STAGES the Annual Theatre Circle and Alumni Newsletter - Fall 2015 Indiana University Department of Theatre, Drama, + Contemporary Dance

STAGES The Annual Theatre Circle and Alumni Newsletter - Fall 2015 Indiana University Department of Theatre, Drama, + Contemporary Dance

Musical Theatre Students Learn From Broadway Royalty

On April 7, 2015, the department was treated to a master class Emily Kelly (BFA ’16): I sang “Changing My Major” from Fun given by Audra McDonald, prior to her giving a concert that Home because I thought it would be a good acting exercise with evening at the IU Auditorium. McDonald is the premiere musical Audra. It’s a very important song: it shows Alison Bechdel as a col- theatre performer of her generation, having proven her versatility lege freshman, the morning after she has sex for the first time, with and talent with a record-setting six Tony awards for acting, includ- a girl. It’s a very special thing when a young girl finally feels so coming one in each of the categories for plays and musicals, leading and fortable in her own skin, is falling in love and, despite her fears and featured roles. McDonald’s master class was exhilarating to watch. the other complications in her life, finds pure joy in looking back at I asked the four BFA Musical Theatre students about their experi- one night she shared with this girl. ences with this legend. Samantha Mason (BFA ’15): I chose “No One Else” from Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. As soon as I heard it, I felt an immediate connection to the piece. It felt like a piece of literature: It’s like having a little treasure hunt because I can go into the song to discover new bits of information about what the character is feeling in that moment. Also, I chose it because not very many people had heard it before or knew the show it was from (little did I know that Audra was planning on singing it in her concert!). Audra has been probably my top influence in musical theatre since I was in kindergarten. I even wrote a fan letter to her when I was in fifth grade!

What was it like to work with Audra Mc- Donald?

Christian: She was wonderful! From the mo- Accompanist Ray Fellman looks on as Audra McDonald coaches Christian Fary through “Safe”. ment she walked in she put a sense of ease over the room. I was still extremely nervous What song did you sing and why did you choose it? to work with her but she made it feel like a safe place to completely fall on your face. Elaine Cotter (BFA ‘16): I sang “I Don’t Know What I’d Do With- out You” from A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder because it is Samantha: She had such a calming presence, which was great be- comedic and fun and I wanted to get some tips from Audra about cause I expected to be a lot more nervous than I was. I think that comedic timing because I think she executed it wonderfully. because she was so comfortable around us, we each were able to reciprocate that level of comfort. Christian Fary (BFA ’17): I chose “Safe” from Hello Again because it is a little edgy and it pushes me as a performer. The song talks Emily: Working with her was even better than I imagined. She about wanting to find someone who you can lean on in times of knew how nervous we were and was so warm and comforting, I felt trouble in your life. The character is living a destructive lifestyle and like everyone else in the room disappeared and it was just us playing this is a moment of truth that he has. with the scene. It was pretty amazing for (continued on p. 12) INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE

1. Eriko Terao 32. Samuel Barkley 2. Johna Sewell 33. Sarah TeKolste 3. Meghan Goodman 34. Iris Dauterman 4. Samantha Mason 35. Katie Landrum 5. Markus McClain 36. Jennifer Smith 6. Christopher Rhoton 37. Payne Banister 7. Sandra Everett 38. Megan Gray 8. Andrea Ball 39. Allison Marra 9. Katie Gruenhagen 40. Claire Drews 10. Nathaniel Robbins 41. Sydney Harmon 11. Abigail Bartish 42. Mante Baliutaviciute 12. Kelsey Shaw 43. Jacob Halbleib 13. Madeline Shea Baldwin 44. Charlotte Twitchell 14. Luke Denison 45. Kathryn Hammett 15. Amelia Heintzelman 46. Krista Zozulia 16. Cathleen Brumback 47. Christopher Rohrer 17. Cassandra Alexander 48. Katherine Hershberger 18. Maya Ferrario 49. Katelyn Hurst 19. Robert Heller 50. Alexandria Criss 20. Lily Walls 51. Zachary Decker 21. Caitlin Diekhoff 52. Shane Zechariah Conrad 22. Shelby Reed Our Newest Alumni: The Class of 2015 23. Jessica Evans 24. Lucia Xiaoran Zhu Not Pictured Ryan Galloway Mara Lefler Kelsey Shaffer 25. Leah Fournier Justin Bennet Michael Gonzalez Jeffrey Lindquist Bradley Shaw 26. Brittany Greene Stacy Brewer Emily Harpe Haley McElwee Daniel Shefer 27. Alyssa Condotti Braden Cleary Aaron Hartman Brittney Patikas Claire Stebbins 28. Sarah Schikora Samantha Driver Anna Hashizume Shelby Plummer Danielle Steg 29. Frances Levenson-Campanale Connor Ebbinghouse Jensen Davis Stephanie Price Nicholas Sweet 30. Austin Wilson Catherine Fisher Mindi Kirsch Ella Rosenfeld Zach Trinkle 31. David Gordon-Johnson Alejandro Fonseca Joshua Krause Savannah Serban

PAGE 2 l FALL 2015 STAGES Department News Former IU student Jonathan Banks helps dedicate new Media School Jonathan Banks (EX’68) visited Blooming- ceremony at Franklin Hall: ton in October 2014 as part of IU’s Home- coming Weekend festivities. While on “This school, specifically the theater and campus he spoke in a private session with cinema, has been my life. I owe so much Theatre students and was interviewed by more to you and I need you so much more Jonathan Michaelsen at a standing-room- than you will ever need me. I am honored to only public session held in the IU Cinema. be here. I can only wish you well.” As a testament to what a good person he really is, Banks personally greeted all of the His closing piece of advice to the under- guests outside of the IU Cinema who graduate and graduate Theatre students as- arrived after the seats were filled. sembled in the Studio Theatre was a nugget Also during his visit, Banks participated of wisdom collected from his 40-plus years in the Homecoming parade and spoke at in the business: the inauguration of the Media School. He shared some thoughts on IU during that “Be kind, don’t lie.”

Murray McGibbon wins New Frontiers Grant for an Original Pronunciation King Lear to end the year

In May 2016, Murray McGibbon’s King Shakespeare’s King Lear in original pronun- O.P. He also met with Giles Block, author Lear Project will be mounted in the Wells- ciation (O.P.). McGibbon traveled to Eng- of Speaking the Speech, at the Royal Shake- Metz Theatre. This production is made land during his 2013-14 sabbical, where he speare Company. This will be the first time possible by an IU New Frontiers grant. met with David Crystal the world’s foremost King Lear has been staged in the original McGibbon was awarded the grant to create authority on O.P. and his son Ben Crystal, pronunciation since 1606. an original, experimental production of an actor who has originated many roles in

Contemporary Dance Legend Twyla Tharp presented President’s Medal for Excellence

Indiana University President Michael performed at the IU Audito- McRobbie awarded the President’s Medal rium. for Excellence to the Indiana native at a dinner in her honor in October. Members of Tharp’s company led a master class for IU Tharp was recognized for her extraor- Contemporary Dance students, and Tharp spoke in a Q&A dinary merit and achievement in the arts session to students from both the during her stop in Bloomington on the 50th Contemporary Dance and anniversary tour of her dance company. The Musical Theatre programs in the 2015 performance of Twyla Tharp Dance Wells-Metz Theatre during the marks foutth time Ms. Tharp’s company has tour stop.

President Michael McRobbie with Twyla Tharp at the presentation dinner.

IU Contemporary Dance students performing choreography taught by Twyla Tharp Dance company members during master class.

PAGE 3 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE The Road to Research... Needs Money Dr. Jennifer Goodlander, Assistant Professor of History, Theory, and Literature, explains a bit about the process of seeking research funding for her scholarly research. My research often requires me to travel in order to experience theatre and cultures on the other side of the globe. In order to complete this work—I am often seeking grants and fellowships. I learned in graduate school the importance of planning early and applying often—just like an actor, a would- be scholar must embrace rejection. Next year – my book, Women in the Shadows: Gender, Puppets, and the Power of Tradition in Bali will be published by Ohio University Press. This research was part of my dissertation and received funding from a Fulbright Fellowship to Indonesia. It was an exciting process to revise and rethink those ideas. But, now it is time to start planning for my next project. I love to travel; I love Southeast Asia; and many of the puppet forms in this region of the world share histories and aesthetics. I am working on a book that examines how puppet performance articulates national, Assistant Professor Jennifer Goodlander with puppeteers from Indonesia. cultural, and regional identity in different Asia as part of the Association for Southeast The entire applicationwas due in October... cities around Southeast Asia. I received a Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebration. but it is an honor to make it this far. Doing Mellon Innovating International Research Next summer I need time to write and research requires funding—but applying for and Teaching Short-Term Faculty Research synthesize all of this research. I also want grants gives me an opportunity to talk about Award from IU—this gave me funding to to examine how social media is being used my research and ideas early in the process. spend time in Indonesia, Cambodia, and by puppet companies and artists to share Like auditioning, it is a chance to try out Singapore. Last winter, I spent a month in their work and ideas about identity. I have ideas and take risks. If you never audition Thailand as part of a faculty exchange at applied for summer funding through the you will never get cast—and it is important Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. A National Endowment for the Humanities – for scholars to learn early in their careers, if small grant from the Center for Southeast the first part of this process was an internal they never apply they will never receive the Asian Studies at IU funded a week in Jakarta competition here at IU (each university may support needed for exciting research. Indonesia to take part in a collaboration be- only submit two applications for this presti- tween puppet artists from all over Southeast gious award). I was delighted to be selected! - Jennifer Goodlander MFA Designers win big at SETC

Each year, the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) invites theatre actors, singers, dancers, designers, technicians, stage managers, directors, playwrights, teachers, students, professionals, and academicians to gather together in celebration of the art of theatre. The annual convention brings members of the theatre community together for a weekend of workshops, keynotes, performance festivals, auditions, recruiting, interviews, and competitions.

The 2015 SETC Conference took place in Chatanooga last March, and our M.F.A. Design students had a very good trip to Tennessee. Kristen Martino (MFA candidate ’16 - pictured far right) won 3rd place for her scenic design of In the Red and Brown Water, Katie Gruenhagen (MFA ’15 - center) won 2nd place for her lighting design of Romeo & Juliet, plus received a “Ready To Work” award to design an upcoming production at Omaha Stage. And finally,Chris Rhoton (MFA ’15 - far left) won first place for his scenic design ofInto the Woods.

PAGE 4 l FALL 2015 STAGES Conferences are Cool!

M.A. and Ph.D. students in theatre are the country and beyond. Last fall, Andres van and drove to Kansas City, Missouri to often asked, “What is it you do?” Unlike Lopez, Miriam Poole, and Sarah Campbell attend the Mid-America Theatre Confer- actors, designers, and directors, our work is presented their joint panel “Constructing ence, meeting up with several alumni of not as apparent. Celebrity” at the Midwest Popular Culture the department as well. Deana and Josh Well, one thing theatre scholars do is to Association conference in Indianapolis. presented papers in the Theatre History present their work at academic conferences. Assistant Professor Jennifer Goodlander and symposium, Sarah served as a dramaturg If this sounds like a trip to the dentist’s several Ph.D. students attended the Ameri- to a new 10-minute play in the Playwriting office, it’s really not. M.A. student Susan- can Society for Theatre Research Conference Symposium, and I presented a paper in the nah Stengel described them as “a warm and in Baltimore in November. Sarah Campbell Theatre Pedagogy symposium and had a lively platform upon which to share your achieved a great coup here: as a first-time 10-minute play performed at the Playwriting ideas with colleagues in the field of theatre.” presenter, her paper was chosen for a plena- symposium’s Fringe Festival. A highlight for In December 2014, our department ry session. She presented “‘Rituals in Stone’: the group was Dr. Irma Mayorga’s no-holds- hosted its third graduate symposium in Negotiating the Meanings of Monumental barred discussion of diversity and cultural theatre. Over the course of a weekend, Eric Constructions through Notions of Perfor- competency in theatre practice and educa- C. Heaps and Sarah Campbell coordinated mance” alongside two renowned scholars, tion today. A week later, Ph.D. students Eric a myriad of paper presentations, perfor- David Savran and Andrew Sofer, as well C Heaps, Bridget Sundin, and I attended mances, and a keynote address from Brazil- as another graduate student from North- the Comparative Drama Conference in Bal- ian playwright and scholar Lucienne Guedes western. Sarah said, “I was nervous about timore. The airline lost my carry-on luggage Fahrer. The symposium extended beyond presenting my work in front of a room full (!) but I got it back just in time to present just this department’s scholars - graduate of theatre scholars (including former IU my paper. and undergraduate designers, actors, and professor Marvin Carlson!), but the presen- Jihay Park traveled to Galway, Ireland directors from IU as well as visiting scholars tation went really well. After the presenta- over the summer to present her paper “Still/ who traveled from as far away as Texas tion both Savran and Sofer congratulated moving: Blending the Archive and the joined in the eclectic discussion of what me on my presentation and my research.” Repertoire” at the Performing the Archive theatre is and can be. In March, Joshua Robinson, Sarah Conference. Jihay noted, “The speakers were In addition, IU’s grad students have Campbell, and I as well as 2014 Doctorate amazing! Hearing about the latest projects presented their work extensively around Deana Nichols piled into the department they are pursuing was inspiring. The conference was packed with people from various backgrounds and profes- sions from across Europe, South Africa, America, Asia, academics, librarians, archivists, etc.” Also this summer, Eric C. Heaps and Whit Emerson attended the Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference in Montreal. Whit presented on using theatre to teach Chinese speakers American English and on a new Chinese Hua Ju play he translated from Chinese to Eng- lish at the Association for Asian Performance pre-conference. Eric reunited with his long-standing conference colleagues and served as Electronic Communications Co-Chair for the Dramaturgy Fo- cus Group and Graduate Student Representative for the Latino/a Focus Group.

- Joe Stollenwerk

Current and former PhD students (L-R): Emmy Kreilkamp, Joshua Robinson, Jeff Grace, Joe Stollenwerk, Sarah Campbell, Tom Robson, Deana Nichols, and Neal Utterback.

PAGE 5 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE In Memoriam

Howard Jensen University of California Davis in 1969; following year Howard was cast in Othello, There are many things that Marion and I and his Ph. D. from Wayne State in 1972. as, believe it or not, Othello. And the next will always remember about Howard. And During his early college years he pursued year he returned to the Utah Shakespearean I know there are many things you too will a degree in English with a possible minor Festival to play Malvolio in 12th Night. Not always remember. But I would like to share in Journalism or Drama. His aim, he once bad for an undergraduate who started out with you some of the things that never ap- said, was to teach English, Speech, and pursuing a degree in English. peared in his resume, some things not really Drama in a high school. Eventually, maybe, In 1970 Howard received a graduate as- related to his work as a teacher or director at a college. In fact, he actually did teach sistantship as an actor at the Hilberry in the Department of Theatre and Drama. English in a Jr. High School in Salt Lake Theatre at Wayne State and in 1972 was Rather, some other more personal things City in 1964-65. finishing up his Ph.D. And, in 1972 we that Marion and I learned about Howard His academic career at Davis was inter- were looking for a teacher of acting and a … from Howard; and some things we director to fill out a faculty line in our learned about Howard from his family. newly created Department of The- Howard grew up in Redmond, atre and Drama; so I called Leonard Utah, an area known for its salt mines Leone at Wayne State and asked him and coal mines. He was the sixth child if he had anyone he might recom- in a family of seven children. The first mend. Leonard suggested I look at a five children in the Jensen family were “brilliant young actor/director by the girls, the last two boys. The sixth child name of Howard Jensen.” So Howard born was Howard and the seventh, was invited down for an interview. born several years later, was his brother In those days Marion and I would Dale. host a reception at our house so the His father worked as a timber man faculty and staff could get to meet in a coal mine. His job was to erect new candidates in an informal situa- timbers to reinforce the walls and roofs tion. When Howard arrived we had of mine shafts. He was killed when a a John Denver record playing softly shaft collapsed. Howard was just seven in the background. We had known years old, and he once said that the about John Denver, the musician and most vivid memory of his childhood activist who lived outside Minneapolis was the cry of his mother when she during the years we lived in Minne- was told that her husband (Howard’s sota. We liked his music; and we espe- father) had been killed. Veda never cially liked the things he supported. remarried. She raised seven children Howard arrived and during most by herself, and made ends meet by of the evening did not exhibit much working in a grocery store. And the vitality. In fact there was some ques- children also worked. Howard worked tion as to whether or not he could do what needed to be done in the every day after school as a paperboy Howard Jensen and later as a janitor at his high production program. But we hired school. rupted during the Viet Nam war and he him. Some years later I told Howard that As a child and throughout his entire life, spent two years in the Army in the Military we originally had some reservations about Howard loved dogs. Some of you will re- Police. I once asked him how or why he hiring him. Howard replied, “Well, I had member his dog, Mickey; well his first early became an MP. “Simple,” he said. “I was some reservations about joining a depart- childhood dog was also named Mickey. Un- big, so they made me an “MP.” ment headed by a chair who plays John fortunately, unbeknownst to Howard, child- His career in the theatre began while he Denver music.” hood Mickey loved to chase and kill sheep, was still a student at the College of Southern One final recollection. As most of you and had to be put down. His father did this Utah. In 1962 the College of Southern Utah know, before he became ill, Howard, Mari- one day while Howard was at school. When launched the Utah Shakespearean Festival on and I would frequently go to London to he came home, they told Howard that Theatre in Cedar City, Utah. The purpose catch the season. We selected the plays by Mickey was gone … some sailors had stolen was to introduce Shakespeare to a wide listing those plays that we must see, those Mickey. It was not until Howard was in his range of people and provide students with that we should see, and those that we will teens that it occurred to him that there were opportunities to work outside an academic see if we have time. Sometime during the no sailors in Utah. environment. middle 80’s the three of us went to London, Howard’s educational career began in the One of the plays in that first season was and Marion and I during the planning College of Southern Utah, then he trans- Hamlet; and a young student by the name of process decided we wanted to see Derek ferred to the University of Utah where he Jensen who had just finished his sophomore Jacobi in a play at the National Theatre. received his BA in 1964; his MA from the year was cast in Hamlet, as Hamlet. The Now Howard was never very fond of Derek

