News: Transformations Alumni Newsletter
(For more news from the Department of Dramatic Art, visit our DDA News page.)
Transformations
A newsletter devoted to students, faculty, and alumni of the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Dramatic Art
Summer, 2011
Dear Friends and Alumni,
The 2010-11 school year and season was amazing and we’re gearing up for an even more exciting 2011-12!
First, however, we must say a heartfelt farewell to Prof. Bonnie Raphael who has served 13 years as head of Voice and Speech training with the Professional Actor Training Program and Vocal Coach for PlayMakers Rep. She is retiring after bringing unparalleled expertise, passion and love to her students and her work here and across the country with the nation’s top theatres. Fortunately, we will not have to say “good-bye” as she will be staying in the area and remaining active. Congratulations, Bonnie! Stepping in to the position for this next year, we are delighted to welcome John Patrick from NYU as a Visiting Lecturer in Voice and Speech.
We are also pleased to welcome David Navalinsky, Assistant Professor, to be our new Director of Undergraduate Production. David spends his summers as the Technical Director for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington-Normal, IL. David has taught at The University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Mississippi. David has worked professionally at South Coast Repertory in Orange County California, The Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Karamu Performing Arts Theatre in Cleveland, OH.
This past season, all of our Paul Green Theatre patrons enjoyed the complete makeover in new seats, carpeting and lighting. What a difference! And there’s more to come: This summer, we’re receiving a structural overhaul of the grid and winch system, new scene and costume shop equipment and a renovation of the box office with new security windows and counters. In these tight budget times, we’re fortunate to have been targeted for this discretionary infrastructure funding from the college. It’s a tribute to how highly our work is valued by the University’s administration.
We congratulate McKay Coble who finishes her tenure as Chair of the UNC Faculty. She brought her deft leadership skills in helping the university through extraordinarily difficult financial times. She also helped resolve the way that fixed-term faculty are evaluated and promoted at the university, a HUGE accomplishment. She now resumes her position as full-time Chair of the department. Thank you, McKay!
Finally, thank you for your support… We are facing this year yet another big cut in our permanent budget. Consequently, we are again facing very tough decisions regarding funding priorities. Everything and anything you can spare to help our general fund can do so much good. Everything from lumber to light bulbs will be supported by your gifts. To make an online gift click here: Dramatic Art Gift Fund (1171)
Or, feel free to send a check made payable to the Department of Dramatic Art, reference “Gift Fund” (1171) to Department of Dramatic Art, CB#3230, UNC, Chapel Hill 27599-3230.
We thank you! We could not do it without you!
As ever,
Jeffrey B. Cornell (MFA ’98), Associate Chair
Alumni, Friends and Supporters , please contact DDANewsletter@gmail.com to update and share your information.
Headliners
PlayMakers Rep – “Best of the Triangle”
The Independent Weekly has announced their "Best Of the Triangle" picks for 2011. In this year’s readers’ poll, PlayMakers Repertory Company was chosen as the Triangle’s Best Live Theater Company and a finalist for the Best Live Theater Venue. We’d like to thank everyone who voted and also to congratulate all of this year’s "Best Of" picks!
Pig Iron Theatre Company Finishes PlayMakers Residency
Last season PlayMakers was awarded a $200,000 grant by the prestigious Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to aid in supporting innovative theatre ensembles in their “research and development,” the phase so vital to all great invention. The grant funds a unique residency program created by PlayMakers, which annually over three years will bring a guest ensemble comprised of the theatre scene’s most daring, forward-thinking artists to our facility to develop a new artistic work with the technical, artistic and administrative support of PlayMakers. These ensembles create performance pieces devised from the mediums of theatre, dance, performance art, video, visual art, music and other imaginative influences. After their time with us they’ll take their creations, incubated at PlayMakers, on to performances around the world.
The first group, Pig Iron Theatre Company, just finished their PlayMakers residency. Pig Iron is an OBIE Award-winning physical theatre ensemble from Philadelphia. While here they began work on a new project, Zero Cost House, a collaboration with acclaimed writer-director Toshiki Okada, one of the foremost voices in Japanese contemporary theatre. The performance piece in development was inspired by Okada's experiences in Yokohama after the recent earthquake and tsunami and their impact on his thoughts on the American classic Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.
Joining Pig Iron in the process were PlayMakers acting company members Kathryn Hunter-Williams and Josh Tobin, and stage manager Sarah Smiley, as well as staff from our production and administrative team.
