Transformations

A newsletter devoted to students, faculty and alumni of the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Dramatic Art

Volume VI, summer 2008

Dear Alumni and Friends,

This issue of Transformations demonstrates a continued commitment by the members of the Center for Dramatic Art community to keep you informed and excited about what is happening here and to provide a forum where we may reconnect with one another and exchange news and thoughts.

We know many of you experienced amazing transformations while you were here at UNC and more since you have left us. Please accept this letter as an invitation to transform our DDA community into an international family of alumni and friends.

McKay Coble '79,'81,  Chair

Alumni, Friends and Supporters Share Contact Information

Many of you have already responded to an email requesting that you send us a current mailing address, phone number and email address. If you have not yet responded, please be sure that you update your information by responding to the DDA Newsletter email account DDANewsletter@gmail.com at your earliest convenience. Also, please forward this newsletter to any friends who might be interested in reconnecting to the DDA and encourage them to touch base with us soon.

Headliners

UNC's Playwriting Studio ANNOUNCES THE SAMUEL SELDEN PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING: BEN GREENE'S HANNAH LEE

Honorable mentions to Torture is Best by Eric Martin and The Perfect Eulogy by Scott Kaplan.

DDA STUDENT ADAM WRIGHT WINS FRANCIS PHILLIPS SCHOLARSHIP

DDA Major/Creative Minor Adam Wright has been awarded a prestigious Francis L. Phillips Travel Scholarship http://www.unc.edu/depts/travel/fpts_intro.html.  Adam will be traveling to London, Ireland, Scotland and various other places to attend festivals, conduct interviews and research oral storytelling traditions in order to further his abilities as a director and writer.

WENDY BARRY-WILSON NAMED BEST ACTRESS

Alumni News

B.A./ B.F.A

Michael Stewart Allen michaelstewartallen@verizon.net  Just finished with The Tempest at The Folger Theatre in Washington and recently performed at The Hippodrome theater in Florida as Father Flynn in Doubt.

Annie Alvarez(’02) anniealvarez17@yahoo.com

Amy Amerson (B. A. '97) lives in Los Angeles and works consistently in film, television, and theatre. Her most recent credits include "Drake and Josh" and "My Name Is Earl".  She is also very proud of her work in the Alchemy Theatre Company's production of Neil Labute's "Autobahn".  She continues her studies with Gary Imhoff, Richard Lawson, and Milton Katselas at The Beverly Hills Playhouse.

Mark Ariail (’95) MarkAriail@Alumni.unc.edu

Amanda Axelrod amanda.j.axelrod@gmail.com has been working for Richard Frankel productions- specifically for Laura Green (Senior General Manager) on Gypsy, Young Frankenstein, Hairspray, and the workshop production of Leap of Faith.  She began as an intern there but was promoted to general management production assistant.  Heiress Productions - A not-for-profit company raising money to fight cancer and support those with cancer.  Amanda has been doing work for them since coming up here, and this past spring they made her a Member of their Board of Directors.   Lexador Productions, LLC - Her production company she is currently in the process of founding.  The Hostess - new play Amanda is writing.

Marshal Ballew marshallballew@charter.net

Laura Blake (Drama and Psychology ’99) lauramblake@hotmail.com

Kyle Beaulieu was accepted for graduate study in the highly competitive Trans-Atlantic Master's program at Chapel Hill and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin!

Lisa (Bowers) Bohn (BA '96)   lisabohn@mac.com

Bekah Brunstetter was accepted into the NYC 2008 Ars Nova Play Group http://arsnovanyc.com/.

Travis Chamberlain and Perry Silver continue to perform with The Fabulous Entourage. http://www.fabulousentourage.com/

David Chapman (BA Highest Honors '03), -- davidfchapman@gmail.com -- completed his Henry Luce Scholarship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in May 2007.  After traveling around Asia for the summer, David returned to Vietnam to continue directing and teaching theatre.  He then moved to Paris for a short contract at the International Theatre Institute at UNESCO headquarters.  Now he is happily in New York, assistant directing for Gary Griffin on the new Off-Bway musical SAVED, opening at Playwrights Horizons in May 2008. 

Jessica Coleman(’99) ajessicac@earthlink.net

Erin Cottrell('97)   Erin lives in Hollywood with her boyfriend, Dan, and their black cat, Sanchez.

Kimball Crossley (’81 – Dramatic Art and Broadcast Journalism) is a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays, lives with his wife and daughter in Phoenix, Arizona.

Holly Derr recently directed “The Front Page” theA.R.T./MXAT Institute for Advanced Theatre Training Program.