PAGE 6 l FALL 2015 STAGES

Thor Steingraber (BA ‘88), Chris Tickner (BA ‘89), Prof. Dale McFadden, and Andy Sokoloff (MFA ‘91) Jacobi, but he humored us. We went to the helped shape the lives of many of us; and in would cause great distress! As a director, play, but at the end of the first act Howard the case of Marion and myself … for over Howard was completely invested in making left and went back to our flat. 40 years. certain that the audience would be 100% We arrived back at our flat later that May he rest in peace … and may his engaged in the storytelling and any piece evening, and I asked Howard if anyone said high standards of artistic excellence be that fell short was less than worthy of the anything on his way out of the theatre. He remembered and carried on by you … the stage. Howard never chose plays that were said, “Yes, the girl at the coat check counter people he touched during his illustrious ‘easy’ or ‘simple’. career. In working with Howard, you knew you – R. Keith Michael would need to go above and beyond. Re- ally, you wanted to. Howard expected me “You always knew that to push my own creative problem solving Howard had a detailed and pas- skills and see what I could do. sionate connection to the play At Howard’s retirement, I had written he was directing, and this sensi- down a quote for him, it is from one of bility was one of his admirable his favorite authors, Anton Chekhov. It is traits as a person.” a partial quote from a letter Chekhov had “Sensitive, compassionate, written to his brother about writing. As and opinionated, Howard was someone who had the honor of collaborat- the artistic conscience of the ing several times with Howard, I think Department, and I am fortu- this quote expresses the beauty of how he nate to have worked with him worked. for many years.” “I miss our conversations at Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the Howard’s home about the films glint of light on broken glass. he had watched, the books he was reading, and the state of Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) the world large and small. But – Linda Pisano there is a trove of memories to Janet Allen (MA ’79) and Michael Connolly (PhD ’86) draw upon, and for that I and For Those Wishing To Make offering a remembrance of Howard at the April 4 service at others are grateful.” the Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center. A Memorial Donation in – Dale McFadden Howard Jensen’s Memory Questions and inquiries may be directed to asked if I was ill.” “And what did you say?” Howard demanded, in the most generous the attention of: “I said, yes! Derek Jacobi always makes me way, that you step up to the plate in your Sue Sgambelluri ill.” work. As a designer I never wanted to Director of Development Howard’s last few years were difficult, disappoint him because I knew my work Direct: (812) 856-3360 but thanks to friends and especially Allison needed to be worthy of his work. A detail FAX: (812) 856-1105 and other people, he died in comfort. oriented director, even the cue called a E-Mail: [email protected] He was a dear friend who shared and beat too late, like a phone or doorbell ring,

PAGE 7 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE In Memoriam

Fontaine Syer became quick friends, and not too long after joined our hearts to begin an extraordinary When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder journey of love. She was the real deal, the If I have made of my life something genuine article, and the world has become particular, and real. far less interesting without her in it. She I don’t want to find myself would pooh-pooh that notion, of course, sighing or frightened but for me it’s a profound truth. She was my or full of argument. best friend, my biggest booster (one of her favorite words), my most trusted confi- I don’t want to end up simply having dante, my light, my love… my pal. I feel visited this world. her presence around me everywhere these days, and that is some measure of comfort ~ From When Death Comes as I navigate my own grief. But I also see by Mary Oliver ~ her and hear her, in the eyes and words of her family, her dearest friends, her many To know Fontaine or to spend any sig- colleagues, and of course her students, when nificant time with her was to be engaged they might speak of her. And it is always in with a bright, articulate, formidable energy those moments that I feel her the strongest. and a mind that was passionately focused For she left an indelible impact, one that on the work at hand - whatever that hap- is still rippling out like a beautiful stone pened to be. If you had her attention, it dropped into a pond. It washes over each usually meant that you were worth it. In the of us still, and we are all the richer for it. All months since her passing at the end of May, that she ever was to us who knew her and Fontaine from the IRT production of The Year of MagicalThinking , 2010. I have been continually struck by the enor- loved her, she still is. For it is within us now mity of her circle of friends and colleagues, that she resides. take you to page displaying your giving and the impact that she had on their lives In the end, Fontaine Syer did indeed options. Click on MAKE A GIFT. In the over the years. From her students and col- make of her life something particular and WRITE IN GIFT AREA box, please enter leagues here at IU, to her many professional real. She did not end up simply having vis- “Syer Fellowship” and click ADD WRITE colleagues and friends around the country, ited this world. She left it… changed. May IN GIFT. Then follow the prompts to enter to her intimate family and closest friends, we all be so blessed when our own accounts your contact information, gift amount, and to have obtained Fontaine’s friendship and are called to balance. payment method. The IU Foundation will confidence felt like a kind of stamp of ap- – Henry Woronicz send you a receipt for tax purposes within proval, a validation that you were on the one to two weeks. right wavelength, heading in the right direc- For Those Wishing To Make tion. Because we all learned that she did not A Memorial Donation To Make Your Gift via Check: suffer fools gladly, nor give her friendship An initial gift from Henry Woronicz lightly. You had to earn it. But once you did, established, the Fontaine Syer Directing Checks may be made payable to the you were golden. Fellowship in Theatre at Indiana University “Indiana University Foundation” and sent in October 2015. It is to honor the memory to the following address: of his longtime partner and to celebrate Office of Advancement her life and work. A nationally recognized College of Arts & Sciences theatre artist, Fontaine had a lifelong belief Owen Hall – 3rd Floor in the transformative power of the theatre 790 East Kirkwood Avenue and a particular passion for training and Bloomington, IN 47405 mentoring the next generation of the theatre professionals. The Syer Fellowship will be Please include the notation, “Syer awarded for the first time in Spring 2016 Fellowship – Account # 0370012200”. and, when fully endowed, will provide support in perpetuity for MFA students in Di- Questions and inquiries may be directed to Fontaine Syer recting at Indiana University Bloomington. the attention of: To Make Your Gift On Line: For myself, of course, it is nearly impos- Sue Sgambelluri sible to put into words what her partnership Please visit the Indiana University Foun- Director of Development has meant to me over the 23 years that we dation web site at www.iufoundation.iu.edu. Direct: (812) 856-3360 were together. We met as working colleagues Click on the GIVE NOW tab, which will FAX: (812) 856-1105 in 1992 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, E-Mail: [email protected]

PAGE 8 l FALL 2015 STAGES New Faculty Peter Gil-Sheridan joins the department as Visiting Assistant Professor of Playwriting and Screenwriting. He was recently in residence at San Juan College in Farmington, NM writing a new play called Courtney and Caroline, a piece written with Native and non-Native community members about reli- gious and cultural tradition in the area. His play Ritu Comes Home, originally commissioned by InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia was selected as part of their 20/20 Commis- sion program had its world premiere there. Peter’s other plays include Cockfight written at the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab and further developed by PlayPenn under the Eleanor Owicki joins the department direction of Anna Brenner and What May Four-time Tony Award-winning producer this fall as Visiting Assistant Professor of his- Fall, commissioned by the Guthrie Theatre and IU alumna Harriet Newman Leve October tory, Theory and Literature. She blends the in Minneapolis and performed there. Topsy returned to the Bloomington in 2015 world of scholarship and practice, having Turvy Mouse was produced by the Cherry in a new role. Last spring Leve was ap- published articles on Northern Irish drama Lane and Borderlands Theatre in Tucson pointed a Visiting Scholar with the College as well as being a dramaturg. Eleanor holds and was the winner of The Smith Prize of Arts and Sciences. Her accomplishments a Ph.D. and an M.A. from the University of awarded by the National New Play Network and experience in the theatre world and the Texas at Austin, and a B.A. from New York for outstanding political work. Other work entertainment industry as a whole, coupled University. Her research focuses on theatre developed by the Lark’s Playground, New with her unique passion for nurturing and and the Northern Irish peace process. She York Theatr Workshop, Queens Theatre in developing new work, position her well to has published articles and reviews in Theatre the Park. Residencies include the Jerome contribute to the education and preparation Symposium, Theatre Journal, and Eccu- Fellowship in Minneapolis, The Sundance of IU students who plan to pursue careers menica, and is a past Assistant Editor of Institute, The Millay Colony, The Ucross in the entertainment industry.

Theatre Research International. Eleanor has Foundation, Tofte Lake and A Theatre During her week on campus, Leve taught presented at many conferences including the Group in Silverton, CO. a number of undergraduate and graduate Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Peter has also been a member of I73, level classes in the Department of Theatre, the American Conference of Irish Studies, Page 73’s weekly writing group in New York. Drama, and Contemporary Dance, as well the American Society for Theatre Research, He’s performed his first solo piecePeople Tell as courses in the Media School and the and Performance Studies International. Me Things at several venues across the U.S. School of Public and Environmental Affairs’ She is also a dramaturg, having worked including Ars Nova’s ANTFest, Identity, (SPEA) Arts Administration program. on productions including Lynn Nottage’s Inc. in Farmington, NM, at Ucross in Wyo- Intimate Apparel, John Ford’s Tis Pity She’s ming and on Martha’s Vineyard. Peter joins Additionally, she held a private Question a Whore, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s the faculty at IU after ten years of teaching & Answer session with members of the Threepenny Opera, and Euripides’s Trojan at Fordham University in New York and as University Players, the Department’s inde- Women. This semester, she will served as a LEAP teaching artist in New York City pendent undergraduate theatre producing dramturg for Mr. Burns, a post-electric play. Public Schools. organization. The UP members were able In addition to working on Mr. Burns, to hear how Harriet chooses material, finds Eleanor is teaching three classes this fall. backers and puts together creative teams for “I’m excited about getting to know the productions on Broadway. students at IU – so far they seem like a great bunch of dedicated, talented, and intelligent Perhaps best known for her work with people.” Eleanor is teaching a graduate-level STOMP which blends rhythmic sound, class focused on Northern Irish theatre. dance and musical performance, Leve has She said, “It’s great to be able to do some- produced some of Broadway's most ac- thing that’s so closely related to my research claimed shows. and to have the opportunity to share that with people. Eleanor is enjoying exploring Her Broadway producing credits include: Bloomington, particularly the vegetarian op- An American in Paris, Hedwig and the Angry tions at the diverse range of restaurants. She Inch, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ann notes, however, that she is “a little nervous (about late Texas governor Ann Richards), about this whole ‘winter’ thing I’ve been War Horse, The 39 Steps, and The Norman hearing about.” Conquests.

PAGE 9 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE Additional Visitors to the Department

ver the past year, the department has had the honor to host many more visitors including several teachers, guest artists, and IU OAlumni. Among them: George Chakiris, best known for his role as Bernardo in the filmWest Side Story visited in September 2014 as part of the IU Cinema’s Jorgensen Guest Filmmaker Lecture Series., and conducted a private Master class for our Musical Theatre students. Arizona State University’s p.a.v.e. program head, Linda Essig visited in February to speak to students about arts entrepreneurship, and educating the artist of the future. The Design/Tech area had several additional guests in to work with undergrad and graduate students. In March, Brenden Patrick Hill (BA’06), Paul Shoulberg (MFA’07) and Andrew J. West (BA’06) returned to Bloomington for a screening of their independent filmWalter at the IU Cinema. The trio also took time to speak to students about making the transition to film. In April, Jocelyn Golarz O’Neil (BA’96) returned to Bloomington to visit family and gratiously offered to speak to students about getting started, writing, and producing independent short films. Also inApril the national touring company of Memphis visited campus to perform at the IU Auditorium. The members of the ensemble led a dance workshop for Liza Gennaro’s the Musical Theatre dance class. Dance Student Receives Award

In April 2015, senior contemporary lems, and helped me cope with dance major Ryan Galloway was one of six stress and injuries through our students from across the university who gift and passion for dance. I was received the prestigious Provost’s Award very fortunate to get along so for Undergraduate Research and Creative well with my mentor, as well as Activity. In doing so, Galloway became the be inspired by her different ways first dancer at IU to receive this recognition. of choreographing, and wealth Students are nominated by professors and of knowledge she had to share are then selected by a committee of admin- about the dance world and the istrators and faculty. His mentor is Elizabeth real world.” Shea, Associate Professor of Contemporary Professor Shea noted Ryan’s Dance. professionalism, creativity, and Galloway was recognized for his perfor- quickness to learn: “The cho- mance in Minor Bodies at the National reography for Minor Bodies is College Dance Festival, the Boston Con- extremely challenging. However, temporary Dance Festival and the American Ryan demonstrated great dili- Dance Festival and with the professional gence during the process. He was dance company Dance Kaleidoscope. In extremely coachable and open responding to his submission, the award to my mentorship, including the committee commented, “Mr. Galloway’s smallest of nuances that really technical expertise, combined with his make a difference when striving grace, fluidity and expressiveness were so for a professional level of per- impressive. The level of dancing by both formance. Ryan’s performance, performers is extremely high, and I would along with dance major Shannon never have guessed I was watching an Kazan, proved so successful, that undergraduate performance.” In his state- I decided to augment the piece, ment to the awarding committee, Galloway and together we created a beauti- IU Contemporary Dancers Shannon Kazan and Ryan Galloway. wrote, “I was incredibly honored to not ful new segment to the chore- only have been selected to perform this ography which completed the ternational publication in dance, published piece, but also have this opportunity to be artistic intention of the work.” Minor Bodies a review of the festival by editor Jennifer a part of a professional atmosphere with premiered at the Ruth N. Halls Theatre in Stahl.” Stahl wrote “There were some danc- a mentor that provided so much guid- January 2014 and traveled to the American ers with jaw-dropping technique (nota- ance, scholarship, direction, and wisdom. College Dance Festival, Central Region, last bly—and unsurprisingly—from LINES/ Professor Shea definitely paved the way March where it was selected for the gala (10 Dominican University, Indiana University, for the dance and created a baseline for of 42 dances selected) following adjudica- University of Utah) and some dancers who the movement, but she also allowed me to tion. The adjudicators then selectedMinor seemed to have only a couple years’ training explore a creative vocabulary that I didn’t Bodies, along with two other works from under their belts.” know I could even achieve. This allowed me the gala, to represent the Central Region at Shea’s final comments on her letter of to expand my knowledge of my body and the National College Dance Festival, June recommendation were, “I know the best is its capabilities, as well as create a dynamic 5-8, at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts yet to come for him, and I will watch with and mature dance. While she guided me on Center in Washington, D.C. Shea remarked pride as he represents Indiana University in my movements, she also guided me with that, “Dance Magazine, the preferred in- the world of dance.” her knowledge of solving daily life prob- - Joe Stollenwerk

PAGE 10 l FALL 2015 STAGES Building a ‘Vortex of Dreams’ for the Prague Quadrennial

