THE CARNEGIE MELLON SCHOOL OF DRAMA NEWSLETTER Fall/Winter 2009 Volume 1, Issue 3 www.drama.cmu.edu IN THIS ISSUE Alumni Spotlight _________ 3 Alumni News __________ 4-6 Guest News ___________ 7-8 Faculty/Staff News____ 9-11 School of Drama Info ___ 12 Student News _______ 13-15 Fall 2009 Shows______ 16-17 Spring 2010 Season _____ 18 The Grapes of Wrath Photo by Louis Stein Let us brag about you in promotional materials! Send your information to: School of Drama New York Drama Alumni Clan Third Coast Network (Chicago) West Coast Drama Alumni Clan [email protected] www.nydac.org thirdcoast.alumni.cmu.edu www.wcdac.org Editor ANYA MARTIN Associate Editor SCOTT TEDMON-JONES Contributing Editor ERIC SLOSS PEGGY RYAN Contributing Writers CAROLYN KRAS KELLY SOLOMAN Photographers LOUIS STEIN PEGGY RYAN Graphic Designer SCOTT TEDMON-JONES Professor and Head Peter Cooke with students, faculty, and staff at the beginning of the 2009/2010 academic year. College of Fine Arts Dean HILARY ROBINSON Phd With one year as Head of the School of Drama now under my belt, my appreciation for the Professor & Head PETER COOKE PhD OAM faculty’s dedication to teaching, the support Associate Head DICK BLOCK offered by the staff, the engagement of the alumni and the diligence of the students To Make a Gift VANESSA CHEATHAM knows no bounds. What a year we have had - To the School of Drama 412. 268.4850 great productions, a steady stream of high [email protected] profile alumni returning to the school, support School of Drama ANYA MARTIN from benefactors and the University to External Relations Officer 412.268.2068 refurbish our technical equipment in the [email protected] theatres and rising applications for those wishing to attend the school. We live in exciting times as the arts entertainment world SCHOOL OF DRAMA expands and evolves. The school’s mission Purnell Center for the Arts remains focused on educating imaginative Carnegie Mellon University artists to lead the arts entertainment industry in 4908 Forbes Avenue the coming years and in doing so build on the school’s esteemed reputation as a center of excellence. Enjoy our fall/winter newsletter and best wishes to you all for a safe, healthy and creative 2010. Peter Cooke PhD OAM Professor and Head - School of Drama 2 │ CARNEGIE MELLON SCHOOL OF DRAMA NEWSLETTER │ FALL/WINTER 2009 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT A HOLLYWOOD HOMECOMING: PAULA WAGNER AND STEVEN BOCHCO VISIT SCHOOL OF DRAMA Paula Wagner and Steven Bochco, two of Carnegie Mellon "So much of my education came after college when I was University's most notable alums in Hollywood, came home this thrown into the real world, but learning how to learn is a very fall to share insights, wisdom and advice with students in the important quality that I got from this school," Wagner said. School of Drama. Both stressed the importance of being a good collaborator and Wagner became the first female agent at the Creative Artists that you've got to work as hard at getting a job as doing a job. Agency (CAA), producing numerous blockbusters including Mission Impossible I, II, III; The Others; and The Last Samurai. Alana Clapp (A'10) spent time in a small group discussion with Bochco — one of many he and Wagner participated in during A writer and producer, Bochco is best known for his their October 6-9 visit to campus. groundbreaking television work including Hill Street Blues, LA Law and NYPD Blue. "He was open and welcoming, offering his personal assistance to us if we found ourselves with more questions later," Clapp "It's an extraordinary event ... what I think has been a great said. "It was a pleasant surprise to meet someone of his caliber, celebration for two days in the company of two remarkable to be so accessible, and you could tell his interest in the well- people," said Peter Cooke, Head of the School of Drama, as he being of the students was genuine." introduced the pair at the start of a panel discussion. Drama student Frank Capello (A'10) appeared to glean equal Bochco considers his education as a writer invaluable. "But my parts hope and reality during the visit. world education — in terms of learning about a community of like-minded artists — was probably the singularly most "One of the greatest things about spending time with Paula important thing I took away from my years here on campus," Wagner was that it affirmed the idea that there are truly he said. creative, innovative, encouraging and kind people who exist and work at that level of the entertainment industry," Capello Wagner, who is also a trustee of the university, said the most said. "It was like a beacon of light shining through an incredibly important thing she learned here