Have you ever wondered how the UNT Department of Dance and Theatre grew to be so amazing? Take a glimpse into our history, hard work, and talent, as we move into the future of Dance and Theatre!

 

1930 - The North Texas State Teachers College Department of Speech Arts was created in 1930 with Mrs. Olive Johnson as Chairman and Mrs. Myrtle Hardy completing the staff.

1968 - In the fall semster of 1968, The North Texas State University Department of Speech Arts becomes the Department of Speech and Drama. This new Department was under the direction of Reginald V. Holland, with a faculty/staff of 27 people, 2,000 students registered in courses, and over 400 different majors to choose from.

1981 - The NTSU's Department of Speech and Drama becomes NTSU's Division of Drama.

1985 - In the spring semester of 1985, NTSU's Division of Speech and Drama becomes NTSU's Division of Drama and Dance.

1995 - The Univeristy of North Texas Division of Drama and Dance becomes the UNT Department of Dance and Theatre! The title of which we still continue to use today.

We have come a long way!

From the development of a Speech Department in the 1930s, to a Speech and Drama Department in the 1960s, to a Division of Drama and Dance in the 1980s, to classroom buildings that have been long demolished, to our now two outstanding major buildings- the growth of this major fine arts program represents many talents and intellects, many contributations, and an esprit that has thrived through all manner of obstacles.

Hundreds of faculty/staff memebers and thousands of students have contributed their energy and talent to our phenomenal growth as a department. The students are represented by the names of the organizations they created; the First Stage Series, the University Players, Chi Tau Epsilon, and Alpha Psi Omega. By working together, these dedicated faculty, staff, and students have presented nearly 100 seasons of Dance and Theatre, earned degrees (through the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences), and brought a wide range of honors to themselves and their university.

As a result, the UNT Department of Dance and Theatre has the facilities, the curricula, the programs, and best of all, the faculty, staff and students, to ensure a qualitive leap forward into the future of Dance and Theatre degrees.