In the summer of 2014, eight theater at IU! We met people from all over the M.F.A.s and associate professor Paul Brun- world and shared ideas and conversations ner, working with renowned Broadway about theater, which really is a universal designer Klara Zieglerova and a team of language. student designers from around the country, It was sad to see the exhibit come down built the “Vortex of Dreams” installation at the end, but I’m incredibly grateful that piece and a fantastical red locker-scape, I had this opportunity to represent my and sent them both across an ocean to the country and participate in this experience, Czech Republic for the 2015 Prague Qua- and I know the rest of my team is as well. drennial of Performance and Design Space. I think it is a testament to the quality We reunited in Prague in June 2015, just of the students and programs at IU that we days before the opening of the Prague were chosen to carry such a great responsi- Quadrennial, which has been described as bility. I’m proud of the exceptional results the “Olympics of Theater,” and involved we achieved. While three of the student 56 participating countries from around team members have graduated, and the the globe. We unpacked our crates and remaining five of us will work to complete set to work in a beautiful, decommis- Completed US entry in the 2015 Prague Quadrennial, our thesis projects this year, I’m sure the sioned church alongside the hardworking “Vortex of Dreams”. memories of this experience will help to Hungarians and the tenacious Slovakians. shape who we are as theater artists for city and see the other exhibits. It was eye- Meanwhile, Romania and Peru moved into many years to come. opening to see how different theater is in the opposite end of the church and Japan, If you’d like to read more about our other countries, and yet how similar it can Bulgaria and Croatia worked upstairs. experiences, check out the USA PQ blog be to our own. The Taiwan Student Exhibit After four long days of setup -- and an that was updated through our process at had set and costume designs from student explosive opening performance in the Old http://pq15.usitt.org, #PQ2015USA. productions of “Into the Woods” and “Woy- Town Square -- we were able to wander the cezk”-- two shows we recently produced - Kelsey Nichols M.F.A. candidate ‘16 Expanding Opportunities on the BFA Senior Showcase Trip

It is hard to believe George Pinney has A crowd of nearly 100 filled the intimate et as a Group Sales coordinator for Harriet’s been taking the Musical Theatre senior class performance venue. The crowd was treated company Guardian Angel Group Sales. to New York showcase auditions for over to a sneak peek of the senior’s showcase Benjamin Endsley Klein, a director who ten years. In that time the trip has evolved performance, and the chance to catch up helmed the Broadway production Ann, star- into an immersive week of professional with old friends and make new connections ring Tony-nominated actress Holland Taylor networking opportunities. in the city. as Texas Governor Ann Richards. He is The 2015 trip started May 11th with two The 12th was devoted to auditions, with currently working as the Assistant Director events. A welcome reception for the seniors two sessions filled with agents, casting direc- on the Broadway hit The Curious Incident of hosted by the IU Foundation Women’s tors, producers, and friends. the Dog in the Night-Time and is developing Philanthropy Council President, Dale Leff The 13th and 14th were more relaxing, additional projects for production. at her upper east side home. The seniors but still full of great activities. Broadway Josh Prince, a former actor and current mingled with a number of welcoming IU producer and IU alumna, Harriet Leve director and choreographer working on alumni, and performed some a capella provided tickets for the seniors to see her Broadway. His choreography credits include: arrangements on the Leff’s beautiful rooftop production of Beautiful - the Carole King Shrek, the Musical and Beautiful: The Carole deck (pictured below). Musical and the group was treated to a back- King Musical which was nominated for a stage tour by Andrew Brewer (BFA’10) who Tony Award in 2013. was the male swing at the time. The next day Ms. Leve assembled a panel of industry professionals to talk to the students about starting their careers in New York. The panel was comprized of: Dennis Erdman, a producer and director of television as well as a former theatre di- From there it was a quick trip down to rector whose credits include Sex and the City Joe’s Pub, where IU Theatre alumnaShanta and Gilmore Girls. Panelists Ben Klein, Ryan Jones, and Josh Prince. Thake(BA’02), once again gave us use of Ryan Jones, an former actress and pro- the space for a wonderful IU alumni event ducer’s assistant, now a screenwriter working The 2016 Showcase trip will take 14 hosted by The College of Arts and Science. in Los Angeles. Ryan still works with Harri- B.F.A. students to NYC May 8 - 12.

PAGE 11 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE

(continued from p. 1) stop learning in this craft, which I found profound and exciting. such a star to care so much about a few random students, after I’m sure she’s done this a million times. She even asked for our sheet Emily: I loved the exercise she used to get me more connected to music ahead of time so she could be prepared with our songs. She the through line of the line. She had my friend lay down in front had even contacted the composer of Christian’s song and gave him of me with me sitting behind her just like Joan would be for Alison inside info about it! She didn’t hesitate to share personal anecdotes in the song. It really helped me feel real in the song and discover each line moment to moment. I got so emotional I almost couldn’t sing, and she taught me that you have to go to that place so you know what it feels like and can imitate that without going so deep so you can keep performing. That allows the audience to experience all the feelings you once did.

Christian: She took my arms away from me and she walked around and insulted me while I sang my song. She really taught me that the character and the emotion come from a very deep place within you and it takes work to get that out sometimes. She also taught me that you are never too old to ask for help and that it is okay to take something in a direction and realize after some work that that is the wrong place for the song to be.

Any final thoughts you’d like to share?

Emily: She had a fuzzy sweater on so hugging her was like Samantha Mason listens as Audra McDonald offers insights into “No One Else” which she also sang later that evening in her IU Auditorium concert. hugging a cloud! and things she had learned from her mentors. I felt truly cared for, enlightened, and inspired!

What did you learn from her during the master class?

Elaine: I learned a lot about comedic timing. She talked a lot about not predicting the laugh or trying to make the audience laugh but rather be honest with the words in the song and the laughs will come. She explained that honestly was the best policy.

Samantha: Audra focused on what the song meant to me instead of focusing on what the song meant to the character. Her exercises re- minded me of the ones we had used in Acting 3 because she told me to bring my own substitu- tions into the song and whispered triggers into my ear to illuminate the raw emotion of the song. And, boy, did it work! Now every time I sing that song, I can go back to that place Cameron Mullin holds Elaine Cotter’s arms as part of the notes Elaine received from Audra McDonald to help with and that feeling because of the tools she gave the comic moments in her song from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. me during that master class, and I am forever Elaine: grateful for it. There I was on the floor of the Wells-Metz, crying my This was an experience that I will absolutely never forget eyes out while Audra held me in her arms and sang along with me. I and I am honored to have worked with Audra in such an intimate will never forget that moment for as long as I live. setting. She is and will continue to be an inspiration to me and many other young actors. Elaine: It was humbling to work with her and hear her advice be- Samantha: Overall, this master class was one of the top highlights cause she explained that even this far into her career and being suc- of my entire IU experience. I will always be very proud to consider cessful as she is, she still continues to deeply connect with the char- myself a student of Audra’s. What a wonderful way to finish out my acters that she plays and continues to take classes and better herself senior year at IU. as a performer. She stressed that there is truly never a time that you - Joe Stollenwerk

PAGE 12 l FALL 2015 STAGES Faculty Notes

Paul Brunner (theatre technology) spent recent scholarly work includes Talking In: Over Spring Break, Ray travelled to the summer in Europe, first attending the Telling as Writing in Improvised Dance Per- Madrid and Barcelona with the Purdue Set-Stage-Scenery World of Entertainment formance presented as a performative paper University Orchestra to sing Barber’s “Dover Technology Conference in Berlin, Germany, at the Society for Dance History Scholars Beach” and perform the piano solos in Wil- before leading the United States delegation and Congress on Research in Dance joint liam Grant Still’s symphonic work entitled to the Prague Quadrennial of Performance, conference, Writing/Dancing, at the Uni- A Deserted Plantation. In April, Ray re- Design, and Space. Paul was accompanied versity of Iowa, 2014. With her colleague ceived a 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award by eight IU Theatre graduate students Dr Nyama McCarthy-Brown she co-wrote from the IU Jacobs School of Music Singing and the versatile assistance of Production a chapter on choreographing socio-political Hoosiers. Manager, Thom Quintas. The PQ exposed dances for students as a means to Critical In May, Ray returned for two months to the entire team to 78 different countries Dance Pedagogy (forthcoming in 2016). Lancaster, Pennsylvania to music direct and representing a truly unique immersion conduct a beautiful production of The Wiz- into international design and performance. Alison Calhoun (history, theory, and ard of Oz for the historic Fulton Theatre. The 20+day trip to Prague created life-long dramatic literature) won a Wenner-Gren The cast of over 100 included Broadway memories for all involved. Paul followed grant (a Swedish grant) to conduct research veterans, 4 year old munchkins, and the Prague with an Italian vacation joined by his on early modern French stage design at the Broadway Toto, Snickers, trained by Wil- very supportive (and understanding) wife, National Museum and Royal Library. She liam Berloni, whose new series on Discovery Emilia. He can’t wait to start his eighth year also gave a paper in St. Andrews (Scotland) Family Channel Wags To Riches With Bill teaching at IU. on the temporality of early French opera Berloni features footage from rehearsals and premieres in August, 2015. Also in July, Ray was invited to serve as the musical theatre voice pedagogue for the Torggler Summer Vocal Institute in New- port News Virginia, where he led Master classes for 5 days at Christopher Newport University with high school and college age singers. Other clinicians included Kelli O’ Hara, Bobby McFerrin, Straight No Chaser, and fellow IU professors Timothy Noble and Costanza Cuccaro. But the highlight of Ray’s summer by far was serving as the Celebrant for the marriage of our very own George Pinney and Scott Jones in Syracuse, New York! The eight IU Theatre students who made up the US Prague Quadrennial team: Bridgette Dreher (MFA’16), Kelsey Nich- ols (MFA’16), Carrie Barton (MFA’16), Aaron Bowersox (MFA’16), Katie Gruenhagen (MFA’15), Sandy Everett (MFA’15), Despite continuing physical therapy and Kristen Martino (MFA’16), Bradley Shaw (MFA’15) and Production Manager Thom Quintas. recuperation from back surgery, Winona L. Selene Carter (contemporary dance) prologues as part of the Early Modern- Fletcher (Professor Emeritus) managed to recently had her choreography presented at French Society’s annual meeting. attend the 50th ANNIVERARY GOLDEN the Aronoff Center by the Contemporary GALA , College of Fellows of the American Dance Theatre of Cincinnati, Ohio and at In the Spring, Ray Fellman (musical Theatre held in DC in April, 2015. She was the Milwaukee Repertory Theater by Wild theatre) served as the Music Director for delighted to greet friends and co-workers as Space Dance Company. Her work was also the Cardinal Stage Company’s production she announced that this would probably be featured in the Regional Alternative Dance of Junie B Jones. The cast included several her last trip to the Washington affair since Festival (RADfest) in Kalamazoo, Michigan, IU Theatre and Drama students including being inducted in 1979. WOW! Best wishes and in the Breaking Ground Contemporary Scott Van Wye and Berklea Going (BFA to all. Dance & Film Festival, Tempe, Arizona. She ‘18), Kayla Eilers (BFA ‘16) and Chad Singer was one of sixteen choreographers accepted (BA ‘17). Allen Hahn (lighting design) has a in to the charter year of Doug Varone’s De- From January through April, Ray trav- couple of shows he is looking ahead to. The vices Intensive, a choreographic mentorship elled back and forth to Boston and NYC first is a production ofDie Fledermaus at project that culminated in a 2014 festival while working as the Vocal Coach for the the MAC, reuniting with Robin Guarino, of new dances at the Harkness Dance upcoming Twentieth Century Fox filmJoy , freelance director and J. Ralph Corbett Center/92nd Street Y in New York City. Her directed by David O. Russell. The film stars Distinguished Chair in Opera at the Univer- work will be produced in January 2016 by Jennifer Lawrence, Edgar Ramirez, Bradley sity of Cincinnati College Conservatory of the Indianapolis Art Museum, in the Per- Cooper and Robert DeNiro, and will be Music with whom Allen previously worked formance Series at the Tobey Theater. Her released on Christmas Day, 2015. at Lincoln Center in New York, and the set

PAGE 13 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE designer Allen Moyer, a friend and longtime Terry LaBolt (musical theatre) spent Murray McGibbon (acting and direct- collaborator with whom he has worked on much of the summer orchestrating and ing) spent his summer traveling, including opera productions in the US and Europe. arranging commissioned works for the a stay in New York where he directed The Allen will also be making his debut at Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. He also Merry Wives of Windsor for Hip to Hip IRT this fall designing the lighting for their engaged two of the IU BFA students, Joey Theatre Company. The production toured production of Bridge and Tunnel. Birchler and Elaine Cotter, as soloists in the to parks throughout the five boroughs. concert he helped prepare for the orchestra Murray blended “a classical ‘outline’ with a Rob Johansen (acting/directing) is entitled “Battle of Broadway: Sondheim vs. contemporary ‘inline’ in terms of the design excited to be teaching for IU again this Webber.” Also, along with Jacobs students and production style,” and brought out as year, as well as appearing in two shows at Josh Roberts and Quinn Sternberg, the much comedy as possible in the work he the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis—One Terry LaBolt trio will appear along with co- called “the closest Shakespeare has written Man, Two Guvors in September/October medienne Christina Bianco at the Carnegie to a farce or sitcom.” Murray also is looking and A Very Phoenix Xmas X in November/ Theater in Covington, Kentucky this fall. forward to staging King Lear in May, 2016, December. Immediately after he will go into performed in the original pronunciation of rehearsals at the Indiana Repertory Theatre Nyama McCarthy-Brown (contempo- 1606. for The Mystery of Irma Vep (January/Febru- rary dance) was awarded a Mellon Fellow- ary). ship to attend the 2015 Summer Dance Jonathan Michaelsen (Chair) continued his duties as Chair and worked to integrate Contemporary Dance into the Department this year. While logistically challenging, the addition of Dance has been welcome and adds a wonderful new dynamic to the De- partment. Jonathan also produced his fifth season of the Indiana Festival Theatre and directed As You Like It. He directed Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play this fall collaborating with Liza Gennaro and Ray Fell- man. Continuing his work for the National Association of Schools of Theatre, Jonathan is currently on the Commission for Accredi- tation. In conducting Accreditation visits around the country, he has met a number of graduates from IU who are currently serving in leadership roles.

George and Scott’s IU Alumni Wedding Party: Taylor Crousore (BFA‘13), Chloe Williamson (BFA’13), Best Man Heather Milam (costume technology) Randy Jones (BS’95). Reverend Ray Fellman (BS’97), George, Scott, officiant Scott Hogsed, Maid of Honor Nicole Brown Ferrara (BA’90), Maddie Shea Baldwin (BFA’15), Nat Zegree (EX’14). spent the summer as a draper for Illinois Shakespeare Festival’s Love’s Labour’s Lost The highlight of 2015 forScott Jones Studies Seminar at Northwestern University. and for the world premiere of Scott Kaiser’s and George Pinney (both musical theatre) In July, Nyama presented Shadow Cast Over sequel, Love’s Labor’s Won. She was also was their marriage ceremony celebrated on Hope at the Dancing While Black perfor- recently appointed a Vice Commissioner of Saturday 25th of July at The Red Mill Inn in mance lab in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Also, the costume commission of USITT. Baldwinsville, New York. The officiates were for the summer of 2015, she was selected to Rev. Ray Fellman of the Unitarian Univer- participate in Doug Varone’s choreographic Linda Pisano (costume design) has had salist Church and his partner, Scott Hogsed. intensive, Devices, at Purchase College in a busy and wonderful year. Locally she The Maid of Honor was Nicole Brown (’90) New York. As an outcome of Varone’s men- designed On Golden Pond with direc- and Randy Jones (’95). The Music Director torship, she premiered a new work at the tor Janet Allen for the Indiana Repertory and accompanist was Nat Zegree who also 92nd Street Y in August. Theatre (March 2015) andSouth Pacific for sang an original song from his upcoming the Jacobs School of Music with direc- CD to be released this fall. Maddie Shea Dale McFadden (acting and directing) tor Vince Liotta (February 2015). Farther Baldwin (’15) and Chloe Williamson (’13) directed Coming to See Aunt Sophie in June away, Linda designed Salome for Opera San sang for the ceremony and the reception. at The Jewish Theatre of Bloomington with Antonio with soprano Patricia Racette and Taylor Crousore (‘13) was the M.C. for an IU connected group of actors – the cast director Candace Evans (January 2015) and the reception, dance and party and led a was Department Alumnus Gerry Pauwels, her design work was featured in an exhibi- smashing tango. Scott was given away by his Graduate Student Jason Craig West, Under- tion this summer (2015) of international mother, Shirley Jones, and George was given graduates Emily Sullivan and John Putz, and designers entitled Costume at the Turn of away by his sister, Deborah Van Zant. To Meisner Acting Teacher Martha Jacobs. In the Century at the Bakhrushin Museum in date this is Scott and George’s most memo- July he was director for The Gentleman From Moscow. She and Paul Brunner attended rable production which they plan to extend Indiana for the Indiana Festival Theatre. the ALIA (Asian League of Institutes of Art) for the rest of their lives.

