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About Us

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The University of St. Thomas
 
The University of St. Thomas (UST) is Houston's Catholic University, committed to the religious, ethical and intellectual traditions of Catholic higher education
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Our student body reflects the rich diversity of the city itself. We welcome undergraduate and graduate students of all faiths and of no faith.
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Our campus is located in Houston's Museum District and Innovation Corridor, a diverse and vibrant urban environment with professional opportunities

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Drama Department
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The UST Drama program began in 1970 under the stewardship of Houston theatre playwright Sam Havens. Starting at 2 productions a year, the department grew to an average of 4-5 productions annually and created a notable children's theatre program with the addition of Professor Claire McDonald. UST Drama and Dance is currently led by Associate Professor - Eric Domuret (Chair of Department), Assistant Professor - Michael Morrison (Drama),  Assistant Professor - Maria McCain (Dance), and Technical Director - Brian Buck. UST Drama alumni have gone on to find success as professionals on Broadway, regionally, in film and television as well as in education.
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Situated in the vibrant Montrose neighborhood, just minutes away from the Theatre District and Museum District, UST is well-connected to Houston’s lively performing arts community. With our liberal arts core curriculum, you’ll gain a number of tools to help you achieve success in a dynamic performing arts career. We offer the following . . .
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  • Bachelor of Arts in Drama 
  • BFA in Theatre Education
  • Minor in Drama 
  • Professional Internships 
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​​Stoic Theatre
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Stoic Theatre is the professional company of UST -Drama. This  company aims to put professionals working alongside UST students onstage and off. The name of the company is inspired by the university's storied philosophy program and the university's namesake, St. Thomas Aquinas, who believed in the "relationship between faith and reason".

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The company aims to provide UST students with more connection and experience with the professional world as well as providing creative and mentorship opportunities for theatre professionals in the Houston Area.

 

  • ​Artistic Director - Eric Domuret 

  • Artistic Associate - Michael Morrison 

  • Artistic Associate - Maria McCain 

  • Technical Director - Brian Buck​​​​

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Alpha Psi Omega

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Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society is an American recognition fraternity for participants in collegiate theatre. UST is proud to have a highly engaged and involved chapter on campus. The service of our APO members and officers is invaluable to the department, community, and UST.

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  • President/Marketting - Angel Garcia

  • Vice President/Treasurer -  Julia Alvarez 

 

Faculty
 
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Eric Domuret - MFA:
Associate Professor of Drama 
Chair of Department 
Fine Arts, Drama and Dance Associate Professor of Drama 
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Eric Domuret is the proud new Associate Professor and Director of Drama and Dance at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.  He is also the founder and Artistic Director of Apprentice Productions Theatre.  He received his MFA in Theatre Directing at Middlesex University in London where he studied with Dame Janet Suzman, Playwright David Edgar, Royal Shakespeare Company director Leon Rubin, and the late National Theatre scholar John Russell Brown. He is a director and workshop leader both in the United States and abroad. Eric is an accomplished playwright whose works include Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the World, Ismay's Inquiry as well as a number of short one act plays. In London, Eric's adaptation of Ismay's Inquiry, was performed in conjunction with London's Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as well as a short adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s Child’s Talk. 

 

Eric’s area of specialization is in Theatre Directing.  Directing credits include Forever Plaid, Hamlet, Henry V, Big River, The Woman in Black, Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, The Miracle Worker, Lost in Yonkers, Much Ado About Nothing, and his own world premier adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice which has since been produced globally.  

 

He was the fight director for four seasons with the Trinity Shakespeare Festival where he received critical acclaim for his gut-wrenching choreography in Macbeth.  He also served as a fight choreography workshop leader for Texas Christian University.   

 

He has been in the education field for over fifteen years both in University and K-12 education.  He was previously the technical director for Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas and later was the theatre department director at the award-winning Klein Oak High School Theatre.  He has developed curriculum and helped to spearhead the BFA in Theatre Education Degree at The University of St. Thomas. Eric won the coveted 2019 Tommy Tune Award for Best Direction and Best Musical for his production of 'Bright Star'.  

 

Eric was a speaker and workshop leader at the IUGTE conference in Carrara, Italy where he conducted his workshop on Greek Theatre Performance techniques. This culminated into a performance of Euripides’ ‘Ion’ in Houston at The University of St. Thomas.  Eric also specializes in one man/woman shows. He developed this love for this genre when he was advised by Australian artist Roz Papalardo in Carrara, and her one woman show ‘Rosa’.  He co-developed, was a script advisor, and director for Femme Sol Theatre’s one woman show ‘Hildeguard: A Song of Surrender’ and the incredibly well received ‘Divine Mercy Witness’ which premiered at The University of St. Thomas.  

 

Eric won the Broadway World Houston award for Best Actor in a Musical and Broadway World Houston Best Play for his adaptation and production of 'Pride and Prejudice'.  He specializes in Directing and collaborating on new works with students.  His TEDx Talk from the University on progress in theatre can be linked from his website.  Eric is also an Entrepreneurial Artist collaborating with his wife and servicing the Houston area with independent projects, business start-ups, and workshops.

