New season for UAB Theatre, Children’s recognized for ECMO Center

UAB Department of Theatre announces new season of plays for 2022-23

Theatre UAB will present “A New Brain,” “Sense and Sensibility,” “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” “Sanctuary City,” and “Into the Woods” for its 2022-2023 season. This season, Musical Theatre student Cooper Ellis will co-direct “A New Brain,” and spring 2022 graduate Bailey Dumlao will direct “Sanctuary City.”

Oct. 12-16: “A New Brain.” From the Tony Award-winning authors of “Falsettos,” this energetic, sardonic, often comical musical is about a composer during a medical crisis. Directed by students Cooper Ellis and Roy Lightner, with musical direction by Carolyn Violi. Contains strong language and mature themes. Shows 7:30 p.m. nightly Oct. 12-15, and 2 p.m. Oct. 16, in the Alys Stephens Center’s Sirote Theatre. Tickets are $15 and $20; students $6; UAB employees and senior citizens $10.

Nov. 9-12 and Nov. 16-19: “Sense and Sensibility.” A playful new adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters — sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne — after their father’s sudden death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable. Directed by Santiago Sosa. Shows 7:30 p.m. nightly Nov. 9-12 and Nov. 16-18 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 19, in the Alys Stephens Center’s Odess Theatre. Tickets are $15; students $6; UAB employees and senior citizens $10.

Feb. 22-26, 2023: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.” Acclaimed as a modern dramatic masterpiece, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” is the inventive tale of Hamlet as told from the worm’s-eye view of the bewildered Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare’s play. Directed by Dennis McLernon. Shows 7:30 p.m. nightly Feb. 22-25 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 26, in the Alys Stephens Center’s Sirote Theatre. Tickets are $12 and $15; students $6; UAB employees and senior citizens $10.

March 6-10, 2023: “Sanctuary City.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok returns with an unforgettable account of two young immigrants fighting to establish a place for themselves and each other in America. Contains strong language and mature themes. Directed by 2022 Theatre UAB alumnus Bailey Dumlao. Shows 7:30 p.m. nightly, in the Alys Stephens Center’s Odessa Theatre. Tickets are $15; students $6; UAB employees and senior citizens $10.

April 12-16, 2023: “Into The Woods.” The Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. Contains mature themes. Some material may be disturbing to young audiences. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by James Lapine. Directed by Valerie Accetta, with musical direction by Carolyn Violi. Shows 7:30 p.m. nightly April 12-15 and at 2 p.m. April 16, in the Alys Stephens Center’s Sirote Theatre. Tickets are $15 and $20; students $6; UAB employees and senior citizens $10.

Theatre UAB is the performance company of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Theatre at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. To purchase tickets, call the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center Box Office at 205-975-2787.

Children’s of Alabama ECMO Center named Center of Excellence

The Children’s of Alabama Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Center recently earned a prestigious honor after an international organization dedicated to ECMO support recognized it as a Center of Excellence.

The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) recently awarded the Children’s ECMO Center with the ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support. ELSO named the Children’s center a Gold Level Center of Excellence.

“This is a remarkable achievement by our center, and I am proud of each team member’s contribution to this recognition,” Martha McBride, clinical coordinator of the Children’s ECMO Center, said. “As a Center of Excellence, we are recognized for an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing clinical care. I am extremely proud to work with such an outstanding, hardworking ECMO team!”

Children’s has been recognized as a Center of Excellence every year since 2013. ELSO announces Award for Excellence winners every three years, and Children’s is a Gold Level Center of Excellence for the second straight cycle.

Children’s started using its new ECMO machines in December 2021, and the ECMO Center has supported more than 30 patients with them so far. Children’s ECMO operations coordinator Jenny Ross led the implementation effort as the team completed its initial training on the new machines. Ross facilitated more than 100 additional hours of team training.

– Submitted by UAB University Relations.