WHO'S WHERE DOING WHAT?
Information on our Alumni - If you're not included or your entry is old, please send us an update. Just click the "Let us hear from you!" link, fill it in, and send it back to us on-line. Alumni are listed alphabetically. All entries were updated 2005 unless indicated.
Another way to keep in touch is to register with the Alumni Association. You can do it on line at
http://www.siualumni.com/ and register with them online. It doesn’t cost anything (but they will ask for donations).
Melissa Albertario, BA 2003
An update on my activities:
Since the last newsletter, I have been fortunate enough to continue working all
around Chicago- I even had a small acting gig as the Mortimer to John Dooley's
Henry in "The Fantasticks"! I
made my directorial debut in September with "Prometheus Bound" at the
Around the Coyote Arts Festival. (The show was awarded Curator's Choice!) As of January, 2005, I am directing my first
professional production, "Lysistrata" at Lake Forest College. The show opens at the end of February, and
is already generating quite a buzz in the area! Chicago's Bohemian Theatre Ensemble recently elected me onto their
executive board, and I will be stage managing their inaugural production of
"Art" at the Bailiwick Theater in March. I also had a great experience visiting Stevenson High School as
their guest career speaker, and shared my relative (in)experience with some
very eager students- it was a blast!
On a personal note, I have moved
into my own place close to Wrigley Field and the lake, and I am LOVING
city-life! Still planning on grad school soon, just don't know where yet...
looking forward to it, though! Please
email me any time at funnygrl_22@hotmail.com.
melissa@jrkatz.com
Just wanted to give you a quick update on my life. I am currently the Production Manager for the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival. Our website is www.shakespearefest.org We currently run an eight show season from September - May. pzjuh@yahoo.com
Is pursuing her Ph.D. at UM – Kansas City. She has just been cast as the lead, Blanche, in a production of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelite. She says that she likes Kansas City. There’s more to do than in Carbondale, but it’s not too big.
Kent J. Andel, MFA Lighting Design 2000
Life in Detroit is fine and I enjoy working for the Michigan Opera Theater,
although it has been difficult for JoAnne to find work outside of the opera
season. That, and no one here
understands football - it's very discouraging. kandel@motopera.org
Grace continues to work for Gary Musick in Nashville, TN grace@garymusick.com
Nathan is a full time music faculty member at John A.
Logan College in Carterville, IL where he conducts two choirs, teaches several
music classes, and directs the annual spring musical. He is the Productions Director for the Christian Life Center in
Herrin, IL. nathanarnett@jalc.edu
Lauren is the choral music director for the Zeigler-Royalton School
District. She maintains a private vocal
studio as well and is the Assistant Director of the Southern Illinois
Children's Choir at SIUC. laurenarnett@hotmail.com Nathan and
Lauren are expecting their first child in June of 2005.
What I am doing besides getting married next Labor Day weekend is working as a first-hand at Muto-Little, a union Costume House in LA, working on various film, television, and live theater productions. Right now we are working on a production of Snow White and the 7 Dwarves for Disneyland. I am a member of IATSE Local 705 Motion Picture Costumers. I guess that is about it. I do hope to meet up with people if they are out here for USITT. I know my employers are going to be there somewhere to participate in a lecture or panel or something.
Eddie Barber MA 1966
Eddie passed away in the spring of 2004. While his death was unexpected his children felt he died while fox hunting which was his favorite pastime. Eddie’s children have asked that donations be sent to SIUC Theater Department in lieu of flowers and memorial tributes.
