British International Theatre

For more than 20 years, the endowed British International Theatre (BRIT) Program has brought outstanding guest artists from the United Kingdom to the University of South Florida to work side by side with TheatreUSF students.

Available to theatre students by audition, the BRIT Program brings to USF three or more professional artists from the United Kingdom each spring semester. For six to eight weeks, theatre students work with these selected guest artists in masterclasses, workshops, or mainstage productions.

Professional directors and choreographers, leading actors in theatre, television and film, voice and speech experts and top-rate designers have all been guest teachers and artists-in-residence. These artists bring their knowledge and experience in British classical theatre and contemporary theatre to TheatreUSF students.

TheatreUSF will be forever grateful to BRIT founders Hinks and Elaine Shimberg, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, John and Lisel Gale and Dan Doyle, for both their vision and their financial support.

Current Productions

The 2021-2022 BRIT experience will bring in two teaching guest artists - Helen Tennison and Jema Hewitt.  Helen Tennison will teach a 5 week performace intensive with a public workshop showing as a final project and Jema Hewitt will teach an advanced theatre tech and design class, who will display their semester's work in the theatre lobby.  

Contributors

Mandell “Hinks” and Elaine Fantle Shimberg
Mr. Shimberg is Chairman of Shimberg-Cross Company. Since the early 70's, Mandell "Hinks" Shimberg has been active as a producer in London's West End Theatre and in both Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre. Elaine Fantle Shimberg is the author of more than a dozen non-fiction books. The Shimbergs are major supporters of education and the arts in the Tampa Bay area.

Sir Cameron Mackintosh
London, West End and Broadway producer of such major successes as Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Miss Saigon.

Dan Doyle
Significant Tampa Bay business leader and supporter of the arts and education.

John Gale, O.B.E., and Lisel Gale