Bekah Brunstetter – More Success as a New York Playwright
Bekah Brunstetter ‘04 saw her new play, ‘Oorah!’, premiere Off-Broadway (2009) at The Atlantic Theatre, alongside plays by David Mamet and Sam Shepard. This year she had another Off-Broadway success at Ars Nova on 54th Street. From Theater Review – ‘Be a Good Little Widow’ - Learning to Grieve in a Grown-Up World, by DAVID ROONEY, published: May 2, 2011 in the New York Times: “Ms. Brunstetter is an emerging playwright working on a commission for Roundabout Underground, part of the Roundabout Theater Company; her play “A Long and Happy Life” will be produced next year by Naked Angels. She writes fresh, unfussy dialogue and characters who earn their laughs and emotional moments by honest means.”
4 Inducted into Prestigious Orders
Congratulations to Jamila Reddy, Amelia Sciandra and Lee Storrow (all May, 2011 graduates) for their induction into the Order of the Golden Fleece! The Order of the Golden Fleece was founded in 1904 to unite student leaders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The goal of the society was to bring about the swift resolution of University problems and to better campus life. Considered the highest honorary society at the University, the Golden Fleece selects its members based upon service to the University as reflected in scholarship, motivation, creativity, loyalty, and leadership in academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Congratulations, also, to Marianne Miller (MFA-PATP, 2011),for her induction into the Order of the Grail-Valkyries. The Order recognizes students of outstanding character who have made significant contributions to our university's academic climate through excellence in scholarship, dynamic leadership, and innovative service. The Order of the Grail-Valkyries is one of the highest honors at UNC.
For MFA Alumni updates please see: Acting | Costume Production | Technical Production
Alumni News
B.A./ B.F.A
Michael Stewart Allen michaelstewartallen@verizon.net
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) will be attending Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in August, 2010. She is interested in entrepreneurship, arts administration and arts education policy.
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 ‘04 saw her new play, Oorah!, premiere Off-Broadway (2009) at The Atlantic Theatre, alongside plays by David Mamet and Sam Shepard.
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) has been named a Fall Directing Fellow of the Drama League. Four Fall Fellows are chosen every year from a large applicant pool; program alumni include Tony-, Obie- and Drama Desk-winning directors, artistic directors, and professors around the country.
Jessica Coleman(’99) ajessicac@earthlink.net
Kelen Coleman has booked a leading role in a CBS pilot called "Big D"
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.
Mellissa Egan has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on "All My Children" on which she has been a regular for the last three years.
Serena Ebhardt (’88) sebhardt@earthlink.net (see David zum Brunnen) Serena Ebhardt/David zum Brunnnen www.EbzB.org
Josh Evans (‘07) studied at Michael Howard Studios in New York City with Olympia Dukakis, Polina Klimovitskaya, and was asked back to become a member of their Premiere Second-Year Program. Stage credits in New York includes Richard Greenburg’s The Maderati, The Emerging Artist Theatre’s Illuminating Artist’s Series, Ted’s Head, and In Private: An Evening with Hollywood Icons. Josh’s films can be seen in summer festivals this summer and on youtube.
Lori Evans (Union name: Lori Evans Taylor '97)
Adam Farabee recently appeared as Davey in "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, directed by Les Waters. This fall, Adam will begin the actor training program at The Juilliard School.
Rhiannon Fisher (Drama and English ’03) rararox33@hotmail.com
Justin Flexen ('07) jflexen@gmail.com
Adam Gerdts (‘00) works for Kenan-Flagler Business School as Regional Director of Development.
Jonathan Grant(’95) jgrant@wmace.com
Charles Greer (’81) cgreer@triad.rr.com
Jennifer Guerra (BA '04) “For anyone who might be interested in what my fantastic UNC DDA degree has done for me, i've moved on to a slightly different acting venue. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in May of 2007 and will be now appearing in many a courtroom in Atlanta, Georgia.” JG 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
Barbara Harrison is working with the Lark Play development Center as their Artistic Programming Intern and with Manhattan Theatre Club as their Marketing Intern. She recently directed Domestic Mastermind, by Alison Adams, that ran at The Barrow Group Theatre as part of The Network One-Act Festival. She also directed a reading of Annah Feinberg’s new play, Medusa Cuts Her Hair, at Manhattan Theatre Club in Studio 2 (featuring fellow alums Shane Zeigler and Christine Mottram). That was followed by directing Tommy Smith’s The Wife with May Adrales at the Interbborough Repertory Theatre.
