical Production. (Photo by Chandler Prude)

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas State University-San Marcos recently won the Austin Critics’ Table Award for Best Musical Production for its rendition of “Oklahoma!” This is the first time a Texas State production has won this award.

Kaitlin Hopkins, director of “Oklahoma!” and head of the musical theatre program, was thrilled about the win.

“To be acknowledged by the Austin Critics' Table Awards for Best Musical Production for ‘Oklahoma!’ is such an honor, as there were so many wonderful productions in Austin this year,” Hopkins said. “It is a testament to the level of work being done by our students in all aspects of production in the Department of Theatre and Dance.”

Hopkins was also nominated for Best Direction for the productions of “Oklahoma!” and “Hair.” Other nominations for Texas State at the Austin Critics’ Table Awards included the award for Movement for “Hair,” the Best Music Direction award for “Oklahoma!” and “Hair” and the Group Gallery Exhibition award for Texas State’s art gallery “Wild Kingdom.” Student Tim Heller also received a special citation for Outstanding Student Work for his performance as “Curly” in “Oklahoma!”

In addition, Texas State theater faculty member Eugene Lee won an award for Outstanding Acting in a Leading Role in his performances in both “The Book of Grace” and “God of Carnage” from the Austin Critics’ Table.

Since Hopkins launched the new musical theater program in 2009, Texas State productions have been nominated for Best Musical Production every year.

“I am, of course, extremely proud of all the students and faculty involved in the production," she said.

For more information, please visit www.theatreanddance.txstate.edu.