The Houston Suitcase Theater at UH
Contact Faculty: Elizabeth Brown-Guillory, Professor of English
The Houston Suitcase Theater (THST), founded in 1992, is a student, faculty, and staff troupe dedicated to mentoring students and enhancing multiculturalism in the arts at UH. Another important component of the troupe's mission is recruitment and retention. THST communicates on a regular basis with Houston metropolitan area high school teachers. Each year, students from more than 25 Houston area schools attend lectures and performances sponsored by THST. We provide an opportunity for high school students, whom we hope to recruit to UH, to see other students on stage as role models.
Several noteworthy performance pieces that have attracted high school students and the Houston community include, "Staged Readings of Original Plays by UH Graduate Students (Fall 2004), "Staged Readings of Original One-Act Plays by UH Undergraduates" (Spring 2004), "Ten Years in a Suitcase" (a tenth anniversary celebration of the founding of The Houston Suitcase Theater at UH-Spring 2002), "Conversations with Madam C.J. Walker and Alexander Graham Bell" (Fall 1999), "I Am Not Tragically Colored: Performances by UH Women" (Spring 1999), "Performances by UH Women of Color" (Spring 1994).
THST also coordinates visits to the UH campus of nationally recognized minority playwrights, novelists, poets, and literary critics. Since 1992, a list of speakers includes Pulitzer Prize winners in drama Charles Gordone and Suzan-Lori Parks, as well as award winners Thomas Melancon, Denise Chavez, Douglas Turner Ward, Whitney LeBlanc, Amiri Baraka, bell hooks, Lorna Dee Cervantes, Aishah Rahman, Anita Bunkley, Ntozake Shange, Tess Onwueme, Violet Harrington Bryan, and Hazel Arnett Ervin.
Additionally, THST coordinates playwriting competitions and festivals of student written/performed plays. THST also coordinates field trips to museums, plays, films, etc. Occasionally, THST produces plays at off-campus locations as part of its commitment to community outreach. In some cases, THST tours with productions, such as the 2001 performances of La Bakair in several cities including New Orleans at a national convention. THST also coordinates undergraduate and graduate submissions of creative writing projects to national competitions. UH students twice have won first place in the College Language Association's Creative Writing Contest. THST coordinates monthly socials/potlucks for graduate and undergraduate students. In 2002, THST established Erzulie, an African dance troupe at UH. Houston area high school students have performed on occasion with Erzulie.
An organization such as THST is successful only if it has strong support. THST has been fortunate to have as its constant supporters the English Department, the Honors College , and the Women's Studies Program at the University of Houston. Other supporters include African American Studies, Mexican American Studies, and the Dean's Office. Occasionally, we have secured funding from corporate sources.
