A familiar face who won accolades for the University of St. Thomas-Houston dramatic arts has returned to do it again. UST’s new Associate Professor of Drama and Chair of the Department of Fine Arts, Drama and Dance, Eric Domuret, was the University’s assistant professor of Drama from 2012-2018. His St. Thomas production of “Pride and Prejudice,” which he adapted and directed, was named Best Houston Play of 2018 by Broadway World Houston. The following year, his “Bright Star” production won the TUTS Tommy Tune Awards for Best Musical and Best Direction.

Domuret earned his Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University in London. His Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre came from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. 

To his new position, he brings a passion for the classics, especially Shakespeare. Domuret also brings considerable skills and expertise as a professor, actor, director, fight choreographer and playwright back to UST. 

Drawing More Eyes to Drama

Growing the Drama program is one of his goals.

“I’d like to draw more eyes to what this program can give to its students,” Domuret said. “For instance, our students learn how to create a show and understand the entire process from getting a creative idea to getting on the keyboard to scenic design to set building to acting and marketing the show. Our students know how to do that.”

For the show marketing aspect, Domuret intends to teach his students to be strategic social media masters. Another goal is to teach his students how to manage a performance career.

He said, “Many of our UST students become educators. But for those who want a performing career, whether you want to be successful as a stage actor, voiceover actor or TV actor, you must know how to market yourself.”

Domuret’s own website is an excellent example of such marketing.

Broadening Creative Perspectives

He also envisions finding opportunities to broaden the creative perspectives of his students.

“When I was in college in London, we had individuals from different theatrical traditions come in and teach,” he recalled. “We even had traditional Māori dancers from New Zealand come in and show us how that tradition could influence theatre.”

A lifelong Catholic, he asserts that the Theatre Department embodies the UST mission beautifully.

“Theatre is the art that has the ability to express the good, the true, and the beautiful all at once. In the theatre we experience life as it is and as it can be.”

Domuret plans to do amazing shows at UST and the first will be Gershwin’s musical comedy, “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” performing from Oct. 19 – Nov. 4.