PAGE 14 l FALL 2015 STAGES conference in Taipei Taiwan in the fall se- & Directors in Meisner Training. In July, critical analysis which draws on a compre- mester. They are working toward the goal of Ken returned to Bloomington to teach four hensive range of archival documents. It is establishing an exchange program in design classes for the IU High School Summer also the first study to locate this landmark and technology. Linda continues to be busy Intensive (Contemporary Dance) curated by text within such an expansive theatre-his- with USITT (The United States Institute Professor Selene B. Carter here at IU. torical and political landscape. ‘Globaliza- for Theatre Technology): she was re-elected tion, Nationalism and the Text of “Kichaka for another three-year term to the Board Elizabeth Shea (contemporary dance) Vadha”’ illuminates the complex policies of Directors, she co-authored the national had a busy year touring with several cho- and mechanisms of theatrical censorship in diversity statement for USITT, and her reographic works. “Minor Bodies” was the British Raj, and offers many rare pro- work was exhibited at the national confer- presented at the Ailey Citygroup Theatre duction photographs. Phillip Zarilli, of the ence of USITT (March 2015). Linda also in NYC as part of the American Dance University of Exeter, called it “An extremely has recently finished authoring a chapter on Guild’s Festival 2014 and was also shown well-researched and highly significant Design Collaboration for a collaboratively as part of Dance Kaleidoscope’s produc- contribution to the history and politics of authored textbook on Costuming due out tion of “Carmina Burana” at the Indiana early modern anticolonial theatre in India in 2016. One of Linda’s proudest moments Repertory Theatre, where critic Jay Harvey accompanied by a translation of the Marathi was watching her graduate student Eriko deemed it “a remarkable display of con- text.” (book jacket pictured below) Terao win a place in the coveted Young temporary dance.” Shea also premiered Designers Forum. This is an exhibition of “In the Seas” at the John Ryan Theatre in the top emerging young theatre designers in NYC for the 2014 DUMBO Dance Festival, the United States. And when Linda was not and showed the work again at the Detroit busy designing, teaching, and mentoring, City Dance Festival. Her newest choreog- she was able to spend some significant time raphy, “Protean Hearts,” was performed at with her family this summer and on two Footprints Dance Festival at the Marjorie S. novels (fiction) that she has been working Dean Little Theatre in NYC, the Midwest on over the past year. Dance Festival in Anderson, IN, and for the 2nd Annual Conference for Somatic-Based Dance at Dean College in Franklin, MA, where Liz also presented a workshop. Ad- ditionally, the piece was selected for the First Annual Digital Dance Concert at the World Dance Alliance –Americas Conference 2015 in Hawaii, and was one of four works to be featured during the conference presentation. In May, Liz spent a week at the University of Maryland re-staging “Flawed,” with Andres Lopez (PhD’17), Natasha Heines, Eriko Terao music by JSOM composer Don Freund, (MFA’15), and Linda Pisano at St. Paul’s Cathedral in on professionals Connie Dinapoli, Adriane London during the summer Theatre Study Abroad trip. Fang, and Arturo Garcia. Liz also presented Thom Quintas (Production Manager) at the 2014 National Dance Organization’s traveled with Paul Brunner and 8 IU The- annual conference, and in July gave master Ronald Wainscott (history, theory and atre Grad Students—Katie Gruenhagen, classes in Florence, Italy for the Florence dramatic literature) is working on a new Bradley Shaw, Carrie Barton, Aaron Bower- Dance Center and at Dance Italia in Lucca. book-length project based on theatre of sox, Kristen Martino, Sandy Everett, Kelsey On campus, Liz was honored to be featured ugliness and the death and resurrection of Nichols, and Bridgette Dreher—to Prague in the “Groundbreaker” section of The Col- Dionysus. He will be on sabbatical in the for the PQ 2015 Exhibition, representing the lege Winter 2015 Magazine. She was also fall working on this project including library United States and USITT. part of the student/mentor team with senior work in New York and Washington, D.C. Ryan Galloway, who became the first dance Kenneth Roberson (musical theatre) major at IU to win the Provost’s Award for Stephen Watt (history, theory and litera- went to New York in May with the recent Excellence in Undergraduate Research and ture) is pleased to announce that his book, graduates and fellow educators of the BFA Creative Activity. “Something Dreadful and Grand”: Modern Musical Theatre program for the annual American Literature and the Irish-Jewish NYC showcase. Many talent agents and In 2014, Rakesh Solomon (Associate Unconscious (New York: Oxford University casting directors were there to be introduced Professor Emeritus) saw the publication of Press, 2015) just came out, as did “Sam to new and fresh talent from IU and our his latest book, Globalization, Nationalism Shepard, Irish Playwright,” in Irish Theatre in performers were well received. While in and the Text of ‘Kichaka-Vadha’: The First Transition: From the Late Nineteenth to the New York, Ken took advantage of some English Translation of the Marathi Antico- Early Twenty-First Century, ed. Donald E. tap classes from one of my favorite teach- lonial Classic, with a Historical Analysis of Morse (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015). ers Germain Salsberg. In June he attended Theatre in British India (Anthem Press). The True Acting Institute: a Professional This is the only edition of the play, in any Development for Acting Teachers, Actors language, to provide an extensive historical-

PAGE 15 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE CLASS NOTES SPECIAL REQUEST back to IU, having attended a series of IU about 15 years. Susan was Costumer for the Barbara Anne (Heron) Selvitella (BA Media School and alumni events held in Los Department at Minnesota State University ’68, MA ’69) Angeles this past June. in Mankato from 1964 – 68; they then I am presently searching for a living moved East, when Vincent was hired at kidney donor and I am sharing my cam- Richard S. (Dick) Beam (BA ’66, MA Professor of Theatre and Stage Designer paign to find a donor and raise funds to ’69) retired from his position on the faculty at Central Connecticut State University. help offset the medical and travel expenses of the School of Stage and Screen at West- She taught Introduction to the Theatre at CCSU for 10 years, enjoying a variety of that a donor might incur. ern Carolina University just over a year ago. teenagers through mature students. In the My website is located at: Along the way (since I.U.), he obtained his 1980s she had two daughters and a Mas- https://helphopelive.org/campaign/9372 Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and ter in Literature. She published her first I remember my days in the Speech Depart- spent much of his career as Principal Faculty Scenic and Lighting Designer and Technical adult books in 1983-1986, then moved into ment fondly and am very grateful for the Director. From 2006 to 2010, he was Chair literature for young readers. She has written wonderful education I received there. of the Faculty at WCU, which drastically novels, biographies, and social surveys and reduced his production schedule, although histories from 1988 to the present. Check IN MEMORIUM he continued to teach Dramatic Literature out her website: www.springhermann. Kit Carson (BA ’80) passed away in & Criticism and Theatre History. Since he com. In 2002 she had her first musical play January. He worked as the chief of staff for retired, Dick and his wife Bonnie moved produced. Since then she has written four Rush Limbaugh’s EIB Network in New to Omaha, NE, to be closer to one of their plays and the book to two musicals. One York from 1988 through 2014. daughters. You can visit his web site and musical and one play are on the list at Big blog at www.richardsbeam.net. Dog Publishers. Her older daughter Margo J. Edgar Webb (PhD ’71) passed away in Spring Gagliardi [now Margo Tucker] chose January following a fall in his home. He Ron Garrison (BA ’67) has served as Indiana University Bloomington to attend. had retired in 1993 as head of the The- Cultural Events Coordinator for the City of This made 3 generations to graduate from atre Program at IUPUI. Subsequently, he Denver, where he coordinated the hundreds IU - her dad Arthur G. Hermann was a devoted his retirement years to studying of festivals and special events annually held graduate in the 1930s. painting technique, and working in both in Denver and produced many large events Cynthia Anne Voigt pastels and oils. He completed a number of such as the Stanley Cup Celebration, Papal (BA ’69) (formerly commissioned portraits and sold numerous Arrival Ceremonies, and LucasFilm’s first Cynthia Montilla) is working on adapting Woman with a Birth- landscapes and still-life pictures. Star Wars Celebration. He is most proud of Hakan Nesser’s book producing the blockbuster Denver Millen- mark into a screenplay. nium Celebration that brought a quarter- 1950S million people to Denver’s Downtown. Now 1970S Nancy Kierspe Dodd (BA ’58) Although retired, Ron finished his career with the City Jane Adams Birdsong her main career was that of mother and of Denver as Guest Services Manager for (BA ‘72) contin- Senior Mortgage Loan officer, she had the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre. ues to act and direct plays in Elkins, West been active in theatre since the moment Ron managed the venues’ events staff and Virginia, where she has made her home she graduated from IU. She has appeared customer interface so that each guest could since 1986. This year Jane directedGrace in over 40 community productions, won experience the kind of world-class service & Glorie by Tom Ziegler, and played the numerous acting awards, had a children’s appropriate to such a famous venue. role of 90 year-old Grace at the Old Brick musical published by Samuel French, won Playhouse in Elkins. She occasionally does the Northeastern Indiana Playwright contest Susan Spring Hermann (BA ’64) mar- murder mysteries on board the Tygart Flyer, in both 2010 and 2014, and has written and ried her fellow theatre student Vincent C. a 4-hour train trip where passengers interact have seen production of 4 other musicals Gagliardi soon after graduation. Together with the actors and try to guess the culprit. for youth. When she was a senior at IU, her they worked in educational theatre for She also recently performed several roles in script The Beautiful Witch won the annual a touring show, “Traveling 219,” which told Jordan River Revue Contest and was pro- stories of folks - in their own words - who duced by the department. lived and worked along Route 219 through West Virginia, over the past 50 years. The route has now been dubbed the “West Vir- 1960S ginia Music Trail.” Birdsong also performs Jonathan Banks (EX ’68) reprised his as a ballad-singer, accompanying herself on role as Mike Ehrmantraut from the FX guitar, autoharp, banjo & dulcimer. series Breaking Bad in the spinoffBetter Call Saul, for which he earned his third Emmy Michael Bourne (MA ‘69, PhD ‘77) nomination. Jonathan has continued to give Jonathan Banks (EX’68) at the dedication of the Still on the radio, New Year’s Eve celebrated new Media School during Homecoming 2014. 30 years on WBGO, broadcasting world-

PAGE 16 l FALL 2015 STAGES wide on wbgo.org … Still a theatre critic insaturnsrings.com/). 2016 may see a revival senting! Highlights of the year include send- and frequently gets to show off his IU of Dorian, her musical adaptation of Oscar ing one student to National History Day Ph.D., active member of the Outer Critics Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. finals to perform her 10-minute one-woman Circle … Still lives more in the jazz world show on the life of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, than the theatre world, this summer his Michael Mell (MA ’78) continues his and beginning work on Under the Lintel, a 23rd being part of the Montreal Jazzfest work as a theater consultant (www.the- one-man show, with another coachee. She … Still the artistic director of the Jazz on aterdesigninc.com) and lighting designer. was both sad and happy to attend Howard the Mountain festival at Mohonk Moun- His consulting projects include the Birman Jensen’s memorial tribute at IU Blooming- tain House in the Hudson Valley … Last 32 Theater in Sao Paolo, Brazil, the Centro ton and reconnect with Gerard Pauwels, year’s jazz highlight: hanging with Tony de Convenciones de Lima, in Peru and the Leon & Roberta Brauner, Randy & Nancy Bennett and Lady Gaga, wrote cover story renovation of Loudis Concert Hall at the Pope, and Marian & Keith Michael! “I just for DownBeat, recorded a radio special University of Delaware. His lighting design loved my days at IU; they informed my with them on wbgo.org/blog … Last year’s credits include: The Goblin Market, On adult life in such a positive way. I think my theatre highlight: wrote, directed, and Golden Pond and Jesus Christ Superstar. 14-year old daughter may attend IU to study performed in a cabaret show called My Jazzy languages. Just maybe.” Valentine, all about standards composed by Joe Paparone (PhD ’78) has taught at jazz greats … SUNY New Paltz since 1970 and been a full Ellen (Miller) Snyder (BA ’73) ended Professor there since 1978. He has taught al- up in IU management despite her BA in David Chambers (MA ’76) worked for most all courses in the curriculum except for Theatre and Drama and MBA from UCLA many years costume courses (he never understood the in Arts Administration. She retired three as a writer magic of the bobbin). He has produced over years ago after 32 years as Director of Infor- for televi- forty -five productions during fifteen differ- mation and Telecommunications Services sion, most ent Summer Repertory Theatre seasons. He at IU Health Bloomington Hospital. She prominently has directed more than a dozen Departmen- has been active for about 10 years in a sort The Wonder tal productions and has designed lighting of readers’ theater group in Bloomington Years, Frank’s and scenery for several productions. Also, he called the Faculty Drama Club and in May, Place (both has acted in various college, community, re- 2015, stepped onto a real stage, playing the won Emmys gional, and professional productions and has role of The Chef in a Woody Allen comedy for writing), appeared in such films as erfectP Stranger, produced by the Little Theatre of Bedford. and Bosom Buddies, which launched Tom Romance & Cigarettes, Illuminata, Lesser Hanks’ career. He has also written docu- Prophets, Men in Black, Nobody’s Fool, Romeo Stephen Sorkin (MA ’72) resides in the mentaries, including the History Channel Is Bleeding, Mr. Wonderful, Mac, and Men of Fenway neighborhood of Boston. Stephen’s program based on the book, April 1865: The Respect. His television credits include Law artistic career began as a member of the Month That Saved America. The past few & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Ed, Indiana University Repertory Company. He years he has been team-teaching writing for Feds, and Guiding Light (see his professional later received his MFA at Brandeis Univer- the screen with his wife, Julie. They helped resume at “www.joepaparone.com”) He sity. He has taught theatre and served as a launch Syracuse University’s Los Angeles retired and became Professor Emeritus on director at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Semester program, which is now entering its Sept. 1, 2013. He continues to be a Board Tanzania, Loyola University, the University seventh year. They have also been teaching Member of McKenna Productions, ltd. (a of Maine, Emerson College and the Boston for the graduate school of Film and Televi- non-profit corporation that produced New Conservatory. Stephen joined the devel- sion for UCLA. David continues to write, as Paltz Summer Repertory Theatre and all opment staff of the Huntington Theatre well as teach, and will be publishing a Civil main stage departmental productions from Company and embarked on a second career War novel in the next few months. 1973 thru 2004 and which continues to offer in fundraising leading to long-term posi- theatre students at SUNY New Paltz schol- tions with the New England Aquarium, Sheila Duell (BA ’75) has been in the arships annually. Salem State College, and Boston Center for Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, NC) for the Arts and consulting positions at various over 35 years. In the last year she has been Alex Polner (BA ’79) is the Director of metro Boston non-profits. Stephen also involved in promoting several music and Visual Merchandising for Alex Brands in works as a voice over actor. Stephen and his film projects including narration and vocals Fairfield, NJ, an international Toy Com- wife Karla have seven grandchildren. for Andrew Eversole’s acclaimed Ameri- pany. For past 11+ years that he has worked cana CD, The Cumberland Ghost, (https:// for them, he has designed showrooms, trade Scott K. Strode (PhD ’74) retired from andreweversole.bandcamp.com/album/ shows and over 30 stores globally. He lives in Manchester College (now University) after the-cumberland-ghost). This summer she Montclair, NJ, and has two children. 34 years as Director of Theatre (2009) and was in the studio singing on the soundtrack moved to Iowa City, IA. He is involved in for the film shortSomeday (2016 release), Kate (Kathleen) Robbins (MA ’73, local theatre as actor and director. Selected singing jazz as part of Jazz Nomads, act- PhD ’80) has been awarded the 2015 Small roles: Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol ing in the film shortReturn , and has done Business Award for excellence in Education (City Circle Acting Company, Judge and production work for Stephen van Vuuren’s & Entertainment performance skills for Ciaphas, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot IMAX film In Saturn’s Rings (http://www. Speak Sure: The Art & Craft of Powerful Pre- (Dreamwell Theatre), Reverend Tooker,

