Across Both Decades and Genres, Kinkaid Alumni, Faculty and Staff Are Gifted in the Art of Storytelling

Across both decades and genres, Kinkaid alumni, faculty and staff are gifted in the art of storytelling. Whether in the form of film or music, literature or theater, photography or handcrafted art, Kinkaidians are continuously producing work to entice the senses and stir imaginations the world over. For years, audiences have reveled in Kinkaidians' creativity—and there's much more to come in 2010! Join us for a backstage pass to a few recent releases...

15 Film/TV Mike Akel Eric Ladin ‘97 Screenwriter, Director and Kinkaid’s Digital Actor Video & Filmmaking Teacher HIGHLAND PARK CHALK It’s hard to turn on a TV without seeing Eric Ladin in a commercial or guest Released in 2006, this fly-on-the-wall starring on popular TV shows such as AMC’s MAD MEN (as Betty Draper’s mockumentary, directed and co-written by indie brother), HBO’s BIG LOVE and TNT’s HAWTHORNE. In 2010, look for Ladin in filmmaker Mike Akel, is based on his classroom movie theatres as he plays Jessie in HIGHLAND PARK, a feature film about a experiences at Austin’s Travis High. CHALK is lottery pool of down-on-their-luck high school faculty members who win big. As told from an educator’s point of view, capturing a twist of fate teaches them that money doesn't buy everything, their winning the struggles of one group of high school faculty numbers prove to be the beginning, not the end, of their problems. members. The film’s deadpan humor is Spinal Tap meets The Office. It is the winner of the Grand Jury Award at the Independent Film Festival of Boston and Best Comedy Feature at Cinequest Film Festival. Akel’s next project is to Meg Marinis ‘02 adapt a short story written by English teacher Mark Pearson into a screenplay. Screenwriter GREY'S ANATOMY To complement our doctors' exhausting shifts, Director of Medical Research Meg Marinis continues to ensure that difficult, rare, and comedic medical Ross Dinerstein ‘97 cases keep coming through those hospital doors. Somebody has to make sure Film Producer McDreamy looks good! Loving that she can wear jeans and cowboy boots MISSION BLACKLIST & THE FALLOUT everyday at the office, Marinis feels so grateful to have a job that combines Ross Dinerstein, is producing two big films in 2010. THE FALLOUT starring Seann writing AND television—her two favorite things in the world since she was seven William Scott and Melissa George and to be directed by Xavier Gens, is a high years old. An avid reader and job-induced hypochondriac, Marinis loves to curl concept-post apocalyptic thriller that opens with pandemonium and a chaotic up with magazines that chronicle the latest ailments. Got anything good? She sprint towards the basement of a New York apartment building, just moments would love to hear it. before the city outside is decimated and MISSION BLACKLIST, the true story of the courageous interrogator that caught Saddam Hussein to be written by the Emmy winning writer of BAND OF BROTHERS. Ross’s latest films POWDER BLUE and THE KILLING ROOM (Official Selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival) Shawn Nacol ‘88 are out on cable and on DVD. Playwright, Screenwriter & Director Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Shawn Nacol writes fast and excels under deadlines, which is quite obvious from his list of 2010 projects-in-progress. “I’ve got [script projects] tumbling around in my head...like sneakers in the dryer Erika Green ‘90 waiting for the buzzer to go off.” In his spare time, he teaches literature to gifted Screenwriter, Storyteller, & Performer kids at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn. THE MENTALIST Erika Green is the story editor on a staff of savvy writers who create witty PHOTO OP phrases and twisting storylines for a show about a former stage psychic who PHOTO OP is a dark comedic short about uses his skills of perception and misdirection to help the California Bureau of two deranged paparazzi who wish on a Investigation. With the show since its debut, Green spends most of her time in fallen starlet and steal her corpse to snap the “mysterious” writers’ room, where they improve upon ideas for plotlines, the shot that will guarantee tabloid gold. story arcs and world domination. Green also is able to shepherd her individual Nacol wrote and directed this film, which episodes (from Season 1: Blood Brothers, Scarlett Fever and Red-Handed) will hit the festival circuit in 2010. It was through the production process from filming to air. Last year, the show won the edited by fellow Kinkaid alumnus Vince award for "Favorite New TV Drama" at the 35th People's Choice Awards. Filippone ’89.

NETHER REGIONS Blending comedy and suspense, NETHER REGIONS is about a young woman who David Hornsby ‘94 is trapped in Prague and hunted by a ring of Esoterrorists. This thriller is working Television and Film Actor & Screenwriter its way onto the silver screen, but first, Nacol's screenplay has been adapted as a IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA comic series and graphic novel, which will kick off in July. Next fall, tune into David Hornsby’s sixth season of IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA on FX. Hornsby helps to run, write and sometimes act in the ROUGH SKETCH irreverent series that follows the exploits of "The Gang," a group of self-centered, In this comedy about the business of entertaining kids, two animators at Doodle misanthropic friends who run Paddy's Pub, a relatively unsuccessful Irish bar Ranch Studios sneak into work over the holidays. There, they discover romance, in South Philadelphia. Hornsby is also the voice of Fanboy on the Nickelodeon ruin and the ragged outline of a real relationship – and the art of changing the Saturday morning cartoon FANBOY AND CHUM CHUM. Hornsby jokes that in his world a mind at a time. Nacol’s play opens Off Broadway in January. spare time he is “aiming to qualify for the 2010 World Series of Poker, but that's kind of a pipe dream.”