Dana Dobreva (’06) danadobreva@yahoo.com or dana@thefourthworldlab.org

Meg Dyer Dombro (formerly Meg Dyer) (‘Dramatic Art and Political Science ’94) MegDombro@verizon.net

Sonya Dowhaluk (BA '03) married Roger Bridges on August 4th, 2007 in Cary, NC. Attendants included Courtney Temple and Erin Binkley (both class of '01).  Rick Young (also a DDA alum) officiated.  Roger and Sonya live in Takoma Park, MD while Sonya finishes her masters degree in lighting design at the University of Maryland.

Melissa Egan appears as a regular the daytime drama “All My Children”.

Serena Ebhardt (’88) sebhardt@earthlink.net (see David zum Brunnen) Serena Ebhardt/David zum Brunnnen EvZb Production of "WAR BONDS: THE SONGS AND LETTERS OF WORLD WAR II" PREMIERED ON UNC-TV DECEMBER 10,  2007 was featured on UNC-TV.  www.EbzB.org

LORI EVANS(Union name: Lori Evans Taylor '97) Lori recently finished writing and producing two television shows "Wicked Wicked Games", starring Tatum O'Neal, and "Desire", both of which aired on MyNetworkTV's prime time line-up.  She is member of the Los Angeles theater company TheSpyAnts (for more info go to thespyants.com). She recently married the love of her life David Coggeshall on Catalina Island.

Rhiannon Fisher (Drama and English ’03) rararox33@hotmail.com

Adam Gerdts is the Director of Young Alumni Development for the UNC Office of University Development.

Jonathan Grant(’95) jgrant@wmace.com

Charles Greer (’81) cgreer@triad.rr.com Dallas sent the following link for our enjoyment. http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/search/jerome%20murat/video/xf9oo_jerome-murat

Megan Ketch has been admitted into the NYU MFA acting class of 2011 meganketch@yahoo.com

Jess (Kehler) Grove (’02) JessK0203@verizon.net Randy & Jess Grove, 10109 Nightingale Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20882, home 301-253-8906, Jess cell 717-487-0979 JessK0203@verizon.net Production Manager at Round House Theatre. Please keep in touch! Love to all, Jess

Amy Heidt recently performed her One-Woman Show Booze Cruise Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Coworkers at Upright Citizen's Brigade in L.A.

Olivia Henderson (’05) olivia.henderson@gmail.com

Jennifer Horowitz  jen.horowitz@gmail.com.

Julie George Howard (Dramatic Art and Women’s Studies ’02) swimcapt@hotmail.com teaches high school theatre in Greeneville, NC and loves it!

Jan (Fent) Johnston (Also known as Mary Jeanine Fent in those days - MA '77) janjwog@gmail.com “Where are my long lost buds??? Write ME!!!

Megan Ketch is working with Kate Middleton (Guy Olivieri, Dann Wheeless, Amy Heidt) and Ground Up Productions. 

Natasha Pancholi Khatod (‘01) announces a new website with trailer, cast, stills and news for her film, "DHARINI" (Earth):www.elephantafilms.com/dharini

Thomas Kingsley is working for Disney Theatrical Productions, as part of their International Production Department assisting in the mounting of overseas productions of the Disney shows.

Dan Kois (Dramatic Art and Creative Wrtiting '96) dankois@hotmail.com

Patrick Link 's ('07)  new play HEADSHOT, directed and co-produced by Olivia Henderson ('06) and starring Matt Farabee ('07) premiered this February at the American Theater for Actors as part of the Strawberry One-Act Festival. 

Chris Locklear ('05) is currently living in Los Angeles, CA and working for Abrams Artists training to be an agent.

Jonathan Luby chariots75@msn.com is living in NYC.  What I’ve been up to since graduation…THE BEST NEWS:  I was cast as a principal dancer for the Metropolitan Opera’s Dr. Atomic (Dir. Penny Woolcock) which will open the MET’s upcoming season.  Dance auditions are amazingly competitive and thrilling!  I signed a contract, am in the process of joining the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), and not only have a cover, but have a cover for my cover!  Supernumerary work in the MET’s productions of…War & Peace Carmen  Background work…TV  Lipstick Jungle (w/ Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, & Lindsay Price) Gossip Girl (w/ Blake Lively among others) FILM The International w/ Clive Own & Naomi Watts, Dir. Tom Tykwer The Confessions of a Shopaholic w/ Hugh Dancy & Isla Fisher, Dir. P.J. Hogan  Ghost Town w/ Ricky Gervais & Téa Leoni, Dir. David Koepp VOLUNTEER Lincoln Center Customer Service Information Booth – I give out information, and answer questions for  people attending concerts at Avery Fisher Hall, and really everyone walking around Lincoln Center.  It’s great fun to see everyone dressed to the hilt!  For each hour you work as a volunteer, you earn points toward free tickets to Lincoln Center concerts and events.  You get really nice seats too! 

