Outside Opportunities

We also encourage students to seek professional work in the summer, and assist them with portfolio and audition preparation on an ongoing basis.

•Recently, students have worked professionally over the summer at theatres around the country including Discoveryland in Oklahoma, Papermill Theatre in New Hampshire, Big Fork in Montana, Blue Jacket in Ohio, The Barn Theatre in Michigan, Weathervane Playhouse in New Hampshire and The Lost Colony in Virginia.  Other students spend their time exploring cities such as Boston, NYC, Los Angeles and Chicago during spring and summer breaks in anticipation of their future careers.

 •Many students are also active as performers and backstage in the Birmingham area. UM students have performed roles at most area companies and even directed at theatres including Summerfest, South City Theatre, Shakespeare in the Park, Birmingham Festival Theatre, 13th Street Ensemble and Birmingham Children's Theatre.

•UM students are also active in creating independent film projects based in Alabama.

Alice's Misadventures in Wonderland, the winning entry of the 2004 nationally adjudicated Birmingham Sidewalk Film Festival, was directed and produced by alumni of the UM Mass Communication Division. The film featured five UM theatre majors and was cast by New York based alumnus Chris Carr. In addition, recent graduates Carter Robins and Stephanie Schnorbus (now in Chicago), were members of the production company "Team Bloodjet," winner of numerous awards at the Birmingham "Sidewalk Scramble" competitions. Chris Carr also received directing honors in the 2006 Festival for his 30 minute short film Golden Age.

•The UM theatre faculty encourages students to pursue independent performance projects, which can also be linked to independent study credit. Recent and upcoming projects include an original dance/theatre multi-media piece called TRAPPED; one person shows with students directors and faculty advisors; and staged readings of student written or adapted plays.