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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Malachi Stack, The 1980S ing Theatre Design: A Designer’s Guide to Matchmaker, Barber, Man of La Mancha (all Richard J. Allen (MFA ’84) has been Finding Inspiration and Cultivating Creativ- with Iowa City Theatre Company), Puck,A Professor of Film, TV and Digital Media ity. It is published by Focal Press, a Rout- Midsummer Night’s Dream (Combined Ef- at Texas Christian University since 1993. In ledge imprint, and it’s available on Amazon. forts Theatre), Cornelius,Cymbeline (Fourth 2014, his play Starbright and Vine was pro- She also continues to design freelance and Room Theatre). He also directedThe duced at Stage West in Fort Worth, Texas. was recently named an Affiliated Artist of Crucible Steel for Dreamwell Theatre and In October, he will direct the regional the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, in Penn- Magnolias for Iowa City Theatre Company. sylvania. “Life is good.” premiere of Bad Jews, and again at Stage West to open their 2015-2016 season. His Dorothy Webb (PhD ’70) retired as William Grange (PhD ’81) published wife Sheri (nee Berkson, also an IU alum, Chair of the Department of Communica- his latest book this summer, the second with many acting credits 1980-1983) is now tion Studies and Theatre at IUPUI in 2000. edition of his Historical Dictionary of Ger- a Cantor at Congregation Beth Shalom in She served for 9 years as president of the man Theater. It is his eleventh book in Arlington, Texas and a Chaplain at Harris Children’s Theatre Foundation of America print. Please see http://www.amazon.com/ Methodist Hospital in Ft. Worth. Their and currently serves as past-president and on William-Grange/e/B001HOH05G for his youngest daughter, Rebekah is having a the Executive Committee. After retirement other books, some in paperback, some from IUPUI, she continued to direct The world premiere production of her musical available via Kindle. This past year he also Bonderman Playwriting for Youth Sympo- (she wrote book, music and lyrics) We Are published two book reviews in a journal sium and development lab she founded in the Tigers at The Hudson Backstage Theatre published by Bath Spa University in Eng- 1985 and administered until 2011. It subse- in Los Angeles, beginning October 10. land called SHARP (Society for the History quently moved to the joint sponsorship of of Authorship, Reading and Publishing) the Indiana Repertory Theatre and Child- Alice Bristow (MFA ’89) was recently and an essay for the December issue of splay, a professional theatre for youth in appointed the Director of Theatre at Berry the German History Society, published by Tempe, Az. The biennial event was renamed College. Her most recent professional Oxford University Press. He appeared in “Write/Now.” The first event under the new costume design, other than the many Berry nation-wide commercial for LICOR Biosci- titled was In 2013 in Tempe where she was shows, was for Madame Butterfly at the Utah ences, a firm which manufactures molecular honored in an evening long retrospection of Opera. Alice also received Berry College’s protein synthesizers. He played the Ghost of the Bonderman and where the playwright Student Government Association Faculty Laboratores Present. Also last year he played prizes were named in her honor. This year Member of the Year award for 2013/14. She Sarastro in a student production of Mozart’s she attended the event meeting this year at has been at Berry College for 15 years as The Magic Flute. the IRT and presented the “Webb Prizes” head of the costume design and construc- to four winning playwrights (from a field of tion program. Donna (Waters) Kishbaugh (BA ’84) over 150 submissions). currently lives in Westfield, IN with her This year she also attended the College Elane Denny-Todd (MFA ’84) has been writer husband Greg Kishbaugh and their of Fellows of the American Theatre’s Head of the Performance Program at Ohio two children, a son Dagan who is 22, and 50th anniversary at the Kennedy Center, Wesleyan University since 1992, where she a daughter Bronwyn who is 16. Donna is Washington, DC where she supported the directs productions each year and teaches a self-employed artist and jewelry designer candidacy of Janet Allen, Indiana Repertory acting, voice, and movement. This past year who creates unique, functional mixed media Theatre, for induction into the membership. she directed The Merchant of Venice and art pieces. She also currently works for Live She also created and presented a citation Shaw’s Heartbreak House. Elane stays active Nation creating mixed media works and honoring Janet for the Orlin Corey Medal- in the community with her two children handcrafted jewelry for House of Blues lion Award presented by the Children’s Alex and Laurleena, both Seniors in High venues across the country. She recently had Theatre Foundation of America at the meet- School, husband, Rick Todd, and their 3 some of her pieces debut on the runway at ing of One Theatre World/ TYA meeting in German Shepherds. She was recently elected New York Fashion Week with her friend and Chicago. to the Board of Directors of APT, A Por- Project Runway contestant Buffi Jashanmal’s table Theatre, Inc. Science Fiction inspired fashion designs. D. Terry Williams (PhD ’74) is Chair Donna has been published in a number Emeritus, Dept. of Theatre, Western Alvia Lewis Frey (BA ’82) is a columnist of publications and books, such as 1000 Michigan University. He directed Good for Pharos Tribune in Logansport, IN, Steampunk Creations, and she has created People and Lend Me a Tenor for Kalamazoo where she also teaches 3rd and 4th grade mixed media works for celebrities and rock Civic Theatre; Old Wicked Songs and The Sunday school teacher at St. Matthew bands alike. When she is not creating art or Glass Menagerie for Farmers Alley Theatre United Methodist Church. jewelry, Donna utilizes her hard-earned MA (Equity), starring his wife, Sharon Hopfin- in Fiction Writing from Columbia College ger Williams (BA ‘69). In 2016 he will direct Lynne Porter (MFA ’85) continues to Chicago by conceptualizing and writing The Mountaintop for Face Off Theatre, Other work as the Chair of the Theatre Program at comic stories and marketing herhusband’s Desert Cities for Farmers Alley Theatre, 4000 Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. She was books. She also works for del Toro Films Miles for Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. and recently promoted to full professor. She also promoting Guillermo del Toro movies and Glengarry Glen Ross for Western Michigan recently published a book about creativity in other del Toro works. Visit her website at University Theatre. the theatre-making process called Unmask- http://about.me/TheArtOfDonna.

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signing and marketing credit cards for major is married to Pat Alexy Stoll and has three Tina Magnuson (BA ’82) moved to banks and their Fortune 1000 partners, the children. Martha’s Vineyard after graduating where Shamlian Creative team decided to return she did lighting design for the Vineyard to our roots as a full service marketing & Denise Stoner-Barone (Cert/BA’85) has Playhouse. In 1990 she moved to NYC branding firm. With 5 new clients this year, self-published several books under the pen and opened up the Workhouse Theater a new project manager, and an inexplicable name Denise Gwen: Trailer Park Wives— in Tribecca where she acted as technical yet welcome jump in our clients’ collective The Single Wide Edition and Trailer Park director and designed lights. Additionally willingness to embrace ever more ambitious Wives—The Double Wide Edition on both she stage managed and did lighting for La marketing strategies, things are definitely Amazon and Smashwords, as well as House Mama and SoHo Rep. In 1994 she moved trending up. His son Forrest, 23, is a tour of Wax, The Well, Groovy Girl, and the over to film and TV working mostly on mu- de force, with his own video firm (Out- ninety-nine cent read, a short story called sic videos and commercials up with a couple boundCreative.com), a unique theatrical “How to Get a Date to the Prom.” Also as years off as a staffer at Comedy Central. performance using his own custom-designed Denise Gwen, I have a sweet young adult Since 1999 she has been production manag- nunchakus (chuckarts.com), and a leading paranormal called Covenkeepers on Clean- ing and line producing mostly live and live role in creating events and video interviews Reads.Com and a sweet contemporary to tape multi-camera variety specials and TV for fans of anime and video games (j1stu- romance called Molly’s Folly. With e-pub- shows including Live By Request for A&E, dios.com). His younger son Chase leaves lisher SweetCravings.com, I have a sweet The Mark Twain Prize for WNET and In much too soon to for his freshman year at young adult romance, Perfect Girls. There Performance at the White House to name a Boston University, to study broadcast jour- is also a contemporary romance with Soul few. She feels fortunate to work with many nalism and economics. “Much happiness Mate Publishing, entitled Judging Rachel. As of the top professionals in the business. and success to all my fellow classmates!” Gwen Williams, I have my first male/male romance, Breaking Out, with SecretCrav- Barbara Ann O’Leary (BA ’81) has Thor Steingraber (BA ’88) just com- ings.com. As self-published author Angha- managed IU Cinema’s social media since pleted his first year as Executive Director rad Williams, I’ve released Goose Girl and 2013. She created “Directed by Women: A of Valley Performing Arts Center in Los the Mischievous Little Maid—Part One (Part Worldwide Film Viewing Party,” held from Angeles. The new 1700-seat LEED certified Two is in edits), Snow White and Rose Red, September 1-15, 2015: http://directedby- venue has received many awards, including Camping Weekend, and Mirabelle. women.com/en. selection as top 3 venue on an U.S. university campus. Thor launched his first season Brad Tassell (BA ’87) has had an amaz- Jane Page (MFA ’83) is the Head of with Yo-Yo Ma in recital. ing year! He toured his stand-up comedy Directing at University of California, Irvine, show across the UK from August – Decem- where she was named 2015 Professor of the Don Stoll (Ph.D. ’82) taught at Glass- ber and most of May, also Cologne, Ger- Year. She has been busy doing community- boro State College (now known as Rowan many. He also just signed to have his book based and collaborative projects as well as University) in Glassboro, NJ for thirty-four Don’t Feed the Bully turned into a graphic freelancing. She will be directing I and You years in the Communication Department novel. In Bloomington he did pieces for 12 at the Repertory Theatre of St Louis in Oc- (later the College of Communication). He episodes of the PBS series The Friday Zoneat tober. She directed All My Sons last winter retired in 2011 after a total of 34 years of WTIU, and he will do more next season. for the Swine Palace Production in Baton service. He taught a full range of under- Rouge and Macbeth at Colorado Shake two graduate and graduate courses and his share As one half of Two First Name Produc- summers ago. She directed the European of administrative duties including Director tions, John Thomas (BA ’84) co-created, premiere of Other Desert Cities in Vienna of General Education and Director of the co-produces and occasionally performs in and The Great Goddess Bazaar continues to Honors Program, but he was most happy “Going … Going … Gone,” a long-form tour the US and abroad. teaching Freshman Composition, a course improv show that is staged on the first he managed to teach at Sunday of every month at Indianapolis’ least one section of dur- Theatre on the Square. Developed for the ing every one of my 34 2012 IndyFringe Festival, this interactive years. His research ended “live auction comedy” has been in monthly up focusing on children’s production for three years and also has been magazines and on the peda- performed at community theatres, festi- gogy of teaching composi- vals and for private gatherings. John also tion and rhetoric, quite a directed “The High-Impact Infidelity Diet” stretch from his major at at the 2013 IndyFringe Festival. He and his IU in American theatre and partner in Two First Name Productions are Jane in rehearsal for the European premiere of Other Desert Cities at Vienna’s drama. Since his retirement currently developing a series of play readings English Theatre; discussion with Artistic Director Julia Schafranek. he has worked as a travel presented outside of theatrical settings. writer focusing primarily on central Europe Fred Shamlian (MFA ’84) has been the and as a consultant for College Board lead- Catherine Zublin (MFA ’86) was re- head of his own ad agency since 1986 in ing workshops for high school teachers of cently appointed the Interim Dean of the Philadelphia. After years of focusing on de- AP English Language and Composition. He Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Hu- manities at Weber State University (WSU). 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This fall begins her 30th year at WSU. In CO for the 2015-16 academic year. Steve Presently she is filming a web series called addition to her duties at WSU she serves as and his wife Heather also welcomed their Trade Show Girls. Recently she worked on the chair for Design, Technology & Man- baby girl, Birdie Lucille Hughes, to the Sense8 (Netflix),Chicago Fire, and Chicago agement for the Kennedy Center American world October 3rd. PD (NBC) and filmed two film shorts last Theatre Festival, Region VIII. She’s pleased summer “Beyond a Field of Poppies” and to be able to mentor young design students. Flip Filippelli (BA ’94) worked on “Gardening at Night”. several films after graduating, including Best of the Best 3 and In the Soup. He moved Ben Livingston (MFA ’90) can cur- 1990S to Los Angeles in 1995 where he worked as rently be seen at Dr. Mays on the Cin- Charles Barrett (BA ’90) graduated in an art director and then as a construction emax series The Knick. He also appeared 2002 from AFI- The American Film Insti- coordinator on various TV, film, music on episodes of Elementary, House of Cards tute with an MFA in Screenwriting. After videos, and photo shoots. He eventually and Daredevil in 2015. Recently he acted 15 years working in Casting, Talent and formed his own company, Lake Effect in the Tectonic Theater Project’s benefit Production in Los Angeles, CA, he is now Films, designing and building sets, and performance of Moisés Kaufman’s Gross about to celebrate my three year anniver- then having a set shop on the lot of Hol- Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde sary as a Professor in the MFA for Creative lywood Center Studios (formerly Desilu) alongside a cast that featured Sally Field, Writing at Full Sail University in Orlando called 41 Sets. He now lives in Napa, CA, Larry Kramer, Tony Kushner, and Judith Florida. having moved there 4 years ago, where he Light, among others. does project management Richard Bristow (MFA ’97) is now do- for a few Bay Area interior ing voice over full time. After launching his designers as well as designs voice over website, www.bristowvo.com, and builds custom furni- he booked a National radio commercial for ture and art from reclaimed Tecate beer. His most recent gigs have been and recycled materials. a Holiday spot for the Texas Lottery and a “boss” in an audiogame (videogame for Catherine Fritsch (BA the blind) for Blastbay Studios in Sweden! ’96) continues to work as Many of Richard’s theatre students at Berry a designer, pattern maker College also played characters or bosses in and sample maker for local the game entitled “The Gate.” He was also fashion entrepreneurs at selected to voice the new Berry College her business Mercurious “Life Ready” campaign video. Richard also Designs (est. Noblesville donates his time to AIRS-LA, the audio 2007). She still occasionally internet reading service for the blind. You do costume work for IRT can listen to his podcasts of the New York (this year: built a smatter- Times movie reviews at airsla.org ing of costumes for DK’s Ray Ben Livingston as Coleman Brown on the CBS series Elementary. & Ella, IRT’s Two Gentlemen Jeff Coté (MFA ’95) recently received of Verona, and later this year, The Great Darian Lindle (BA ’99) moved to the award for Gatsby). Her apparel brand, Rue Violet, is Seattle in 2000 after an internship at Best Principal growing as well. the Steppenwolf. There she interned for Actor by The Seattle Repertory Theatre in directing and San Fran- Suzanne Schuckel Heath (BA ’90), dramaturgy. She has since been a direc- cisco Bay Area based in New York City, is now represented tor, actor, theatre educator and playwright Theatre Critics by literary agent Courtney Miller-Callihan about town. Of her 17 plays, all but one Circle for the from the Sanford J. Greenburger agency. have been produced. In 2010 her adapta- play The Book She’s a novelist who is currently enjoying tion of The Westing Game was published by of Matthew incorporating elements of her theatrical Dramatic Publishing and is now produced (Leibowitz) by past into the Gothic horror novel she’s at schools across the country. Her next Gene working on. She’s got a fifth grade son, play, The Secret and Impossible League of the Abravaya. third grade daughter, a husband, and a one- NooSphere, is a science fiction commission eyed-cat. She would love to stay in touch by Live Girls! Theater which will open in Steven Cole Hughes (BA ’95) had his with IU alum...please find her on Facebook spring 2016. She is also working on a post- latest play A Good Indian presented in a or on Twitter @zannieSH. apocalyptic musical and her first novel. She staged reading at the inaugural New Works is married to sound artist Nick Notis and Festival, at the historic Elitch Theatre in Suzanne Lang Fodor (BA ’96) is teach- has young twin daughters. Denver, CO in August. He accepted a one ing and advising at DePaul University, year contract to teach theatre at Western Chicago in The Theatre School and have Joel Markus (BA ’96) is in his fifth State Colorado University in Gunnison, been a part of their faculty for 8 years. season as Production Manager at the Wal-

PAGE 20 l FALL 2015 STAGES nut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Other LaRonika Thomas (BA ’99) is a doc- out the film website at www.keeptalkingth- credits: ten seasons at the Indiana Reper- toral candidate at the University of efilm.com or on Facebook (search for Keep tory Theatre; four years at Geva Theatre Maryland with research interests in Talking - the film) and follow on Twitter @ Center in Rochester, NY; five summers performances of urban planning, cultural keeptalkingfilm. at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont; space and cultural policy, particularly in American Players Theatre in Spring Green, 21st century Chicago, online archiving Wisconsin; and North Shore Music Theatre and databases in the new play world, and 2000S in Beverly, Massachusetts. technology and performance. As profes- Ira Amyx (MFA ’03) recently appeared sional dramaturg, producer, and writer, on episodes Shameless (Showtime), Sirens Derek Miller (BA ’97) appeared on LaRonika worked in arts education, literary (USA Network), and Chicago P.D. (NBC). Comedy Central’s Drunk History nar- management, and dramaturgy in Chicago He has independent films soon to be rating the story of “The Birth of Mickey and in the Baltimore/DC area for a decade released including Thrill Ride, Resurrect- Mouse” in the Hollywood episode. He also before returning to school for her doctor- ing McGinns with IU alum Lia Mortensen recently completed filming on an as-of-now ate. She has worked in various capacities (BA’88), and The Dwarves of Demrel unnamed pilot with fellow alum Nicole with the Goodman Theatre, the Public with fellow IU alum, Happy Anderson Parker (BA ’00). Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The (MFA’02). Ira is co-owner of Hero Solu- Kennedy Center, Woolly tions, a prop, set and special effects studio Mammoth Theatre Com- serving the Chicagoland film and commer- pany, Centerstage, The cial community. Playwright’s Center, The Neo-Futurists, and Writers’ Happy Anderson (MFA ’02) currently Theatre, among others. can be seen in the second season of the Her work has been funded Cinemax series The Knick as Jimmy. Happy by LMDA, the University recently wrapped up filming on the new of Maryland, and the City Cinemax series Quarry playing Detective of Chicago. Her chapter, Verne Ratliffe. He appeared in the staged “Digital Dramaturgy and reading of There’s Never A Gavin, by Amy Digital Dramaturgs” is in- E. Witting at the Atlantic Theatre Com- cluded in the volume, The pany. And Addiction: A 60’s Love Story had Routledge Companion to its New York Premiere November 6th at Dramaturgy. She serves as Cinema Village in NYC. Also look for Nicole Parker (BA’00) and Derek Miller(BA’97) recently completed the Vice President for Regional Happy in Hit Men on the festival circuit in work on a new television pilot. They are pictured with the full cast. Activity for Literary Managers 2016 along with fellow alum Ira Amyx. & Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) Chris Petrelli (BA ’98) serves as the and as the Electronic Communications Director of Programs and Education at Co-Chair for ATHE’s Dramaturgy Focus Conner Prairie Museum in Fishers, Indi- Group. She and her husband, Nate Larson, ana. currently live in Baltimore, MD.