 Julia McManus Love (83) julialove99@aol.com

Fred Lloyd (’76) “I would love to know the hereabouts of any of the graduates from my time in the DDA.”

Amanda (Pringle) Malo (’94) apringle311@hotmail.com

Tim Matson (’05) tjmatson@gmail.com

John McGrew('03) is currently playing music and acting in short films and musicals in NYC. Music can be found here: www.johnmcgrewmusic.com

Tracie Merrill(’95) traciemerrill@gmail.com

Kate Middleton For those who don't know... Ground UP Productions a Non-Profit that is based in the West Village. Our mission is to "revive old works in unique ways and bring new works to life, all the while embracing our Southern roots and representing the true South in NYC! -Kate Middleton

Sophie Cathro Mitchell (formerly Sophie Cathro 2000) sjmitchell@gmail.com

Gregory Porter Miller ('92 or so, really '04, but who's counting?) recently played Stephen in Patrick Marber's "Dealer's Choice" at the American Theatre for Actors

Michelle Muscatello “I am a meteorologist and reporter for WPRI/WNAC-TV (the CBS and Fox affiliates) in Providence, RI.  I recently completed a 3-year distance learning program through Mississippi State University to earn a Certificate in Broadcast Meteorology.  have forecasted and reported on hurricanes, blizzards, tornados and everything in between and have appeared on the CBS Early Show and CBS4 News in Boston.  My husband, WPRI Sportscaster Pete Lucas, and I recently celebrated our 2nd Anniversary.  You can get more information, including my bio and clips of my broadcasts by going to our station's website at www.wpri.com

Guy Olivieri (’99) guy_olivieri@hotmail.com  www.GuyOlivieri.com

Natasha Pancholi  http://www.rangeviewproductions.com/photos_stories.html

Maureen Rottschaefer (’94) mrottschaefer@hotmail.com

Lauren Shepard (’05) lmshep@gmail.com

Amy Stewart (BA '98)alstew7@yahoo.com Amy Stewart (Amy Lynn Stewart, professional name) completed the Journeymen Program @ the Warehouse Theatre w/ Jack Young through SETC; graduated from UCSD in 2004 with a MFA in Acting; played the lead in Hazard County @ Actor's Express; played Mrs. Van Buren in a co-production of Intimate Apparel @ Indiana Rep. and Syracuse Stage. She worked at Florida Studio Theatre playing  Abby Drake in Fiction.

Jenny Teachey (’99) bikinigirl99@hotmail.com

Charlie Todd  http://www.improveverywhere.com/ Ihttp://www.improveverywhere.com/dvd.php appeared on the "Today Show" on 2/19 http://improveverywhere.com/.  He lives in Manhattan where he teaches and performs improv comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.  Charlie recently made a pilot for NBC based on the work of his website ImprovEverywhere.com.  He was recently profiled in the pilot episode of Showtime's This American Life series.  And his Improv Everywhere site has gone global http://www.improveverywhere.com/2008/01/24/improv-everywhere-global/.  Charlie was featured in a video for The Onion News Network: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/controversial_tell_all_book He can be reached via his website: http://www.improveverywhere.com/contact/

David zum Brunnen (’86) dzbjr@earthlink.net EbzB Productions signs with Alkahest Artists and Attractions: EbzB Productions, based in Apex, NC has signed with Alkahest Artists and Attractions, U.S.A.'s first lecture concert and booking management agency founded in 1896.  David recently starred in "State of the Union" at Deep Dish Theatre in Chapel Hill, NC.

Hollis Wansley (’06) is studying this fall at Michael Howard Studio as a One-Year Conservatory student Josh Evans ('07) is also at the Studio.

Michele White- Lawler (‘90) 704-499-8900 annegg@aol.com

Brandon Wilson (B.A. Dramatic Arts & Communication recently celebrated completion of a 2,700 mile (4,350 km.) pilgrimage peace walk and adventure from Dijon, France to Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem following Roman or Crusader trails. With the interest of newspaper reporters and television news crews along the way, he had the opportunity to reach millions with a message of peace as a global priority. Now he's hard at work on his third book about this latest adventure. Visit him at: www.PilgrimsTales.com

B.F.A.

