Margarett Root Brown Chair in Fine Arts and Professor of Theatre Desiderio Roybal designed stage scenery for the production Little Women, presented April 16–26 at the Mary Moody Northen Theatre on the campus of St. Edward’s University in Austin. The production, written by Kate Hamill, is a fresh, fierce adaptation of the beloved classic, reimagined for a new generation–boldly exploring love, ambition, and the power of sisterhood.

Professor of Theatre Desiderio Roybal designed stage scenery and is the scenic charge artist for Magnolia Musical Theatre’s production of SpongeBob the Musical. This professional production is directed by Professor Emeritus of Theatre Rick Roemer, with technical direction by Scene Shop Manager Monroe Oxley. Students Ansh Tripathi ’28 and Yeva Tcharikova ’28 collaborated with Roybal and Oxley as academic interns in the fabrication and painting of scenery. Students Emma Hoover ’27, Olivia Hynes ’27, Piper Swisher ’27, and Emily Williams ’28 are scenic carpenters and painters. The production is running Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. from July 16 through August 16 at the Hill Country Galleria Pavilion in Bee Cave, TX. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair and their favorite beverage to be transported to Bikini Bottom for an unforgettable evening of entertainment featuring a talented cast and crew performing alongside a live orchestra.

Assistant Professor of Theatre Gabriel Peña, Scene Shop Supervisor Monroe Oxley, and Professor of Theatre Desiderio Roybal collaborated on Adam Gwan’s chamber musical, Ordinary Days, for Penfold Theatre. This intimate musical follows four individuals as they navigate the frantic energy of New York City. Audiences are invited to consider the beauty of the ordinary as the characters connect, fall apart, lose each other, and find themselves. Peña served as director, Oxley as technical director, and Roybal as scenic designer. SU theatre major Bethani Pedraza ’25 and theatre minor Yeva Tcharikova ’28 provided technical assistance. Penfold Theatre is a 501(c)(3) professional theatre company recently setting roots in Round Rock, TX after 15 years of producing theatre in the greater Austin area. The productions run February 7 – March 1 at their new permanent home in Round Rock. The trailer, tickets, and information about Penfold Theatre is available here.

Professor of Theatre Desiderio Roybal designed the scenery and stage properties for I’m Proud of You  by Tim Madigan. This production is a staged adaptation of Madigan’s novel, I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers. The play chronicles the true and extraordinary bond between Tim Madigan, a Texas author and reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and Fred Rogers, the iconic TV host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. This production will be the inaugural production in Penfold Theatre’s new and permanent theatre venue in Round Rock, TX. Roybal also served as a theatre consultant on the new venue, which will be the first professional theatre in Round Rock. The production showcases Professor Emeritus Rick Roemer and SU alumnus Zac Carr ’11 as actors. SU Scene Shop Manager Monroe Oxley is the Technical Director for this production. Additionally, the stage and seating risers were designed and constructed by Oxley using a build crew that included Connor Bustos ’26 and Ash Zunker ’25. The production runs October 4-26.

Professor of Theatre Desiderio Roybal served as a theatre staging and venue consultant for Penfold Theatre’s new home in Round Rock, TX. This is the first professional theatre venue in Round Rock. Penfold Theatre will open its 17th season and continues its mission of telling intimate stories of empathy and hope, curating performances by premier local artists, and nurturing theatremakers of today and tomorrow. The opening of this facility will also provide other performing artists access to affordable space at a time when venues are disappearing.