Is Operations Assistant/Branch Systems Administrator for AG Edwards in Carbondale. scottb.barnett@agedwards.com
Returned from Iraq in fall 2004 to resume her studies at SIUC. We are so glad she is home safe and sound. She just completed the costume designs for Commodore (Don) Pasquale for the Marjorie Lawrence Opera Theater. heat23her@hotmail.com
I am in Las Vegas now. I am a partner and General Director of a production company called Worldwide Productions. Working my ass off. I have done a couple of plays here (wrote two, acted in one, directed one), and mostly doing video and photography projects. I am working on a feature film right now that we hope to get before the cameras in the spring. I have also been lecturing sporadically at various institutions around the country where I happen to know faculty. It's a lot of fun to do those one or two day things. jimgbarth@yahoo.com
Paul Bawek (MFA Directing 2000)
After graduation I spent six months in London where I taught acting
part-time at a private boys school, directed the world premier of the British
comedy "Average" at the Bolivar Theatre in London (fringe) and
performed on the West End in the new British musical "Dare". On my
return to the USA I took a position at Southwest State University - now
Southwest Minnesota State - where the two shows I directed received Kennedy
Center American College Theatre Festival Awards for Best Ensemble Acting. I
also received a KCACTF award for my fight choreography in "Romeo &
Juliet." I accepted a position at Florida Southern College in Lakeland
Florida. FYI. My main focus thus far at FSC - beyond the classroom (my number
one priority)- has been curriculum revision for the department and recruiting.
The performance division was fading and needed a shot in the arm. I am glad to
report, due to efforts at the Florida Theatre Conference and trips to area high
schools, we already have three new performance majors admitted for next year
and another was on campus today to see the department, meet students, and sit
in on one of my classes. I have a huge challenge to build our department....
and that is one of the reasons - other than the weather and the small class
size - I took the job. My opening show "Lend Me A Tenor" went very
well and I think Florida Southern College may be home for some time. pdjbawek@hotmail.com
Brandon Burton Belzer, MFA Directing
Has anyone heard from Brandon?
Has anyone heard from David?
Jim is the Production Manager for the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Cape Cod, MA. He just hired recent graduate Kevin Crispin as a carpenter for the 2004 summer season. jebernhard@msn.com
Has anyone heard from Randy?
Sarah directed Arcadia in fall semester, served on the Presidential Search committee, 3rd year as Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts. We went to Australia for 3 weeks last Christmas, going to Hawaii for 10 days this Christmas, spending lots of time with grandkids, bought a used Miata so I can look California-cool, lost Tucker last winter, Irv gardens and loves retirement, we supply the local ice cream store with about 500 lbs. of boysenberries every May.
My wife got transferred to Princeton a couple of years ago. I continue to work a lot out west, This year I’m the production Director at Des Moines Metro (So much for being a full time stay home dad). I do get to come home for about six months each year between shows, and that time is dedicated to my girls: Maggie, 3 and Katie, 11 months.
MBlice@aol.com mblice@dmmo.org
Janet and I just moved to Indiana PA, where she is Assistant Professor of Fashion Merchandising. I am still Web Programming and occasionally getting the opportunity to design the front end of a website or two. Thanks to you; I took the model building to heart and now build dollhouses and mini furniture, but I think you already knew that. We are enjoying the East Coast again but not looking forward to shoveling snow. Janet loves her job and her students. I've been roped into helping out with the fashion show and building the fashion association website, should be cool when its done. jasonb@bloodlinedesigns.com http://www.bloodlinedesigns.com/
Recently worked in the costume shop at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. masquerade50@hotmail.com
Gordon Boos
Gordon died April 3 2004
at his sister's home in Oswego after a long battle with brain cancer. Gordon
was a film director in Hollywood working as an assistant to Oliver Stone on
“Platoon” and directed four films “The Vivero Letter” and “Perfect Assassins,”
both released in 1998; “Touch Me” released in 1997; and “Red Surf.'' in 1990.
His friends have set up a website for him with information, memorial services,
pictures, and trust fund for his son Keegan. www.gordonboos.com
Earnesto D. Borges
Has his own law firm in Chicago. EBorges105@aol.com
SIUC’s former Costume Shop manager is retired and living in Missouri. elby6@hotmail.com
Mike currently lives in
the suburbs of Chicago with his wife Abby and works at The Field Museum. He is also an improviser at ImprovOlympic
with the team Children of God, is half of a two-person improv and sketch show
named Duplex, and is an understudy for the Second City's
Touring Company. He also still enjoys
working with Chicago's Foundation Theatre Group, an organization created (and
still run almost entirely) by SIU-C alumni.
