UC Irvine Department of Drama Recognized with URTA Excellence Award in Undergraduate Training

National award highlights UC Irvine’s excellence in design and technology training

The Department of Drama at UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts has been honored with a 2025 Excellence Award in Undergraduate Training from the University Resident Theatre Association (URTA). UC Irvine received the institutional award in Design & Technology, joining a distinguished group of national recipients recognized for advancing the preparation of undergraduate theatre artists.

The recognition underscores the caliber of students who choose UC Irvine for their competitive undergraduate training in design and technology.

“This award from URTA is a recognition of a number of different things that we’re proud of in the design program at UCI,” said Vincent Olivieri, head of design of the Department of Drama. “First and foremost is the quality of our students. Winning the award is a recognition that talented design students want to come to UCI to study design. They know that our program is a place for them to grow as artists” 

UC Irvine design students consistently stand out at the annual URTA Auditions & Interviews, where nearly 1,000 candidates participate in auditions, interviews, workshops and panel discussions with industry leaders. Their success stems from a curriculum that emphasizes community support and technical expertise.

“Our pedagogical practices are rooted in collaboration,” said Veenstra. “We don’t just teach design in a classroom — we create an environment where students learn to work together across disciplines, contributing to fully staged productions. That integration mirrors the professional world and prepares students to excel in both undergraduate and graduate studies and their future careers.”

Photo by Jeanine Hill.

The design and technology programs at UCI Arts span sound, costume, scenic and lighting design, as well as exploring traditional and emergent theatre technology, offering undergraduates hands-on learning alongside rigorous coursework. That combination builds a bridge for students to transition from training to professional practice. Students benefit from access to cutting-edge resources and collaboration with peers and mentors, creating a strong foundation for both advanced study and professional careers. 

“Our design program has a very good faculty-to-student ratio, and this allows design faculty to build deep mentor-mentee relationships with all of our students,” said Vincent Olivieri, head of design of the Department of Drama. "This award recognizes the success of that deep mentorship as we prepare our undergraduate students to put their best foot forward into their post-UCI career.” 

Faculty also view the award as validation of UC Irvine’s essential role in sustaining arts education during a time of industry change. The department’s commitment to innovation and accessibility ensures that students are prepared to enter an evolving field while reinforcing the importance of the arts in higher education and beyond. 

“It’s no secret that the entertainment industries are changing rapidly,” said Holly Poe Durbin, head of costume design in the Department of Drama. “This is a critical time in education for the entertainment arts, and we are losing programs every year. But this is also a unique opportunity for UCI to be one of the strong programs that survives tectonic shifts. Arts, entertainment and recreation generate about $64 billion in California’s GDP. It is essential that there be a program of excellence in a public state university accessible to all to train future generations.” 

Image: Production of La Belle et la Bête, directed by Annie Loui in the xMPL. Photo by Jeanine Hill.

As part of the recognition, UC Irvine will also receive a Candidate Award, offering free registration for a student of its choice to participate in the URTAs within the next two years. This opportunity underscores the department’s mission to open pathways for undergraduates while reinforcing its national leadership in theatre education.

With this recognition, UC Irvine joins the University of Evansville as the 2025 institutional awardees, underscoring the impact of programs that merge academic excellence with professional preparation. For the Department of Drama, the URTA Excellence Award is both a reflection of its legacy and a vision for the future of theatre education.

To learn more about the Department of Drama, visit drama.arts.uci.edu. For more information about URTA, visit their website at urta.com.