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Program Content Style Guide

Program Content Style Guide

Texas Theatre and Dance is pleased to highlight season production collaborators through a show-specific “Meet the Cast and Creative Team” webpage on the department’s website. This page will feature bios for cast and creative team members and will be linked in the printed program through a QR code. The cast has headshots in addition to their bios on the webpage.

Bios will be submitted through a Microsoft Form or Actor Agreement early in the rehearsal/design/casting process. For consistency and clarity, all submitted bios must adhere to the department’s program style guidelines.

Sample bios are included at the bottom of this page.

Program Content Style Guide:

  1. Bios should be no more than 75 words in length.


  2. Bios should be written in third-person tense (“Henley has recent credits with…” instead of “I have recent credits with”)


  3. Bios should be professional and straight-forward.The Department of Theatre and Dance does not allow inappropriate language or unrelated content.


  4. Please include preferred pronouns where applicable.


  5. While many areas may have unique internal titles, only the following degree program titles approved for the UT curriculum can be used in Texas Theatre and Dance programs. If you have questions, please direct inquiries to Katy Wiggins (kathryn.wiggins@austin.utexas.edu). Options are:

    1. B.F.A. in Acting major

    2. (For B.A. students whose first semester was before Fall 2026):
      B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in [choose whatever is applicable]:

      1. dance performance and choreography

      2. design and technology

        1. (this includes stage management)

      3. history, literature and dramaturgy

      4. performer's process

      5. playwriting and directing

      6. theatre for youth and communities

    3. (For B.A. students whose first semester was Fall 2026 or after, or for those who elected to update their concentration after Fall 2026):
      B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with a concentration in [choose whatever is applicable]:

      1. Dance

      2. Theatre, pursuing the [choose whatever is applicable] track:

        1. production

        2. acting, directing and playwriting

        3. performance studies

        4. self-directed study

    4. B.F.A. in Dance major with a concentration in [choose whatever is applicable]:

      1. performance and choreography

      2. dance education

    5. B.F.A. in Theatre Education

    6. M.F.A. in Dance

    7. M.F.A. in Theatre candidate with a specialization in live design and production ([choose whatever is applicable]) (i.e. M.F.A. in Theatre candidate with a specialization in live design and production (costume design)):

      1. costume design

      2. costume technology

      3. integrated media for live performance

      4. lighting design

      5. scene design

    8. M.F.A. in Theatre candidate with a specialization in directing

    9. M.F.A. in Theatre candidate with a specialization in drama and theatre for youth and communities

    10. M.F.A. in Theatre candidate with a specialization in playwriting

    11. M.A., M.F.A. or Ph.D. in Theatre candidate with a specialization in performance as public practice


  6. Avoid designations like “freshman,” “sophomore,” etc., in favor of “first-year,” “second-year,” etc.


  7. It is the responsibility of the submitter to ensure that all credits submitted are accurate. This includes the title of each production, the submitter’s role on the production and the producing theatre for the production.



  8. Full titles or phrases should always be used in place of acronyms (ex. College of Fine Arts, not COFA)


  9. If the submitter refers to The University of Texas at all in their bio, it should first appear as “The University of Texas at Austin.” The abbreviation “UT” may be used thereafter.


  10. The Department may be referred to either as "the Department of Theatre and Dance" or "Texas Theatre and Dance."

Sample Bios:

Christian Henley (Character Name) is a B.F.A. in Acting major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has an extensive background in both dance and acting. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include In the Heights, Fame the Musical and In the Red and Brown Water, in addition to multiple projects as part of The Cohen New Works Festival.

Art Henley (Scenic Designer) is a third-year M.F.A. in Theatre candidate with a specialization in live design and production (scenic design). Recent credits at The University of Texas at Austin include A Tale for Home, Vulturine and This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing.

Kate Henley (Dancer – Name of Dance Piece) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin also pursuing an entrepreneurship minor through the McCombs School of Business. Texas Theatre and Dance credits include Presente (2024), Give Your Hands To Struggle (2024), This All Really Happened (2025) and Rooted in Motion (2025).