Cameran Hebb - Recent graduate, Cameran Hebb is completing dual internships on Los Angeles with the Casting Agency Aquilawood and the Talent Agency Herveygrimes. Cameran plans to locate in NYC this fall.
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)
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
Whitney LaPlante will enter the Harvard School of Education for the Masters in Arts Education program this fall
Patrick Link 's ('07)
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
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 was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for her performance in Avow. "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
Sarah Spencer Northey has been accepted into the exclusive Couples and Marriage Therapy program for graduate studies at the University of Maryland.
Guy Olivieri (’99) guy_olivieri@hotmail.com www.GuyOlivieri.com
Natasha Pancholi http://www.rangeviewproductions.com/photos_stories.html
Mac Rogers was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for his play, Universal Robots.
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.
Kate Stratton has been accepted on full scholarship to Yale Divinity School, in addition to her acceptance from Manhattan's Union Theological Seminary
Carey Sveen BA '03: Carey Sveen is re-entering school in August 08 for Invasive Cardiovascular Technology and she continues to sew constantly. carey@careysveen.com
Haley Swindal (BA '08) recently sang to a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops and a lineup of incredible singers for the New York Pops Gala honoring Frank Sinatra. She sang "Fly Me To The Moon" with the amazing standards and jazz singer, Steve Tyrell.
John Tasker Double-Major Sociology/Drama, BA '65. Probably would have to count my UNC Drama as a Minor for the newsletter category. Was in the Graduate program, Drama for the '65-'66 year, but had to go to work and did not finish. “For my message, I want to publicly thank Dr. Russell Graves as being the Professor who most influenced me positively during my years at Carolina. This would include technical theatre, my teaching experience at NC Central University Drama Dept. ('66-'67), writing in his Thesis Course, and life in general. While I did not stay in theatre as a career, the lesson of "attitude" and creative curiosity encouraged and taught by Dr. Graves has served me well and I have thought of him quite often over the years. His teaching proved to be applicable in any field. I consider myself lucky to have been exposed to the man and I am grateful.” John Tasker
Jenny Teachey (’99) bikinigirl99@hotmail.com
Ed Thomas (’74) ethomas2@triad.rr.com
Charlie Todd http://www.improveverywhere.com/ I appeared on the "Today Show" on 2/19. 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/ PS: You might enjoy this prank video Charlie Todd directed for Yahoo!
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/3472742. Charlie Todd’s latest Improv Everywhere mission: 50 Improv Everywhere agents created an art gallery opening on the 23rd Street subway platform in Manhattan. Check it out:
http://improveverywhere.com/2009/03/18/subway-art-gallery-opening/
Improv Everywhere’s book, CAUSING A SCENE, comes out on May 19.
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.
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.
David Whalen "Just finished THE WINTER'S TALE at The Folger W/Blake Robison directing. Wanted to let you know I'm filming a pilot for CBS/PARAMOUNT Television for next 2 weeks. Next week I start rehearsals for the World Premiere of SPEAK AMERICAN at City Theatre written & directed by Academy Award Winner Eric Simonson (www.citytheatrecompany.org) for details. Then I play Fr. Flynn in DOUBT, followed by Rochester in JANE EYRE (www.picttheatre.org), and Oberon/Theseus in A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre (www.ppt.org).
Currently, I'm teaching Acting at Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama along side these performances."
Michele White- Lawler (‘90) 704-499-8900 annegg@aol.com
Brandon Wilson (B.A.) - This June, author/adventurer Brandon Wilson (UNC-CH '73) and his wife Cheryl will set off to trek the recently formed Via Alpina (red route) 1200+ miles from Trieste, Italy to Monaco. The 161-stage hut-to-hut trail combines existing long-distance routes through eight countries. Their high-altitude trans-Alpine expedition is expected to last four months. Upon completion of the trek, Wilson will write a new book, his fourth, to help preserve and promote the discovery of mountain cultures and peace thru trekking.
This is Wilson's tenth long-distance ultralight world trek, the longest since his 2600-mile peace walk from France to Jerusalem in 2006. His book chronicling that adventure, Along the Templar Trail, was recently named a Book of the Year Finalist by ForeWord Magazine, a leading literary reviewer.Wilson is an official partner of the Via Alpina organization. Current gear sponsors include GoLite and Gossamer Gear. For more details, visit http://www.pilgrimstales.com/upcomingadventures.html