Annie (Boedeker) Roberts (BA ’99) Karen Weinberg (BA ’95) spent the was recently promoted to VP, Casting and first 10 years after graduation acting in Talent Development for E! Entertainment Chicago theatre productions, working with Television. a variety of companies including the Neo- Futurists and the Cupid players. She moved Diane Timmerman (MFA ’93) is Chair to Brooklyn, New York in 2005 and spent of Theatre at Butler University and Produc- 6 years there, which included acting in ing Artistic Director of the Heartland Ac- the successful off-Broadway production of tors’ Repertory Theatre (HART), an Equity Seussical as Gertrude McFuzz and singing Happy Anderson as Jimmy in the company in Indianapolis that produces on the cast album for that production. At Cinemax series, The Knick free Shakespeare productions each summer. the same time she transitioned to a career Favorite recent acting appearances include as a television and film editor, working on Rancho Mirage, August: Osage County, and feature films and shows for PBS and the Vanessa Ballam (MFA ’06) is the Head Bug at the Phoenix Theatre andOthello and History Channel. She now lives with her of Acting in the theatre department at Much Ado About Nothing for HART. Diane wife Marjorie and two dogs back in Chi- Idaho State University where she is starting is a Designated Linklater voice teacher and cago, and is currently directing/producing a her fourth year in the tenure track posi- the author of Spare Scenes: 60 Skeletal Scenes feature documentary about an endangered tion. She is also the Education Director for for Acting and Directing. Alaska Native language and the teachers Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. who are working to save it. Please check In the last year she portrayed Fantine in

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Les Miserables and Princess Margaret in The & Fundraising Officer of Pittsburgh Musi- Angelique Cabral (BA ’01) is currently Student Prince at UFOMT, she directed A cal Theater after four years as the Individual starring as Colleen in the new CBS sitcom Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Fo- Giving Manager with the Pittsburgh Sym- Life of Pieces Mondays at 8:30pm. She also rum for the Old Lyric Repertory Company, phony Orchestra. Jennifer and appeared on episodes of State of Affairs, and she directed The Musical of Musicals, Backstrom, NCIS: Los Angeles, Chicago P.D., the Musical for ISU. Upcoming directing Andrew Birnie (BA ’04) also recently and The Odd Couple last year. projects include: The Glass Menagerie and celebrated eight years of marriage. Their Guys and Dolls at ISU, and Bravo Caruso daughter Carley is 2 and a budding dramat- Yuri Cataldo (BA ’04) has had a busy for UFOMT. This fall she performed at ic. Andrew Birnie transitioned from Bayer year. In addition to teaching scenic design The Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland in Material Sciences to Covestro in Septem- at Indiana University South Bend, he their new production of A Christmas Carol. ber, 2015 in Industrial Marketing. Andrew started to teach marketing classes to art She is married to actor Stefan Espinosa and and Jennifer live in Sewickley, Pennsylvania students and launched a new class called they have a son named Sebastian. and get back to Bloomington at least once “Art Entrepreneurship”. He was a featured a year to relive the glory days of IU and speaker at the Self Employment In the Jude “J.D.” Biersdorfer (BA ’03) always make time to visit the Theater, the Arts Conference in early 2015 in addition served as a properties master/wardrobe as- place of their first meeting. to speaking gigs at Stanford and Princeton sistant in a few regional theaters in the late about Art Entrepreneurship. In May he was 1980s, including Bucks County Playhouse Seamus M. Bourne (MFA ’09) wel- hired to be the Director of Creative Enter- in Pennsylvania, Arena Stage in Wash- comed with his wife Anna the arrival of prises at Emerson College in Boston and ington, DC, and Soho Repertory in New twins Madeleine Jane Ramsey Bourne & launch their brand new program geared at York City. After a few non-union tech jobs Holden James Marshall Bourne on October helping artists become entrepreneurs. In in NYC, she got a job as a typesetter at 31, 2014. He was also promoted to Clini- February 2015 his bottled water company Rolling Stone magazine in 1988 (thanks to cal Assistant Professor of Theatre at Berry IndigoH2O was featured in the gift baskets four years in the production department College where he teaches Scenic Design/ at the Oscars and during the same week- at the Indiana Daily Student) and has been Technology & Stage Management. He end it won a GOLD medal at the Berkley in magazine/newspaper/book publishing received two Faculty Design Merit Awards Springs International Water Tasting making ever since. She has been at The New York from Region IV of KCACTF where he was it the best tasting water in the world for Times since 1994 and currently serves as also named Stage Management Coordina- 2015. Because of those events he was fea- the production editor for the Sunday Book tor. He joined United Scenic Artists Local tured in 25 news stories and articles in the Review section. She has also been writing 829 in May. Production Highlights Include: following few weeks. (BuzzFeed, Playboy, the paper’s weekly computer Q&A column The Servant of Two Masters, Jar the Floor, CNN, CNBC, IndyStar). This summer he since 1998 and the Book Review’s Applied Knuffle Bunny (Assistant Designer), and designed costumes for a production of Over Reading column since 2012. She is the au- Click Clack Moo (Scenic Artist @ Center The River and Through The Woods at Florida thor or co-author of eight books (mostly in for Puppetry Arts). Studio Theater in Sarasota, FL. O’Reilly Media’s “Missing Manuals” series) and has written numerous freelance articles Kate Braun (BA ’00) appeared this Christopher Crostic (MFA ’06) has for other publications, including From- summer in the Adirondack Theatre Fes- been at Stevenson University located out- mer’s Budget Travel and the AIGA Journal of tival’s production of Kalamzoo. She can side of Baltimore, MD since January 2009 Graphic Design. Fear not, the theater degree also be seen in the play Billy Witch at the and was just promoted from Assistant to did not go to waste — she performed in Bloomington Playwrights’ Project, directed Associate Professor. a series of tech-help videos for The Times by Rob Heller (MFA ’15). in 2008-2009 (where she Eileen Curley (Ph.D. ’06) did her own props) and recently published an article, co-hosted the NYT’s tech “Parlor Conflagrations: Science podcast for five years. She and Special Effects in Manu- currently scripts, blogs and als for Amateur Theatricals,” in co-hosts a weekly audio Popular Entertainment Studies. podcast called Pop Tech https://novaojs.newcastle.edu. Jam that covers technology au/ojs/index.php/pes/article/ news/geek pop culture and view/151/123. She has been selected moderates an annual panel to teach in her college’s Freshman on diversity in comic books Florence Experience program at New York Comic Con. and will be spending the fall 2015 semester teaching “Writing for Jennifer (Froehlich) College: Performing Florence” at Birnie (BA ’03) has just the Marist College / Istituto de celebrated her first full Lorenzo de’ Medici campus in season as the Development Florence, Italy. The Cast of the new CBS sitcomLife in Pieces featuring Angelique Cabral (BA’01). PAGE 22 l FALL 2015 STAGES

’04), makes its world premiere this October was a NYTimes, Village Voice, and LA as part of the $50,000 Louisiana Film Prize. Times Critics’ Pick. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s ‘25 New Faces of Nicole Green (BA ’04) has been work- Indie Film’. She was also nominated for a ing for three years as an Academic Advisor Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Go- for Fulbright College, within the University tham Award (2014) and two Independent of Arkansas. She is also currently a fourth Spirit Awards (2015) for It Felt Like Love. year doctoral student at the University Her screenplay Beach Rats was selected for of Arkansas’s Higher Education program the Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab and is cur- where she is researching LGBTQ Faculty rently in development. She is a Professor of and Staff. Additionally, she recently mar- Film/Video at Pratt Institute. ried (July 2015) a wonderful woman who also works at the university. Sarah Kiperman (BA ’09) is in the Doctorate Program in School Psychology Kassi Heidenreich (BA ’02) has en- at Georgia State University. She is also per- Colin Donnell (BA’05) as Dr. Conor Rhodes from the new NBC drama Chicago Med. joyed a career in Medical Sales for the forming improv at The Basement Theater past 10 years. She has always dabbled in in Atlanta. Colin Donnell (BA ’05) is currently voice over work, which lead her to some working on the new TV series Chicago on camera performances. She signed with Jason Marr (MFA ’06) is the Artistic Med. He married Patti Murin in June and an agency in Indianapolis this past spring Director of Hip to Hip Theatre Company then the two went off to celebrate by star- and has been doing a few commercial spots in New York. This summer, the company ring in Holiday Inn at the St. Louis MUNY (Goodwill ads, industrial videos) and par- produced The Merry Wives of Windsor, in July. ticipated in the 48 Hour film project. directed by IU’s own Murray McGibbon, and The Merchant of Venice at a variety of Larry Dooley (PhD ’00) has been chair Kristen Held (MFA ’05) moved back to venues around the city, free of charge. of the Theatre Department at Columbus California after graduation where she State University, Georgia, since 2010. worked at the San Francisco Opera as a Pamela Miles (BA ’09) spent two years The department has nearly 170 majors in first hand until the birth of her first child. as the Scenic Charge Artist with both the BA, BFA, BS.Ed, and M.Ed. degree I’m now a full time writer/parent with two Forward Theater Company and Children’s tracks. The department recently received an kids (ages 6 & 8) and she recently sold her Theater of Madison in Madison, Wiscon- endowed chair in dance, with the intention debut novel, a young adult mystery that sin. In 2014 she accepted the position of the of adding a dance minor. In addition to its features what might be her dream costum- Scenic Charge Artist at Arizona Broadway regular season, a summer repertory series ing job. Holding Court is due from Entan- Theatre, in Peoria, Arizona. It is a profes- was begun in 2011. For the past seven years gled Teen/Macmillan on March 1, 2016. sional, year-round, 300 seat theater. They CSU Theatre has hosted the Georgia Thes- produce large, Broadway style musical pians Conference, which brings over 4,000 Brenden Patrick Hill (BA ’06) and productions, all of which are built and high school drama students to campus for a Paul Shoulberg (MFA ’07) produced and painted in house; 8 mainstage shows and 3-day festival of shows, workshops, and spe- wrote, respectively, the independent film 3 children’s shows. The technical staff also cial events. Columbus is also the home of Walter which had a special screening at the works closely with ABT’s Academy for the “State Theatre of Georgia,” the historic IU Cinema in March. The star-studded cast Young Performers, a day camp for children Springer Opera House, and Larry recently featured fellow IU alumnus Andrew J. West and young adults in the summer. appeared as “Mr. Saunders” in Lend Me a (BA ’06) in the title Tenor. role.

Rick “Bears” Fonte (MFA ’03): After Eliza Hittman three years as the Director of Programming (BA ’01) is an inde- for Austin Film Festival, last year Bears pendent filmmaker (as he is now known) founded the Other born and based Worlds Austin SciFi Film Festival. In ad- in New York. Her dition, he recently became the Director of critically acclaimed Programming for the inaugural St. Law- debut feature film rence International Film Festival based in It Felt Like Love Canton NY. He consults for film festivals premiered at the nationwide, as well with filmmakers on Sundance Film their film festival strategies. Bears Fonte Festival and the also writes reviews and features for AMFM International Film Magazine, focusing on Indie Film. His Festival Rotter- dam in 2013. It Andrew J. West (BA’06). Brenden Hill (BA’06) and Paul Shoulberg (MFA’07) sit on an IU latest short film, starringSara Fletcher (BA Theatre lobby bench that gives their production company, Purple Bench Films its name.

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Arian Moayed (BA ’02) can currently they are finding quite a bit of drama in the past year, he has designed lights and/or be seen in the new Barry Levinson film the raising of their aptly-named budding sound for 8 productions, including Twelfth Rock the Kasbah, starring Bill Murray. He thespians, and they hope to provide a stage Night, Edwin Drood, West Highland Way, wrote and directed the new Waterwell for their family in the near future. and three dance concerts. He also managed Films thriller, web series The Accidental 40 events and crewed a dozen touring pro- Wolf, starring Tony winner Kelli O’Hara. Kirsten Olson (BA ’09) is the Opera- ductions including Trans-Siberian Orches- It premiered October 19th. He appeared in tions Director of the Sino-US Diabetes tra, Wicked, and Judas Priest. He published the Atlantic Theatre production ofGuards Center. She is currently raising funds to two papers at USITT, bought a house, and at the Taj in May through July. Arian can produce a play for next year and in talks celebrated 13 years of marriage as well as his also currently be seen in Stephen Karam’s to work with a Hong Kong based theater children’s 2nd and 7th birthdays. play, The Humans at Roundabout Theatre company. Visit her online at https://www. Company through January 3rd. It will then linkedin.com/in/olsonkirsten. Clay Sanderson (BA ’05) went on to move to Broadway this spring. get an M.F.A. in Acting from The Theatre Nicole Parker (BA ’00) was recently in School at DePaul University and have the world-premiere musi- continued a professional acting career both cal, Dog and Pony, at the Old in Chicago, where he lived for eight years, Globe Theatre. Next she will be and Phoenix, where he currently resides. a featured performer this fall at He has appeared in over thirty professional the Houston Symphony POPS productions since graduating and he is in their program “Wicked the drama teacher at Tempe Preparatory Divas.” Academy. He can next be seen in both Hysteria and The Merry Wives of Windsor Christine Perrotta (BA with Southwest Shakespeare Company. He ’06) recently completed a encourages people to visit his website at production of In Fields Where www.claysanderson.com. They Lay with The Dreamscape Theatre at the New Ohio The- Graham Sheldon (BA ’09) both filmed atre in New York. She will also and appeared in NBC’s documentary be marrying Jonathan Ziese, survival series The Island, hosted by Bear IU Alumni Maddie Shea Baldwin (BFA’15). Rob Heller (MFA’15) met up with Arian Moayed (BA’02) after seeing Arian perform in a fellow graduate of The New Grylls. The show follows 14 American men Guards at the Taj last May in New York School for Drama, this coming as they struggle to survive on an uninhab- September. ited island in the Pacific Ocean. In July Noe Montez (PhD ’09) recently sub- and August, he produced a documentary mitted his manuscript Staging Memory: Alex Peurye-Hissong (BA ’09) is living project for PepsiCo and he is serving as Performing Transitional Justice in Argen- and working in Manhattan as an actor and Director of Photography on a six coun- tina’s Post-Dictatorship to press where it is entrepreneur. He just graduated from the try digitally distributed show for Disney currently under review. This year, Noe has Tom Todoroff Conservatory, a two year owned Maker Studios in Russia, Vietnam, been elected as the conference planner for professional acting conservatory in NYC, Australia, The Philippines, Japan and Mon- ATHE’s Latina/o Focus Group and as a and booked his first show post conserva- golia until September. member of ASTR’s Executive Committee. tory, a holiday comedy. He also works as He has also joined the board of directors CFO of Jupiter for Boston’s Company One Theatre. Last Highway, a cre- year Noe directed Beckett’s Footfalls with ative cooperative, Boston ensemble Fifth Floor Collective and runs his own and in February he will be directing Next to accounting firm. Normal at Tufts University. Matt Reyn- Hannah Moss (BA ’07) is married to olds (BA ’08) fellow IU theatre graduate David Nosko is starting his (BA ’09). They both founded and managed 4th year as the Theatre of the People, an inclusive non- Theatre Man- profit community theatre in Bloomington ager/Resident from 2009 to 2012, after which they took a Lighting & hiatus from theatre to move to Pittsburgh, Sound Designer PA. They now have two vivacious children, at New Mexico Henrik Wilde and Eleanor Jane, and they State University, are working in social services. Although Department of Graham Sheldon (BA’09) [back row far right] with the cast of The Island. absent from the stage for the time being, Theatre Arts. In

PAGE 24 l FALL 2015 STAGES Wolf J. Sherrill (MFA ’00) is an As- sociate Professor and the Chair of Acting/Directing at James Madison University. He has been on contract with Rosetta Stone for the past 5 years and can be heard and seen around the globe in voice over and video products. Other recent projects include playing the lead in a fantasy pilot entitled The Rangers and a YouTube campaign for Purina’s Tidy Cats as kitten behaviorist Lars Montana. Wolf resides in Harrisonburg, VA with his wife Alexi, son Keegan, and two cats, Caesar and Maximilian. He can be found on the web at www.wolfjsherrill.com.