Fairley J. Grimes (’81) fairleygrimes@hotmail.com

Deborah Maxwell Dion (just Deborah Maxwell when a part of the DDA –’77) hdhdion@earthlink.net

Ed Thomas (’74) ethomas2@triad.rr.com

Jody Roy Parker (’80) jodyroy@prodigy.net

M.F.A.

Digger Bedford (Technical Production '07) is the new Technical Director at DeSales University. diggerbedford@gmail.com

Tom Benenson (‘65) TBenenson@aol.com

Josh Blann and Brandon Smith are co-creators and producers of  www.Flyingmanprod.com  located in Denton, Texas.

Rodney H. Dumond (Technical Production ’97) rhdum@conncoll.edu is the Technical Director at Connecticut College in New London, CT.

John Feltch (Acting) directed "Crimes of the Heart” at PlayMakers Repertory Company. John played Atticus Finch in the production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas.  John will join PlayMakers for "Amadeus" this spring.

Julie Fishell (Acting) is currently starring in PlayMakers "Doubt; a Parable".  Julie is directing "Dead Man Walking" for the DDA and the Death Penalty Discourse created by Sister Helen Prejean and Tim Robbins

Michael Frederic (Acting) Recently appeared as Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at The Public Theatre of Maine.  This past year I was seen in "Night Over Taos", directed by Estelle Parsons for INTAR theatre at Theatre for a New City, Suzan-Lori Parks' "365 Plays" at the Public Theatre, "Thorny Bushes" at INTAR, and "Vampire University" as part of the Ohio Theatre's Ice Factory Festival, all in NYC.  In February 2008, I'm heading to the Cleveland Playhouse for "Doubt", and then in April I'll be at The Fulton Theatre in Lancaster, PA for another production of "Doubt".  I'm also a member of INTAR's Actors' Collective.

Tony (Anthony) Freeman (Acting ’83) Tonyfreeman484@yahoo.com

Dallas Greer (Acting ’75) dalgreer@charter.net

Joe Haj (Acting '86) haj@email.unc.edu

A new day for PlayMakers

Joe Haj ’88 is passionate about making theatre relevant, especially for today’s busy audience members. So when he returned to his dramatic art training ground at UNC in 2006 to become producing artistic director of PlayMakers Repertory Company, he was ready to take some risks to entice more people to the award-winning regional theatre based in the College of Arts and Sciences. The first thing he did was add a sixth play to the main stage season in the Paul Green Theatre. Then he started a new second-stage series called PRC2 in the smaller, 200-seat Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre, where the company could offer works that wrestle with some of the difficult, challenging issues of our time. “In our on-demand world of TiVo, NetFlix, Internet home pages and iPods, when we control more narrowly than ever before what part of the world we let in, theatre remains a place for us to see the world from another’s point of view,” Haj wrote in the company’s season brochure. He took these words to heart as he starred in the first play of the new PRC2 series, “When the Bulbul Stopped Singing.” The controversial one-man show is based on the true-life experiences of a Palestinian human rights lawyer during the Israeli Army’s siege of Ramallah in 2002. After each show, Haj invited the audience to participate in a panel discussion airing both sides to the conflict. Haj said he left those talks having learned something new each time. Panel discussions have now become a stable of the ongoing series, making the PlayMakers experience more interactive than ever. “We are in a world where there are fewer and fewer places where people with really different, opposing points of view can sit in a room and have a respectful conversation with one another,” Haj said. “If we can provide that place a couple of times a year, that strikes me as a very good thing.” Haj is fulfilling his dream of turning the Center for Dramatic Art into what he calls a cultural watering hole. “I feel like we can make the hardest drama work as long as people feel that what we are doing is relevant to their lives.” There’s still time to get in on the action. The rest of PlayMakers’ 2007-2008 season includes: “Doubt”, “Topdog/Underdog,” “Amadeus,” and “Witness to an Execution.” Details and ticket information are online at www.playmakersrep.org -- This is a sneak preview of a longer feature written by Kim Spurr ’88, from the spring issue of Carolina Arts & Sciences magazine, which she edits. If you would like to receive a copy of this issue (coming out in late March), which celebrates the transformative impact of private funds from College alumni and friends in the Carolina First Campaign, send your name, mailing address and email address to: artsandsciences@unc.edu

Visit our Web site at college.unc.edu

Zach Hamm (Technical Production '05) is the new Technical Director for Alfred University's theatre. hamm@alfred.edu

Beth Hylton (Acting) beth.hylton@gmail.com "Working with Renee Glicker of About Artists in NYC: so glad to have someone rooting for me--DC is still home, but have so enjoyed the regional travelling that I thought I would see about doing some more of it, while I can.  And also, independently: just got cast as Lady Chiltern in Oscar Wilde's AN IDEAL HUSBAND, again at Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre.  The kicker: PATP alum David Whalen will be playing opposite me as Sir Robert! "

Anne Kendall (Technical Production) Currently the new Purchasing Agent/ATD at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA.

