Theatre Arts & Performance Studies at Brown

01/20/2026

A note from Patricia Ybarra, TAPS Chair:

"As we begin to return to campus, I feel gratitude for our TAPS community. We have been through the unimaginable in recent weeks, but I believe that our empathy, creativity, and collaborative spirit will guide us through these difficult times. We look forward to seeing all of you again this semester."

We are ever true. 🤎 (https://evertrue.brown.edu/)
Photo by Mark Turek

12/01/2025

We are incredibly saddened by the loss of Spencer Golub, Professor Emeritus. He will be greatly missed.

"He was born in Queens, New York to the late Lawrence and Vivian (Block) Golub, and grew up in North Bellmore on Long Island.

Spencer earned his undergraduate degree from Union College, master’s degree from Syracuse University, and PhD from the University of Kansas. His teaching career began at Wayne State University, followed by the University of Virginia and Brown University, where he taught for 35 years.

At Brown, Spencer was Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies and Professor Emeritus of Slavic Studies. He was Chair of the Department of Theatre, Speech and Dance from 2001 to 2007, and was a founding architect of the Brown/Trinity Consortium."

Please click below for the full obituary and to share your memories of Spencer.

Celebrate the life of Spencer Golub, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Sugarman Sinai Memorial Chapel.

09/19/2025

Meet (most of) the 2025–2026 Sock & Buskin Board! 🎭

Made up of students, faculty, and staff, S&B works in the spirit of collaborative learning and artistry to shape TAPS’ mainstage season. Guided by values of curiosity, mentorship, creativity, and community, S&B offers students a unique educational opportunity.

Our meetings are open, so if you’re a student interested in S&B, join us on Tuesdays at 12PM in Lyman Hall!

09/02/2025

07/28/2025

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rachel Jendrzejewski, an alumna of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies.

View Rachel Jendrzejewski's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/02/2025

✨ Save the Date! ✨

Join us for the Spring Festival of Dance on May 1 & May 3, produced by Patricia Seto-Weiss! Experience two unique programs:

- Program A – May 1 -
Featuring a celebrated dance company, whose innovation has inspired generations of artists and audiences alike (to be announced!), alongside the Brown University Orchestra.

- Program B – May 3 -
Showcasing original works developed in our dance courses, performed in collaboration with the Brown University Orchestra.

Both evenings will also feature Lamentation Variations, an evocative work inspired by Martha Graham’s iconic solo, Lamentation. Created in remembrance of 9/11, this ongoing project continues to explore grief, resilience, and expression through movement. We will present three unique variations, created under the project’s signature creative conditions.

Tickets go on sale in mid-April: check back for more details.

A co-production with the Brown Arts Institute and the Music Department.

Photo courtesy of Erin X. Smithers.

11/14/2024

Are you thinking of applying to Brown’s PhD program in Theatre and Performance Studies?

If so, you're welcome to attend our online information session on
Monday, November 18 from 6:00-7:00 PM E.S.T..

You'll hear an overview of the program, and have a chance to ask questions about the program and the admissions process.

RSVP via the link in our bio!

11/01/2024

✨ Course Spotlight ✨

TAPS 1348, Contemporary Dance Studio Project, is an advanced technique and repertory course engaging students in rigorous studio practice rooted in post-modern dance modalities. Designed to build strength, increase efficiency, and inspire a large, expressive way of moving through a three-dimensional sense of the body, this course includes movement research in Contact Improvisation, choreographic and compositional explorations, and challenging contemporary phrase work. Work from this course will also be featured in this year’s Fall Dance Concert in mid-November.

10/31/2024

✨ Opening Night Alert! ✨

Get ready for Angels in America, Opening Tonight! Before you head to the theater, check out our Know Before You Go tips to make the most of your experience. See you there!

10/25/2024

Introducing our new TAPS Course Spotlight series! 💡
First up is TAPS 0030: Introduction to Acting and Directing 🎭

This course explores basic acting and directing concepts from a variety of perspectives, including the use of imagination and impulsivity to create truthful, dramatic performances. Students engage the body as a way of knowing and communicating and use the voice to discover and reveal emotion and thought.

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to sharpen your craft, TAPS 0030 is where it starts—and it’s available this Spring 2025!

10/23/2024

Wednesday, November 20. Throw Yourself Away: Writing and Masochism. A Book Talk with Julia Jarcho. 4 pm Pembroke Hall 305.
Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies Julia Jarcho will discuss Throw Yourself Away: Writing and Masochism (University of Chicago Press, 2024), her new book about writing, performance, and perversion. Featuring responses from Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence in English Kevin Quashie and Assistant Professor of English Kyle C. Frisina (Holy Cross).
Free and open to the public. Event accessibility information: To bypass stairs, visitors may enter via the automatic doors at the rear of the building, where there is a wheelchair-accessible elevator.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/40iy403
Theatre Arts & Performance Studies at Brown

10/22/2024

Behind the scenes at Angels in America rehearsals ✨🕊️. We're getting ready for opening night on Halloween 🎃. Can’t wait to share this story with you.