Jorie Slodki (BA ’07) recently began her new position as Director of Educa- tion for Burning Coal Theatre Company in Raleigh, NC. Mara Lefler (MFA’15). Zachary Spicer* (BA’07), and Amanda Catania* in Indiana Festival Theatre’s As You Like It. Amanda Smith (BA ’07) wrapped up * Zachary and Amanda appear courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association the holiday season in January, performing way Stage” in Theatre Annual (2015) and “A promoted to Senior Assistant Director of in Grinchmas at Universal Studios’ Island Doughgirl with the Doughboys: Elsie Janis, Recruitment and Outreach as well as the of Adventure as Holly, the musician Who. ‘The Regular Girl,’ and the Performance of Transfer Specialist. This summer, she was an extra in a music Gender in World War I Entertainment” in video (“Forever Stuck in our Youth”) for Theatre History Studies(2014). DeAnna is Julia Weiss (BA ’07) recently performed the rock band Set It Off. She continues also active with the work of the National with The Second City touring company at to work full-time at Walt Disney World Association of Schools of Theatre and sits the union. as a performer in the parades and shows as a member of the Commission on Ac- at Magic Kingdom. This fall she will be creditation. 2010S working seasonally at Universal Studios as a scare actor in their 25th year of Halloween Ansley Valentine (MFA ’00) received Jamie Anderson (BFA ’12) started Horror Nights. the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion at the working for Michael Cassara Casting in Region III Kennedy Center American Col- New York City as well as a freelance direc- Zachary Spicer (BA ’06) returned to lege Theater Festival. “I am very honored tor in the beginning of 2015 after perform- Bloomington this summer to play the leads and humbled. I really owe a lot to the ing regionally across the country. in both As You Like It (Orlando) and The training and experience at IU. Getting my Gentleman from Indiana (John Harkless) MFA at IU literally changed the course of Joshua Annable (BA ’14) is currently for the Indiana Festival Theatre. He is plan- my life and career.” Ansley is the Director running a theater department for the first ning another return later this year to shoot of Theatre, Forest Roberts Theatre, North- summer camp in China—summer camps his first film,The Good Catholic, written by ern Michigan University. are a hot topic at the moment in China and fellow alum, Paul Shoulberg (MFA’07). many Chinese feel they are amazing and Zach and John Armstrong (BA’07) started Eric Van Thielen (MFA ’07) was called want to start them here, while there are just their own production company, Pigasus back to Broadway in August for a short run as many that feel they are a waste of time. I Pictures, in 2014. with the cast of Les Miserables. He joined am working at “Camp IDEAS” located in the cast of Prince of Broadway as the male Beidaihe China, just southeast of Beijing DeAnna Toten Beard (PhD ’01) has swing this fall. The production opened in on the ocean. This camp will be the test been promoted to the rank of Professor Toyko in October and moved to Osaka to see if summer camps become a thing in at Baylor University where she serves as through December. It is scheduled to open China. I work with Chinese students ages the associate chair of the Department of on Broadway in spring 2016. 7 – 15, giving them their fist taste of theater, Theatre Arts. DeAnna also co-directs the and train the Chinese staff on how to run, Baylor in Oxford program in England each Kelly Waggoner (BA ’07) is not in the preform, and generally put on a theatrical summer. Her ongoing historical work is acting world, though she is still in front production. It’s a lot of fun and I am enjoy- on the topic of theatre and World War I, of a crowd recruiting prospective fresh- ing every day: the children are really taking including “Inspiration and Atmosphere in man and transfer students for IU. She to drama and seem to love it. Getting Together: A War Play: Stage Authen- has worked in the Office of Admissions ticity and the WWI Soldier on the Broad- since December of 2005 and was recently After graduation, Juliet Barrett (BA ’14) took off for a grand adventure in South

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America and has been living in Cuenca, Brittany Brewer (BA ’14) just gradu- (2015/16). His play Dontrell, Who Kissed the Ecuador ever since. Over the past year she’s ated from Brown University with her Mas- Sea received a 2014 Steinberg/ATCA New embraced all that comes with living in a ter of Arts in Teaching (Secondary English Play Citation and productions in LA, Cleve- new culture, and made more grammatical Education). Starting in September, she will land, Eugene OR, Indianapolis and DC. errors in Spanish than she cares to admit. be a professional apprentice at the Arden The Wind and the Breeze was workshopped Life in South America has given her the Theatre in Philly. at the New Harmony Project (May 2015) flexibility to explore other artistic medi- ums, including: joining the art collective Ethan Carpenter (BFA ’12) is based in Tyler DeLong (BA ’10) graduated with a Lakomuna and collaborating on multiple Seattle, which has been very good to him. degree in theatre concentrating in technol- murals around Ecuador, pursuing freelance He appeared at Village Theatre inLes Mis- ogy. Since leaving IU Tyler has spent time commissions as a painter and writer, as well erables (Combeferre) and Funny Girl (John/ with Cavalia’s Odysseo where he was on as the opportunity to sing/perform weekly Ensemble). The 5th Avenue Theatre hired the rigging and automation team during with the Jazz Society of Ecuador. So far him for a reading of a new version of Le- creation and then toured as the Day-Time Juliet’s favorite experience was participating rner and Loewe’s classic Paint Your Wagon. Head of Rigging and Automation. Upon in a week-long intensive Grotowski work- He then booked again in Seattle, working leaving the cirque he spent a few months shop hosted by company members from on the mainstage at 5th Avenue Theatre bouncing between cruise ships working on the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and in A Chorus Line. Directly after, he played their automation systems. Post ships Tyler Thomas Richards in Pontedera, Italy.” Matt in The Fantasticks with Showtunes served as a Carpenter for the International Theatre. Indiana called him back again, tours of The Addams Family, and Mamma Mark Banik (BA ’10) has joined the and he played Marius in Les Miserables with Mia and then as Head Carpenter on the In- cast of the national tour of Beautiful - the Different Stages in Huntington, IN last ternational tour of Bring It On the Musical. Most recently Tyler has been on tour with Carole King Story. He is in the ensemble Christmas. He is currently in the develop- the International Tour of Blue Man Group and the show will be in Chicago from ment lab of Paint Your Wagon at the 5th as the Rigging and Automation technician. December 1 - February 21. Avenue Theatre. This fall/winter, he will be in My Fair Lady with Village Theatre, Aaron Densley (BFA ’13) recently got Leslie Ann Boyden (BA ’14) moved to and will return to Paint Your Wagon for the back from the National Arts Festival in Gra- the Greater Philadelphia Area to pursue full production in 2016 with 5th Avenue hamstown, South Africa, where he appeared her career options. She was the 2014-2015 Theatre. in the world premiere of I.D., a devised Stage Manager for the Lively Arts Series at Montgomery County Community College Jonathan Courtemanche (MFA ’11) is and interned at Theatre Horizon. She will the Assistant to the Director at the Florida shortly begin a stage management fellow- State University/Asolo Conservatory for ship at the Hedgerow Theatre. Actor Training in Sarasota, FL. Also, on April 4, 2015, he got married, and thanks to the recent Supreme Court rul- ing, it’s legal in all 50 states!

Lee Cromwell (MFA ’14) moved to Washington DC after graduating. He worked for several months at the National Theatre and is now in his second year as Associate Producer for the Source Festival (http://www. sourcefestival.org). He produced Kelly Lusk’s (a love story) for the piece in collaboration with Nsangou Jikam 2015 festival. Lee has seen fellow (a.k.a. Glenn Gordon) from The Public’s IU alums Jaysen Wright and emerging writers group. They will be per- Andrew Brewer (BFA’10) with the BFA Musical Theatre senior class dur- Shanta Parasuraman in several ing their showcase trip to New York. Andrew gave the seniors a backstage forming it next summer at the Edinburgh tour of the Beautiful set and the Stepen Sondheim Theatre. productions in the DC Metro Fringe Festival, with hopes to perform it at area. He is building a coaching The Public Theatre in New York and the Andrew Brewer (BFA ’10) was the male studio for singers and actors in the Alexan- Fugard Theatre in Cape Town. He was also swing for Beautiful - the Carole King Story dria area. recently in another devised piece called in the spring, and has now joined has Drifting, dealing with end of life care for joined the cast of the production’s national Nathan Davis (MFA ’14) is in his sec- those with traumatic brain injury. He also tour. ond and final year in the playwriting appeared as a marine in an educational film program at Juilliard. He received a 2050 Fel- for the Department of Defense Wounded lowship from New York Theatre Workshop Warrior Project.

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Christians by Lucas Hnath, directed by Les Kimmel Live where she is frequently asked to Kristl Densley (MFA ’12) has been Waters, after having spent a year as their SM rehearse and perform in sketches/bits on the teaching acting during the summer session Resident working on three of their shows show, both with Jimmy as well as for guests at Penn State. last season (Bootycandy, Pocatello, and Iowa). on the show to review.

Jess Drew (MA ’13) landed a promotion Leila Gorstein (BA ’14) moved to Chi- Justin Harner (BA ’10) has fallen into a and now works for Alumni Relations & cago to do theatre and comedy! She is musical director role since moving to Development at Northwestern University, finishing the iO Training center and The Chicago in 2015. He was assistant musical which she is loving. Jess also finished her Second City Conservatory. A few months director and accompanist last winter for the Grant Writing Certificate through DePaul after moving to Chicago, she was part of Jeff-recommendedBook of Merman with University, and taught gifted kids theatre the show Red, White, and Blaine, a staged Pride Films & Plays, and he just completed over the summer for the Center for Talent production of the musical from the Chris- a Jeff-recommended run of the Chicago Development for the third year in a row. topher Guest movie Waiting for Guffman. store-front premiere of [title of show] as the Right now, she is working with fellow IU She performed in the Annual Chicago character Larry (and assistant musical direc- alum Kelly Lusk on his new play, king oedi- Sketchfest with her three woman sketch tor/accompanist) with Brown Paper Box pus, as a dramaturg. group Three Way Kiss, where they had a Company, of which he is an Artistic Associ- sold out show! Evelyn Gaynor directed the ate. Up next is the Midwest premiere of the Claire Drews (BA ’15) moved to Chi- Sketchfest show. Leila is currently perform- off-Broadway hitTriassic Parq (Jurassic Park cago after graduating in May. Her first ing in a musical called Ready for Hillary: The told from the perspective of the dinosaurs), performing job will be playing Maureen in a Musical, a wacky musical following Hillary where he will act as musical director, ac- production of RENT for World AIDS Day Clinton’s 2016 Campaign trail. She is also companist, and conductor for Circle Theatre in December. performing with Improvised Mythology, (www.circletheatrechicago.org). where they wear togas and improvise a myth Katherine Duffy (BA ’13) was an acting that has never been seen before. And finally Nick Heinzen (BA ’15) has taken a De- intern at The Milwaukee Rep this past she performs with her improv group Alter- velopment Coordinator position with season appearing in A Christmas Carol and boyz every week at iO! During the day, she Stanford University, within the Stanford understudying roles in Harvey, Good People works at an Athletic Recruitment company. School of Medicine / Stanford Health Care and all the roles in the one woman show The If anyone ever has any questions about the Hospital. Amish Project. She is currently the summer theatre/ improv scene in Chicago, definitely artist in residence at Third Avenue Play- let her know! Molly Herman (BA ’13) begins her house in Door County playing the title roles second season at Actors Theatre of Louis- in Educating Rita and Sylvia. Nicholas Graves (MFA ’12) is Assistant ville. Last season she was a Costume Con- Professor at the University of struction Journeyman, a Paul Owens Fellow. Northern Colorado, where he This will be her first season as one of their designs scenery and teaches Wardrobe Supervisors. classes in stage management, scenic technology, orientation Satsu Holmes (BA ’14) has worked to theatre technology, digital almost exclusively in the Bloomington arts media for theatre, theatrical scene since graduation. In Spring 2015, drafting, and design for sec- she co-choreographed IU Opera Theatre’s ondarily education majors. He production of South Pacific and worked as a teaches workshops throughout wardrobe supervisor or dresser for IU The- the western United States and atre’s productions of Romeo and Juliet, Sing recruits for one of the nation’s To Me Now, and Into the Woods. In Summer top ranked undergraduate de- 2015, she interned with Indiana Festival The- sign and technology programs. atre (IFT) Marketing and Communications, Katherine Duffy (BA’13) [bottom row on the right] with members of the He also freelances as a scenic worked as a dresser for IFT’s Seussical, and ensemble cast in the Milwaukee Rep’s A Christmas Carol. designer in Montana, Colo- both consulted and acted in a series of video rado, and Texas. vignettes linked to dissertation research in the IU Department of Sociology. She also Jacque Emord-Netzley (BA ’13) works Samantha Gurnick (BA ’11) lives in Los started a dance class, DMT: Dance for Mu- in the WEE Arts Program at The Children’s Angeles where she has performed at the LA sicians and Thespians, which was supported Museum of the Arts (CMA) in Manhattan Fringe Festival and has helped write and by the IU African American Arts Institute; and is starting to begin auditioning. perform for an original web series called Bite and she led a hula workshop during the Sized. The second season wrapped earlier IU High School Summer Dance Intensive. Joseph Fernandez, Jr. (BM and BSOF this year and was also recently accepted into This fall, Satsu will move to Lille, France ’13) is very excited about getting his Equity the Miami Web Fest. She studies improv on a contract from the Teaching Assistant card at Playwrights Horizons as an Assistant at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Program in France (TAPIF). In addition to Stage Manager on their season opener The and works as a segment researcher at Jimmy her teaching duties, Satsu will seek to make