was how to learn. stark, realistic view of what my future in the movie business might be." Peter Cooke with alumni Steven Bochco and Paula Wagner, and faculty member Don Wadsworth. Photo by Ken Andreyo/Carnegie Mellon University ALUMNI NEWS What are you and your fellow alumni doing? We are always excited to hear what you’ve been up to and to share that information with the School of Drama family and prospective students. Below is a list of recent work and achievements that have been shared with us since the last newsletter. Send news to Anya Martin at [email protected]. J. Patrick Adair (MFA Scene Design 2008) was an Art Matt Bomer (BFA 2005) played Bryce Larkin in the TV series Director for THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG CHUCK and currently plays Neal Caffrey in WHITE COLLAR. FERGUSON and Production Designer for the film Christian Borle (BFA 1995), Elizabeth Derosa (BFA 2004) IMBALANCE. and Barrett Davis (BFA 2008) are in the Broadway cast of Jason Antoon (BFA 1994) has appeared in numerous TV MARY POPPINS series, including NUMBB3RS, KINGS, LIPSTICK JUNGLE, Abby Brammell (BFA 2001) played Tiffy Gerhardt in THE CASHMERE MAFIA, and all of the LAW & ORDER series. UNIT, guest starred in THE MENTALIST, MEDIUM, and LIE His new movie COLUMBUS CIRCLE comes out in 2010. TO ME and can be seen in the upcoming film LIKE Previous film work includes MUSIC AND LYRICS and DANDELION DUST. MINORITY REPORT. Will Brill (BFA 2009) is in the cast of OUR TOWN. Mary Bacon (BFA 1994) and Bob Ari (MFA Acting 1995) 16TH SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS Jack Carpenter (BFA 2006) were part of The Actors played Rich Munsch in I LOVE Company Theatre revival of Holly Hunter (BFA 1980) is a nominee in the category YOU BETH COOPER and guest Sidney Howard's rarely produced Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama starred in LAW & ORDER. Series for her role in SAVING GRACE. The Late Christopher Bean at Off- Arthur Chadwick (BFA 1997) Broadway's Beckett Theatre in is a set designer on the TV shows ACCIDENTALLY ON Theatre Row. Mary also played Alma in ECCENTRICITIES OF PURPOSE and BIG LOVE. A NIGHTINGALE at the Clurman Theater in New York. Donna Lynne Champlin (BFA 1993) is in the Broadway cast Tennyson Bardwell (BFA 1983) wrote and directed the film of BILLY ELLIOT. THE SKEPTIC. Gaius Charles (BFA 2005) played Duke/Lodovico in Peter Brent Barrett (BFA 2005) plays Billy Flynn in the Broadway Sellar’s OTHELLO at the Public Theater and his new movie production CHICAGO. TAKERS opens in February 2010. April Bartlett (BFA 2007) is an Art Director for NBC’s THE Rhys Coiro (BFA 2002) played Sean Hillinger in 24 and Mr. TODAY SHOW. Shields in the movie THE UNBORN. Tina Benko (BFA 1994) was in the cast of THE AGE OF Alex Cole (BFA 2008) plays Hunter McDermott in AS THE IRON at the Classic Stage Company. WORLD TURNS and can be seen in the upcoming film SHE’S Kyle Beltran (BFA 2009) is in the national tour of IN THE OUT OF MY LEAGUE. HEIGHTS Amanda Cooper (BFA 2010) plays Aleisha in the film Lourdes Benedicto (BFA 1996) plays Valerie Stevens in V. HOMECOMING . Allison Bergman’s (MFA Directing 2002) book ACTING Patrick Cummings (BFA 2007) performed in HAPPINESS at THE SONG (Co-Authored with Tracey Moore) was published the Lincoln Center Theater. by Allworth Press last year, and is available at Drama Book Shop Tami Dixon (BFA 1996) was featured in and Matt Morrow in NYC, Samuel French in L.A., and through all major book (BFA 1996) directed Bricolage's highly acclaimed new show stores online. It is a new pedagogical approach to teaching NEIGHBORHOOD 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM. performance skills to musical theatre artists. Allison has also joined the faculty at North Carolina State University as Assistant Adam Donshik (BFA 1998) guest starred in LIE TO ME and Director of University Theatre. She directed IT'S A CSI: MIAMI. WONDERFUL LIFE: A RADIO PLAY. Claudia Duran (BFA 2005) was the director of the film THE Audra Blaser (BFA 2004) guest starred in LAW & ORDER LAST WHITE DISHWASHER appearing at the Reel Rasquache and SHERRI. Film Festival in LA. 4 │ CARNEGIE MELLON SCHOOL OF DRAMA NEWSLETTER │ FALL/WINTER 2009 ALUMNI NEWS Graham Fenton (BFA 2005) is in the national tour of ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA. JERSEY BOYS. Erik Jensen (BFA 1992) played Dr. Jules Braun in the movie Dylan Fergus (BFA 2002) plays Patrick in the series VIRTUALITY and guest starred in THE GOOD WIFE and can FLOORED AND LIFTED. be seen in the upcoming movies LEADCATCHER and ORANGES. Sara Jean Ford (BFA 2005) is in the cast of FINIAN’S RAINBOW. Amy Kaissar (BFA 1999) is Managing Director of Bristol Riverside Theatre.