16 Books Roy Flukinger ‘65 Mimi Killinger ‘84 Senior Research Curator of Photography The Rezendes Preceptor for the Arts in the at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Honors College at the University of Maine Center at the University of Texas at Austin THE GOOD LIFE OF HELEN K. NEARING FRITZ HENLE, Mimi Killinger has written the first comprehensive IN SEARCH OF BEAUTY biography of Helen Nearing (1904-1995). Helen and her Curator Roy Flukinger edited and provided text husband Scott Nearing were well-known American for this retrospective of Fritz Henle’s amazing back-to-the-landers who wrote extensively about career. A contributor to such magazines as Life their experience living what they termed "the good and Harper’s Bazaar, Henle had a distinctive style life." Killinger examines Helen’s spiritual formation as a that was characterized by a unique combination of the realistic and the romantic. member of the early-20th-century Theosophical Society, Flukinger’s prologue and commentary illustrate why Henle’s photography her complex relationship to socialist Scott Nearing, and continues to be recognized for its artistry, eloquence and insightfulness. Flukinger their lives together, first in New York City and later as pioneer homesteaders. A has produced nearly 50 exhibitions ranging from classical photohistory to self-professed chronic learner, Killinger has pursued degrees in English, theology, contemporary photography, and from photographer’s retrospectives to American, religion and literature, as well as history. Helen Nearing was her dissertation topic regional and Texas photography. for her PhD in 20th century US history at the University of Maine. She expanded the dissertation to create this book, which was published in 2007.

John J. Germann Kinkaid History Department Chair Charlie Scott Poet & Kinkaid English Teacher Myron R. Janzen SO MUCH FOR BORDERS Former Kinkaid Math Teacher & Charlie Scott published his first full-length book of poetry titled SO MUCH Head of Maintenance FOR BORDERS in the summer of 2009. The book features a collection of TEXAS POST OFFICES BY COUNTY Scott’s poetry as recent as 2005 and as old as the 1980s. It also includes a Texas History buffs will want to add the TEXAS photo introducing Part II of the book by upper school English teacher Warren POST OFFICES BY COUNTY CD-ROM to their Rawson. Scott’s poems have appeared in such magazines and journals as The collection. It’s a product of 30 years’ effort by Antioch Review, The New Republic, Gulf Coast and The Poetry Miscellany. A John J. Germann and Myron R. Janzen that book of correspondences and poems entitled THE WORLD AS MEDITATION, in has just now been published. It identifies every independent civilian post office collaboration with friend Anthony Barilla, will be published in 2010. that ever existed in Texas from the Spanish era to the present. All are pinpointed on 255 county maps (including Greer County), complete with the railroads and waterways which were vital to the establishment of the communities that these offices served. The origins of the Post Office names are supplied, where identifiable, along with the names of all of the postmasters for each office to date, plus a sketch of each county’s history. There are also extensive state files of every postmaster (62,000 entries) and every post office (10,500 entries) in the Music history of Texas. Sarah Bunk Middle School Band Teacher A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS Katherine Howe ‘95 Sarah Bunk and Holly Wilson, a private piano instructor and accompanist, have Author, Ph.D. candidate in American and New formed a classical music ensemble called Duo Semplice. They released a holiday England Studies at Boston University CD last year entitled A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS, which is an original collection THE PHYSICK BOOK of holiday favorites featuring beautiful melodies presented with refreshing OF DELIVERANCE DANE simplicity. They also actively perform in recitals throughout the state. Howe’s first novel, which debuted at #2 on the New York Times Bestseller List, tells the story of one woman's discovery of her own connection to the Salem witch trials. Howe’s own ancestors provided Pamela Hay ‘95 inspiration for the book: they settled in Essex County, Soprano Opera Singer Massachusetts in the 1620s, stayed there through Hailed as “impressive” by the London Evening Standard, Pamela Hay is in the 20th century and included Elizabeth Proctor, who constant demand, nationally and internationally. In 2010, Hay will continue to sing survived the Salem witch trials, and Elizabeth Howe, who did not. Howe was in operas, concerts and recitals in London and beyond. She will start the year a visiting author at this year’s Book Fair and an honored guest at an alumni making her debut with symphony orchestras in London, Oxford and Birmingham, event this fall (see page 35). The paperback edition of the novel will be singing repertoire ranging from Mozart concert arias to Viennese operetta to published in April. Bernstein. Later in the year she will continue her affiliation with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and in November will sing for the prestigious Poppy Ball in central London. She also will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth with a series of recitals of Polish music.