Will Leonard (Technical Production & B.A.'98). is the Assistant Technical Director for the Alley Theatre in Houston, TX. 

Rita Marchelya (Acting)  will appear in The Two Lives of Napoleon Beazley February 21st thru March 16th, Thursday thru Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 7pm with the Flamboyan Theatre at the CVS Cultural Center in NYC.

Jeffrey Meanza (Acting ’04) jeff.meanza@gmail.com

Joel Reider (Acting ’90) joel.r@rcn.com

LucyAnn Dunlap Saltzman (’60) teaches in the theatre department at Drew University, Madison, NJ and does freelance writing about theatre folk.  “I teach under my married name; write under my maiden name.  Both are googleable!  My love for Chapel Hill is still strong and I am exceedingly pleased that my son is now working for UNC at the School of Medicine.”

Jeri Lynn Schulke (Acting ’90) jerilynn67@earthlink.net

Andrew Sellon (Acting) Hello there!  Things have been popping theatrically lately, so I wanted to share the latest news with my friends and family.  As some of you know, this past Spring I was cast in Vermont Stage Company's production of I Am My Own Wife.  It was an extraordinary experience.  I've posted reviews, interviews, and lots of great photographs from the production on my web site.  I hope you'll find a few moments to check them out: http://www.andrewsellon.com/reviewsgallery.html.  In addition, Mark Nash, Artistic Director at Vermont Stage, has asked me to play Wayne Wellacre in their Fall 2007 production of the farce Inspecting Carol.  It's Gogol's Inspector General meets Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and it's extremely funny.  It runs October 16th-November 4th in Burlington, VT.  And to top it all off, Mark has invited me back in Spring 2008 to play the Fool in VSC's ambitious production of King Lear, their first independently produced Shakespeare production in the company's 12-year history.  Broadway veteran Donald Grody, recently a member of the Grey Gardens cast, will play the title role.  King Lear runs April  23rd-May 11th, 2008.  So, if you happen to have a reason to be in Burlington this Fall or next Spring, I hope to see you at Vermont Stage.  There's a lot of exciting stuff happening up there!  I hope this note finds you and yours well and happy, and only as busy as you want to be.  Cheers, Andrew

Sarah E Shively (Acting ’98) SarahEShively@verizon.net www.contemplatingemily.com Her film “Contemplating Emily” was included in a recent screening of lesbian short films at the Gay and Lesbian Center in New York City.  

Dave Shepherd (‘75 and MFA ‘77) shepdave@gmail.com

David Shoup (Acting ’01) david_shoup@hotmail.com

Tiffany R.R. Stanley (Acting ’05) royale718@hotmail.com

Marc Stern (Acting)  plays the lead role in a short film called United We Stand that was featured at the Cannes Film Festival.

Karen Walsh (Acting ’04)

Mike Wiley Mike Wiley Productions www.MikeWileyProductions.com and EbzB Productions www.EbzB.org Mike has been commissioned by PlayMakers repertory Company to create a performance "Witness to and Execution" for PRC2 and for the 2007-2008 Creative Campus Initiative.

Wendy Barry-Wilson wendy@wendybarriewilson.com

Graduate Student News

Newly Transformed

Undergraduate Student News

Department of Dramatic Art Major Carina Cortese has received a 2007 SURF grant for her project " Family, Memory, and Political Violence in Argentina: the Lizaso Family through its Members". Carina will document the knowledge of Jorge and Miguel Lizaso s only surviving nieces, Laura and Alejandra Voglino (her mother and aunt, respectively), with regards to her family 's involvement with the Montoneros faction in Argentina through a series of extensive interviews that will shed light on these events for use in academic exploration of the period.

The transcripts from the interviews will be integrated into the History department s curriculum at La Universidad Nacional de La Plata where Carina is studying abroad to further understanding of the Dirty War in Argentina. She also looks forward to exploring the stories she collects through a creative means upon her return to UNC."  DDA professor Julie Fishell will serve as UNC faculty sponsor for this project.

Newly Transformed

Minors

Entrances

Hannah Grannemann- PRC Managing Director

Scott Ripley- Professional Actor training Program

Exits

Herb Garman - CDA Associate Director

Dr . John Harris- Literature and History

Dr. Leon Katz- Literature and Dramaturgy

In Memoriam

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