PAGE 27 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE and present work in western Europe and the alumni and freelanced as an Assistant Stage of Martin Charnin. Before leaving for tour United Kingdom. Manager in the Chicago theatre community. he worked at Westchester Broadway Theatre Just this August she moved to California doing their productions of Mary Poppins John Houtler-McCoy (MFA ’14) moved to pursue a Masters in Arts Management, (Swing) and Ragtime (Younger Brother u/s). to Bristol, PA to work at the Bristol focusing on Non-Profit Arts at Claremont He also participated in the Broadway Cares Riverside Theatre as their resident Techni- Graduate University in the LA area. She Easter Bonnet last year and has been pursu- cal Director. He worked on 9 productions is looking forward to working within the ing voice over work Now he is happily living there including The 39 Steps, Lost in Yonkers, Southern California arts community while in New York! Always...Patsy Cline, Ragtime, and Enemy of completing her degree. the People, as well as 4 concert productions. Maggie McCoy (BA ’14) works at Gray John and his wife celebrated their second Courtney Lucien (BA ’14) spent the Talent Group in Chicago, IL as an Associate child, Eli, born in April, in addition to past year with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Agent and loves every moment, particularly their 5 year old, Jayne. Upcoming, they will Company. As part of the touring ensemble, her fellow agents and the hard working be moving to Milwaukee, WI as John has she performed three Shakespeare plays in actors. The agency has placed numerous accepted a position at the Skylight Music parks, schools, community centers, libraries, actors on Empire, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD Theatre as their Technical Director. Produc- etc. throughout the year. They also taught and now Chicago Med as well as the many tion credits will include Tosca, My Fair Lady, Shakespeare to students through workshops pilots that came out this past Pilot Season. Powder Her Face, Crowns: A gospel musical, and master classes. She also performed in They have also placed actors on Broadway as Pirates of Penzance, as well as Dear Elizabeth, six mainstage shows in the season, including “Simba” in The Lion King and in countless Love Stories, Slow Girl, and Fallen Angels. Amy March in Little Women and Pauline films includingDivergent and the upcoming in One Man, Two Guvnors. In August, she ChIraq. Chika Ike (BA ’13) is part of Victory relocated to Chicago, but she will re- Gardens Theater’s new Directors Inclusion turn to CSC in February 2016 to play Initiative, a program designed to cultivate Emma in Emma, written by Jon Jory. a new generation of diverse stage directors, where will also serve as the assistant director Kelly Lusk’s (MFA ’14) play (a for The House that Will Not Stand at Victory love story) has been produced this year Gardens Theater this May. at UCF in Florida and at the Source Festival in DC. Through the Play- Mark Kamie (MFA ’12) was named one wright’s Center he workshopped Lacy of the best directors of 2014 by DC Metro and Ashley Live in a Trailer Now. Kelly Arts for his direction of Nightfall with Edgar also got hired by an online literary Allen Poe, which was nominated for a Helen magazine called Priceless Pennies here Hayes Awards for best choreography of a in Chicago. The Queen City Queer play. He will be directing Eric Coble’s The Collective Theatre in Cincinnati is Maggie McCoy (BA’14) [far left] with the staff of Gray Talent Group - Chicago. Giver for Carroll Community College in doing a reading of (a love story) in Fall. September. And in late August Chika Ike Utam Moses (BS ’10) was chosen as an will be directing his play king oedipus here artist in residence by Earth Dance in Hannah Kennedy (BA ’12) is in her in Chicago. Kelly also reports that his cat Plainfield, Massachusetts as part of the E/ fourth year with the Chicago Shakespeare turned three this fall. Merge Interdisciplinary Residency Program, Theater. She is the Public Relations Associ- a highly curated program that fosters a ate for the Theater, managing all media John Machesky (BA ’13) was just in an yearlong collaboration between artists across contacts and requests and overseeing in- original theater production in Chicago disciplines, a two week intensive residency house photo/video projects and social media called Black River Falls. He is with Chosen at Earth Dance, and culminated in a series channels. Check out www.chicagoshakes. male model management and Stewart tal- of performances and workshops showcasing com and on Facebook: www.facebook. ent. the new works. com/chicagoshakespeare, Twitter: @chicagoshakes and Instagram: @chicagoshakes. Alycia Matz (BA ’13) interned with Grant Niezgodski (BA ’14) will be join- She is working with fellow IU Theatre and PCPA-Pacific Conservatory Theatre in Santa ing the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company University Players alumnus Sam Ostrowski, Maria, CA, where she had the opportunity as a guest artist this fall to play Christian in who works in the Advancement Office as to design costumes for two of their main- Cyrano De Bergerac. the Special Projects Coordinator. stage shows, Forever Plaid and The Penelo- piad. This fall, she will start her MFA in Jason Orlenko (MFA ’12) designed the After graduating from IU, Britney Stage Design at Northwestern University in costumes for the world premiere opera The Kuehm (BA ’10) went on to work with Evanston, IL. Snow Dragon at Skylight Music Theatre in Theatre Aspen as a Production Manage- Milwaukee; the production then moved to ment Intern and Portland Stage Company Evan Mayer (BFA ’13) most recently Opera Siam in Thailand this summer. Also as a Stage Management Intern. She moved finished the National Tour of Annie as the around Wisconsin, Jason has been designing to Chicago is Fall 2011 with fellow IU Swing/Dance Captain, under the direction for Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renais-

PAGE 28 l FALL 2015 STAGES sance Theaterworks, Children’s Theatre of Daniel Reinglass (BA ’10) has been Hana Slevin (BFA ’12) is in a new musical Madison, In Tandem Theatre and UW- working at Writers Theatre on Chicago’s in the New York International Fringe Festi- Milwaukee Theatre. He has also spent the North Shore for more than two years. He val (in August) with several IU alums! Evan last two summers as an Assistant Costume was recently promoted from Development Rees (BS ‘14) is music directing, and I’m in Designer at American Player’s Theatre in Coordinator to Advancement Manager, it along with Nick Pecoraro (BFA ‘14) and Spring Green, WI. Upcoming design work overseeing the theatre’s Annual Fund op- Markus McClain (BFA ‘15). The show is includes A Charlie Brown Christmas at First erations, development intern program, called To Dance, and it’s about the Russian- Stage Children’s Theatre, The Devil’s Music: digital fundraising campaigns, and database Jewish ballet dancer Valery Panov and his The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith at the information and assisting with fundraising struggle to dance in Russia during the Cold Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and Noel galas, major gifts, and cultivation events. War. Read more at http://www.todancethe- Coward’s Fallen Angels at Milwaukee Cham- Additionally, he oversees the Young Profes- musical.com. ber Theatre. sionals Circle (YPC), the junior board of the League of Chicago Theatres, which is Adam St. John (MFA ’14) played Pal- Christina Rose Rahna (BA ’10) per- responsible for opening up the performing amon in The Two Noble Kinsmen at Green formed in two musicals at the La Comedia arts scene to young professionals in Chicago Stage, Seattle’s Shakespeare in the Park Dinner Theatre, did several cabarets and through a monthly theatre-going program, company. benefits in NYC, and became EMC by themed engagement events and digital com- performing in Smoke on the Mountain at munications. Katie Taylor (BA ’11) spent the last year Beef & Boards in Indianapolis. She is also a in London and took some visits to Russia musician and play five instruments: violin, Tom Robson (Ph.D ’11) is entering his and Iceland. She got accepted into a grad guitar, mandolin, upright bass, and auto- fifth year as an assistant professor of Theatre program at a little Lutheran university in harp. & Dance at Millikin University, where he California where she will study International teaches courses in theatre history, dra- Development. Part of the program requires CJ Pawlikowski (BFA ’12) is currently matic literature, directing, and playwrit- that we spend a year in China teaching, on the national tour of The Book of Mormon. ing. This fall he will be directing Roberto studying, and conducting research. “And I He is part of the ensemble alongside fellow Aguirre-Sacasa’s play Rough Magic as part got married to a handsome fellow!” IU alum Charnette Batey (BFA ’12). CJ of Millikin’s season. His most recent article, and Charnette are with the tour performing “Advertising and the Commercial Spirit: Abby Wells (MFA ’12) has been living in dates in the eastern half of the country. Cataloging Nineteenth-Century Scenic Stu- New York for the past three years. She cur- dio Practices” appears in the edited collec- rently works at Vibrant Design, a freelance tion Working in the Wings: New Perspectives TV Production Company, as a Lighting on Theatre History and Labor, published in Director. This year they have designed ‘Lip 2015 by SIU Press. Sync Battle’ for Spike TV, ’The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore’ for Comedy David Sernick (BA ’10) has moved on Central, MTV’s ‘Wild’N Out with Nick from The Flea Theater as Marketing Man- Cannon’, and Logo TV’s ‘Trailblazer ager to become the Marketing Manager at Awards’, among other things. While Abby Signature Theatre Company. mostly works in TV, she has to continue her love of theatre in New York as well. In Janu- Kelsey Shaw (BFA ’15) graduated in ary, she was the lighting designer on an in- May and joined the cast of the national tour dependent project called Frozen (no relation of Annie in August. She will be with the cast to the Disney movie) and she co-designed when they come to Bloomington to perform Rock of Ages at the Gateway Playhouse in at the IU Auditorium in February 2016. Long Island this past May. CJ Pawlikowski (center) with fellow IU alum and Book of Mormon castmate Charnette Batey (right) and After having her son, Ian, in March In the past year, Jaysen Wright (MFA another ensemble member before a performance in Philadelphia. 2014, Katie Cowan Sickmeier (MFA ’12) ’12) has played Darren Lemming in Take Me designed My Fair Lady at Actors Theatre Out at 1st Stage in Virginia and Anthony Julian Ramos (BFA ’14) was a swing for of Indiana and returned to IU to design Justin James in Choir Boy at The Studio Legally Blonde with Norwegian Cruise lines M. Butterfly. She was the assistant costume Theatre in Washington, DC. He recently and is now a Playlist Singer for The Carnival designer on the Indianapolis Symphony returned from San Francisco, where he Legend. He started off in Sydney, Australia Orchestra’s Yuletide Celebration for a second reprised his role as Anthony in Choir Boy and has been to New Caledonia islands, year. This upcoming season she is designing at the Marin Theatre Company. He’s in Bora Bora, Tahiti, Hawaii and now Alaska The Fantasticks and Sweeney Todd at ATI, rehearsals for the world premiere of Now where he will be until August 26. Then, it’s returning to ISO for the 30th anniversary of Comes the Night at 1st Stage. His upcoming back in NYC to approach another beautiful Yuletide, and designing Bridge & Tunnel at season includes Sons of the Prophet at Theatre year as an artist! the Indiana Repertory Theatre. J in DC, and the title role in Looking for Roberto Clemente at Imagination Stage in Maryland. Jaysen is now a proud member of

PAGE 29 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE the Actor’s Equity Association. He continues Elisabeth Wurm (BA ’11) is currently Next to Normal. Additionally, local the- his work as a teaching artist at the Shake- Executive Producer & Director for Silhou- atre companies have invited her to guest speare Theatre and the Young Playwrights ettes Production Company in St. Louis, direct musicals, including Urinetown, Little Theatre, both based in DC. In his spare Missouri. She founded the theatre company Women, and most recently, Singin’ in the time, he’s planning his wedding to his fiancé in 2013, and she directed their past three Rain. www.elisabethwurm.com. Christopher! shows - Songs for a New World, Edges, and

IU shines at the National Society of Arts and Letters Chapter Competition and National Conference! The Bloomington Chapter of The Na- tional Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) hosted its annual Showcase of the Arts competitions in the winter of 2015. These annual arts competitions are adjudicated by professionals in the visual arts, dance, drama, literature, music, and musical theatre. Each year the NSAL Chapters send their champions in one area to the National Conference competition. 2015 was the Na- tional Competition for Drama. Winners of this year’s drama and musical theatre divisions were all IU Theatre students. Drama Division Winners were:

Lora Shiner Memorial Award: Ian Da- mont Martin; Lenyth Brockett, Carol Moody The Bloomington Chapter contingent at the National Society of Arts and Letters annual conference in St. Louis. and Fran Snygg Memorial Award: Cassandra Senior BA Ian Martin represented the Bloomington Chapter in the National Drama competition and received an Jane Alexander; Ilknur P. Ralston Memorial Honorable Mention award. Ian is pictured with former Chair and Professor Emeritus R. Keith Michael, Theatre Award: Kristen Marie Alesia; Hrisomalos Circle Board Secretary Ruth Albright, and Professor Emerita Marion Michael. Merit Award: Mary Cathleen Brumback Robinson Merit Award: Robert Toms Ashley Dillard Shiner Merit Award: Kaitlyn Mayse Kovener Merit Award: Musical Theatre Division Winners were: Ilknur P. Ralston Memorial Award: Maddie Shea Baldwin Mrs. Granville Wells Memorial Award: Kelsey Shaw Scott Burgess Jones Tribute Award: Jason Craig West David E. Albright Memorial Award: Kaitlyn Smith

The Annual Stages Newsletter

This issue ofStages has been compiled and edited by Joe Stollenwerk. Other writers and proofreaders include: Drew Bratton, Trish Hausmann, Jonathan Michaelsen, Liz Shea, Susannah Stengel, and graphic designer Zachary Roznicki.

This complimentary copy is provided courtesy of the Theatre Circle. Join the Circle and receive numerous pieces from the Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance that provide insights into each production of the academic and summer seasons, and updates on the students and faculty that keep you coming back year after after. STAGES—one of the many benefits of being in the Circle.

PAGE 30 l FALL 2015 STAGES

2015 - 2016 Season Preview Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen Directed by Dale McFadden / September 25th - October 3rd Mr. Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn Directed by Jonathan Michaelsen / October 23rd - October 31st Sweet Charity Directed and Choreographed by Kenneth L. Roberson / Music Direction by Terry LaBolt November 6th - November 14th Antigone by Jean Anouilh Directed by Katie Horwitz, 2nd yr. M. F. A. Directing candidate / December 4th-12th

Leading Edges - Winter Contemporary Dance Concert Choreography by Liz Shea, Selene Carter, Nya McCarthy-Brown & Guests / January 15th-17th

Macbeth by William Shakespeare Directed by David Koté, 3rd yr. M. F. A. Directing candidate, Thesis project / February 5th-13th Featuring: A Theatre Circle Lecture by Moira Marsh, Ph. D. February 4th at 5:30, The Studio Theatre Dr. Marsh will utilize her background in folklore to explore stage representations of witchcraft in Macbeth. Noises Off by Michael Frayn Directed by Murray McGibbon / February 26th-March 5th

At First Sight: a repertory of new plays Occupants by Mauricio Miranda Directed by Katie Horwitz, 2nd yr. M. F. A. Directing candidate / March 25 - April 2 Berserker by Bruce Walsh Directed by David Koté, 3rd yr. M. F. A. Directing candidate / March 29 - April Featuring: A Theatre Circle Lecture by Peter Gil-Sheridan, Mauricio Miranda, and Bruce Walsh March 24th at 5:30, The Studio Theatre “New Plays in Practice” Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, Book by Alex Timbers and Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman Directed and Choreographed by George Pinney / Musical Direction by Ray Fellman April 15th-April 23rd New Moves - Student Choreographers Showcase Innovative New Works by Emerging Dance Makers, Directed by Selene Carter / April 28th-29th

PAGE 31 l FALL 2015 INDIANA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE, DRAMA, & CONTEMPORARY DANCE Theatre Circle Goes to Non-Profit New York City! Organization U.S. Postage PAID 275 N. JORDAN AVENUE Bloomington, IN BLOOMINGTON, IN 47405-1101 Permit No. 2

Abby Bartish, Maddie Shea Baldwin, and Marcus Mc- Clain prepare with accompanist Nat Zegree for their set at Joe’s Pub in May 2015. The IU Musical Theatre Senior class is Broadway Bound in 2016. Would you like to join them?

MAY 8-12, 2016 Those are the dates to set on your calendar if you want to experience New York in a whole new way.

A few lucky travellers accompanied the 2015 class on the Senior Showcase trip last THEATRE CIRCLE CALENDAR 2015-2016 May and had a fabulous time watching December 2015 February 2016 (con’t) those seven seniors take the first steps in Thursday, December 3, 5:30 PM Thursday, February 25, 5:30 PM their professional careers. Conversation on Craft Lecture Conversation on Craft Lecture with ART@IU graduate students and members with ART@IU graduate students and members Last year’s students all expressed their of the Creative Team of the Creative Team gratitude at being able to look over the Antigone Noises Off heads of talent agents and casting directors Lobby - Mezzanine Studio Theatre to see friendly Theatre Circle faces in the Wednesday, December 9, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM crowd. Theatre Circle and Faculty/Staff Holiday Lunch March 2016 Monday, March 21, 4:00 PM Lobby - Mezzanine In addition to the showcase you are Board Meeting UU Church invited to attend a special IU alumni event Monday, December 14, 4:00 PM Theatre Circle Board Meeting organized by The College of Arts & Sciences Thursday, March 24, 5:30 PM UU Church where you can reconnect with students from Theatre Circle Lecture past years and see the seniors perform a with Mauricio Miranda, Bruce Walsh and Prof. preview Showcase set. January 2016 Peter Gil-Sheridan, Theatre + Drama January 1 - January 9 At First Sight Theatre Circle at Sea III Studio Theatre If you need more incentive to consider Miami, Virgin Islands and Bahamas making the trip, we recently received word that one of the students from the 2015 class, Monday, January 11, 4:00 PM April 2016 Maddie Shea Baldwin has been cast in the Board Meeting Thursday, April 14, 5:30 PM Conversation on Craft Lecture new Broadway musical Bright Star, opening Saturday, January 23 with ART@IU graduate students and members in March 2016. Cabaret Fundraiser of the Creative Team Lobby and Neal Marshall Grand Hall Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson So please consider adding your name to list. For more information contact: February 2016 Friday, April 22, 5:30 PM Managing Director - Drew Bratton Thursday, February 4, 5:30 PM Theatre Circle Annual Meeting and Dinner Theatre Circle Lecture Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson Email: [email protected] with Moira March, PhD - Folklore Neal Marshall Grand Hall or Macbeth Phone: 812-855-5568 Studio Theatre Saturday, April 30, 6:00 PM Drama Prom Monday, February 15, 4:00 PM Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall theatre.indiana.edu Board Meeting

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