17 Theatre ARt J.J. Johnston ‘95 Wylie Sofia Garcia ‘98 Robert Lemus ‘95 Textile Artist Justin Lake ‘95 Wylie Sofia Garcia creates topographic structures and threaded seismographs Executive Artistic Director & Board Members that illustrate her human experience. Her pieces start with free-associative CLASSICAL THEATRE COMPANY stitch-work that eventually become more complex and sophisticated, whether J.J. Johnston has returned to Houston and, with the it’s a textile, a fabric sculpture or a couture dress. In January 2010, she will show aid of several other Kinkaidians, founded the only professional theatre company several pieces in a group exhibit called the SURREALIST SALON at Baton Rouge in the city that produces year-round classical drama. In only its second season, Gallery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In June, she will set up an installation at Beaulah Gallery in Olema, California. CTC has been incredibly well received. The Houston Chronicle said, “...this young company lives up to its mission of ‘boldly re-envisioning classical drama’” while the Houston Press states, “They produce energetic, well-done work few other small companies would dare attempt.” Their 2009-2010 season includes ONE MAN HAMLET, based on the play by William Shakespeare, Angélique Jamail Jewelry Designer, Poet & Kinkaid and TARTUFFE by Molière. Creative Writing Teacher Jewelry design is one of many creative outlets for Kinkaid’s creative writing teacher Angélique Jamail. She incorporates natural Brian Ogilvie ‘00 elements into much of her work, including Actor, Singer Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS freshwater pearls, abalone and other shells, natural gemstones and sterling silver. Brian Ogilvie was busy in 2009 spreading holiday cheer in Irving Berlin's WHITE Additionally, she has published two books of CHRISTMAS, the story of two showbiz buddies putting on a show in a picturesque poetry. GYPSIES is a loosely plot-driven collection of poems about jumping off Vermont inn and finding their perfect mates in the bargain. Ogilvie played the role from traditional toeholds and clinging to the air around you until you find a new of Jimmy and covered the lead role of Phil Davis. Still looking for holiday cheer? niche. BAREFOOT ON MARBLE: TWENTY POEMS is orphan poetry, mermaid lit, The tour will be in Louisville, Kentucky from January 1-3 and in Kansas City, lovers better left unmet and moments of great undoing. Missouri from January 5-10.

NATIONAL MFA PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL Ogilvie and his wife Dana also will be participating in the National MFA Playwrights Festival, produced by Theatre Masters in Aspen, Colorado in Lindsay Peyton Artist, Kinkaid Visual Arts Studio Assistant January. Each year, Theater Masters partners with ten of the nations’ leading Lindsay Peyton's works in oil, pastels, charcoal and other media have been universities with MFA Playwriting programs and selects one ten-minute play from featured in galleries, arts festivals and gathering places in and near Houston. This a student at each university. The plays are produced with professional directors April, her art will be featured at a joint exhibition entitled PLYWOOD with furniture and actors. This is the Ogilvies’ fourth year to participate. designer Michael Garman at Canal Street Gallery. The show will feature his furniture designs made out of plywood and her paintings on plywood. Rusty Ross ‘91 Actor SOUTH PACIFIC Kate Petley ’72 Artist Veteran stage performer Rusty Ross is “The Kate Petley has an impressive resume of public commissions and installations Professor” in the first national tour of Rodgers & that broadly describe a personal experience of location and light. Her public Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC. Described as a commissions include a 62 feet x 9 feet handmade interior wall titled AIR DROPS stunning reinvention produced by Lincoln Center at Bush Intercontinental Airport and large-scale digital photographs at the UCLA Theatre, SOUTH PACIFIC swept the 2008 Tony Hospital, Santa Monica, California. She currently has work in a solo exhibition at Awards®, winning seven honors including Best The Nicolaysen Museum in Casper, Wyoming, titled THE SPACES IN BETWEEN. Musical Revival and Best Director. Ross reports that The exhibit will run until mid-April. he enjoys being on national tours. “There's a certain something about finishing a performance at eleven o'clock on a Sunday night and reopening Tuesday in another city a thousand miles away that provides an adrenaline rush Holly Veselka ‘99 to say the very least!” For Houstonians, the tour will be performing in the Painter Hobby Center March 9 - 21. An emerging artist with an MFA from Boston University, Holly Veselka had a painting selected for the exhibition CELEBRATE TEXAS ART 2010, sponsored by the Assistance League of Houston. The group show was juried by John Zarobell, the Assistant Curator of Painting and Sculpture at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The show will be held in the Williams Tower Gallery, January 14 through February 19.

Are you a Kinkaid artist? Please let the Office of Advancement know about your current and upcoming projects, exhibitions or publications. We are hosting an ongoing list of our community’s work on the Kinkaid website. Send us an email at [email protected]. For more information about these artists and their work, please visit www.kinkaid.org/magazine.