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Eric is an accomplished performer.  Having begun his career in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Fort Worth Shakespeare in the Park, Eric has been seen in numerous productions in DFW, Houston, New York, and multiple city US tours.  He was also seen as the Reverend Chrisparkle at Obsidian Theatre’s production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood which won Best Musical in Houston in the Houston Press awards.  Eric performed at AD Players as Paul Sycamore in You Can’t Take it With You.  Eric has also been seen at AD Players in Little Women the Musical as Professor Baher.  Other acting credits include Doubt (Father Flynn), Les Miserables (Jean Valjean), Whistle Down the Wind (The Man), Side Show (Terry) Forever Plaid (Jinx),Duck Variations (George), Titanic: The Musical (Barrett), and Next to Normal (Dan) where he received the Broadway World award for Best Actor in a Musical.  Eric spent four seasons as Fight Choreographer with the Trinity Shakespeare Festival and continues to conduct acting and choreography classes and workshops. He is a director and workshop leader both in the United States and abroad. Some original works include, ‘Lord of the World’, ‘Ismay’s Inquiry’ as well as a number of short one act plays.  


Eric lives happily in the Houston area with his amazing wife and five children.  More information about Eric can be seen on his website at www.domuret.com 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Michael Morrison - MFA:
Lessac Practitioner 
Assistant Professor of Drama 
 

Michael C. Morrison (Director) is an Assistant Professor of Drama at the University of St. Thomas. Born in Houston but raised in Memphis TN, Michael holds an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Bachelors of Science in Liberal Studies (emphasis in Music and Theatre) from Middle Tennessee State University. He is also a certified Lessac Practitioner and member of the Lessac Training and Research Institute. 

 

Selected Acting credits include: A.D. Players Theatre; God’s Favorite (Ben), Rock Nativity (Melchior),  Miracle on 34th Street (Multi Role), Hark The Harold (Harold) Littleboro Valley Story (Goshen) Dirt Dogs Theatre; A Lie Of The Mind (Frankie) Springer Opera House; Sweeney Todd (Adolfo Pirelli) Kirkwood Summer Concert Series; Titanic (Isidor Straus) Parade (Leo Frank) Alley Theatre; Born Yesterday (Multi Role) Southern Arena Theatre; Taking Steps (Roland Crabbe) Peach State Summer Theatre; Les Miserables (Enjolras) The Little Mermaid (Chef Louis) The National Theatre for Children; The Energized Guys (Multi Role) Theatre Memphis; A Christmas Carol (Fred/ Christmas Present) Stageworks Theatre; The Producers (Max Bialystock) and Peter and The Starcatcher (Smee). USM Tatum Theatre; The Liar (Cliton), Rent (Benny), Spring Awakening (Adult Men) and Clybourne Park (Steve/Karl). 

 

Directing credits include: UST Drama; Peter and The Starcatcher, The Liar, The Addams Family (musical), Healing Hilarity, and Shakespeare In Love. A.D. Players Theatre; A Non Equity Love Medley (also playwright). Michael also spent 6 years as a production director and actor for LifeWay events working along side award winning musicians including Charlie Hall and Rush of Fools. 

 

Michael has been nominated for the St. Thomas Aquinas Excellence in Teaching award twice, a Broadway World Houston - Best Actor in a Musical award (Max Bialystock - The Producers) and an Irene Ryan Award (Steve/Karl - Clybourne Park) for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. 

 

Recently, Michael produced and performed his one person show "Does Not Disappoint" which received high praise from the Houston theatre community. This work will be submitted to fringe festivals and conferences over the next year. 

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Maria McCain - MFA:
Professor of Dance, Chair of Dance 
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Brian Buck - MFA
Adjunct Professor of Design, Technical Director 
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Guest Artists (2020-2024)
 
  • Phillip Lehl - Broadway Veteran and Co-Artistic Director of 4th Wall Theatre
  • Melissa Molano -  Actor, Alley Theatre resident company member & voice over artist
  • Labraska Washington -  Actor; Theatre Under The Stars, Stages Theatre, A.D. Players 
  • Darrell Morris Jr. - Actor; National Tour - Les Miserables
  • Rebecca Skupin - Stage Manager; Alley Theatre, Stages, A.D. Players Theatre, Main Street Theatre 
  • Doug Atkins - Actor; Theatre Under The Stars, A.D. Players
  • Brandon Tanner - Actor; Music Director, Garden Theatre 
  • Christian Simon - Actor;  Choreographer, The Ensemble Theatre, Main Street Theatre 
  • Chelsea Lerner - Actor/Music Director; Garden Theatre 
  • Whitney Zangarine - Actor/Intimacy Coordinator/Director; A.D Players Theatre, Obsidian Theatre, Creative Movement Practices 
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