The UTA Department of Theatre Arts and Dance presents Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, by Dave Malloy.Two-time Tony® Award Winner Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, is an innovative electropop opera, based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. This immersive performance tells the story of beautiful Natasha who falls for the charming rebel Anatole while her betrothed Andrey is off at war, while the introspective Pierre grapples with his existential crises. The thrilling, ground-breaking score melds rock, pop, soul, and folk, unlike anything you’ve heard. Join us for this Tony Award-winning spectacle that The New York Times hailed as “the most innovative and best new musical to open since Hamilton!”. It was Nominated for 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score.Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.

Join us for Dr. Andy Eldridge’s percussion faculty recital. Whether you are an avid music lover, a fellow musician, or someone seeking an evening of cultural enrichment, this recital promises a wonderful night of music.This performance is free and open to the public. It takes place in Irons Recital Hall, FA105, located in the South Section of the Fine Arts Building.The doors will open approximately 30 minutes before the performance time.Please be aware that no food or drink, aside from bottled water, is allowed in the recital hall.Parking is available in the West Campus Garage, and ADA parking is available at the meters on Nedderman Drive in front of Texas Hall. Visit our parking page for more information.This recital will be live-streamed at uta.edu/music/live.php.

Solace in Painting: Reflecting on a Tumultuous Century will be open at the Gallery at UTA, Feb. 4-March 29, 2025An opening gala and panel featuring Ann Phong, Yukio Lippit, and Fletcher Coleman will be held Friday, February 7, 5:30-7:30pm, in The Gallery at UTAContemporary art discourse is often driven by an unspoken interest in trauma. But what of artists from underrepresented communities whose lives were altered by conflicts of the twentieth century, yet who chose to never directly represent their traumatic experiences? “Solace in Painting” explores how we characterize and raise awareness about artwork of conflicted artists of the Asian diaspora who never produced overt “conflict art.” This traveling exhibition features three little-researched diasporic painters—Chao Shao-an (1905-1998), Keisho Okayama (1934- 2018), and Ann Phong (1957-)—brought together through their unusual and oblique approaches to painting shared experiences of major conflicts in Asia.Curated by Dr. Fletcher Coleman, assistant professor of art history and museum studies at UTA, with an exhibition catalogue produced by Scala Arts and Heritage Publishers Ltd., featuring contributions by Dr. Coleman and Dr. Yukio Lippit of Harvard University. Following its conclusion at UTA, the exhibition will travel to the UNO Gallery, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Sept. 2-Oct. 31, 2025

UTA Special Collections presents a mini-exhibit on the Battle of Buena Vista. 178 years ago on February 22-23, 1847, U.S. troops led by General Zachary Taylor met Mexican troops led by General Santa Anna. Although neither side gained much, both nations claimed victory and used the battle as a rallying cry. Materials include first-hand accounts written by soldiers at the battle, hand drawn maps, celebratory sheet music, and newspaper articles that tell the story of the battle from both sides.

Fables are stories that are often told to underscore a moral that is prominent or important in a society. Dating as far back as 1500 BCE, some of the world’s oldest fables originate in the Asian diaspora. These stories have been shared across the continent through oracular storytelling, literature, and compellingly beautiful artforms that illustrate and underscore their social philosophies.On view for the Spring 2025 semester, the tradition of Ðông Hò woodcut painting exemplifies this form of inspirational visual interpretation, sharing symbols of good luck wishes for the New Year and humorous tales of animals who have been placed into human settings. Also on display are a series of Chinese and Japanese woodblock prints that narrate stories of Immortals and supernatural, legendary figures as well as traditional landscapes and nature scenes.Throughout the semester, you are invited to celebrate these works and their messages of hope, positivity, and wisdom.Monday, February 3 – Friday, April 25; 9am – 5pm. Visual Resource Collections & Gallery, Ste. 2109, Fine Arts Building, 2nd floor.An opening Reception will be held Friday, February 7, 5:30 – 7:00pm. Light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be provided.For more information about this exhibition or the UTA Fine Art Collections, please contact cherylm@uta.edu.

Join a free workshop on Basic Illustration with Krita.