In conjunction with FTG, Mike wrote two award-winning short films in
2003. He is still annoying. mike.bradecich@gmail.com
Eddie is an Assistant Professor in the Dept of Theater at Spelman College. ebradley@spelman.edu
Since I left SIU I pursued my Masters in Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University where Noreen Barnes McLain now teaches. My focus was Theater Pedagogy/ Directing. While there I designed shows for Theater Four, Dogwood Dell, and VCU Second Stage. I also taught Stagecraft, Intro to Drama, Public Speaking and Speech for the Business Student. I directed a number of pieces for the various student groups at VCU and had a brief stint at being a lead singer for a local death metal band. After graduating I left for Phoenix AZ and ran into Ruth George. Not finding a lot of palm trees to shade me out there I came back to my hometown in Rockford Ill 70 miles west of Chicago where I have been seeking a teaching position with the City Colleges of Chicago and Madison Area Tech College. I still write and attend poetry readings and am currently working on starting up a performance art troupe in Rockford, we have the space, we just need the talent. If any alumni are interested in working on performance art I may be able to hire them up and get them some good experience. timothykimo@hotmail.com
OK - an update. I am still in NYC acting and singing. I just finished the national Tour of Sound of Music and am in rehearsals for A Christmas Carol under the direction of Susan Stroman. I am singing some Broadway "pops" style concerts here and there and continue to do various readings and workshops of new musicals, which are always rewarding and creative! I am married to Tim Shew, also an actor/singer who is currently in the revival of Wonderful Town. We have a 16 yr. old son who is a junior in High School and all around terrific young man. I also teach private voice and I do many workshops and master classes at Universities and High Schools across the country and in New York!!!! JbrockNY@aol.com
Tracey Brouillete-Webb, BA
Is Head of the Theater program at Rend Lake College in Benton, IL and works with recent alumnus Therese Howard. webbt@rlc.edu
Dave Burke, Ph.D.
Recent collaboration with several composers has enabled me to publish five Christmas or Easter cantatas. I’ve produced an original series of children’s audio dramas available at www.needcomfort.org as well as writing a few teleplays for independent Christian video production. On stage, I directed my own adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice last year set on a proscenium-filling, Regency writer’s desk and I’ll direct HAMLET next year in a gilded Byzantine Elsinore. Last year’s Iago was my first ever villain—way too much fun. And Charlotte, son Austin (11 now) and I acted together for the first time this year in the Scottish play. Char and I are fond of the quote: “the lines have fallen unto us in pleasant places.” DBURKE@bju.edu
John Callahan, MA 1967
Since I left SIU in 1967 with my MA, I have taught college courses, both undergraduate and graduate, in theatre in Ohio, Missouri, Texas, and Pennsylvania. I earned my PhD in theatre from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, in 1974. I have been married to Pat, an SIU alumnus, for 37 years. We met at SIU. We have one daughter, Kerry Kathleen. I have published one book on Eugene O'Neill and dozens of articles on stage combat. Most importantly, I have retired, effective October 19, 2003, from Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, and have been named Professor Emeritus of Theatre. patcnjohn@aol.com I have published one book on Eugene O'Neill and dozens of articles on stage combat.
Bill is the Assistant Technical Director at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. carz10@aol.com
After college I was a professional Stage Manager for a small theatre company in Chicago. I was big fish in a little pond for three years and it was great. I got worn out on theatre along with the cold weather and moved to LA to try my hand at the acting scene. Even though I got my SAG card on the sixth day out as an extra I didn't want to pursue acting in this huge ocean. So I fell back on my technical background and produced a couple of theatre projects as well as became an Associate Producer for a small production company. I worked on Miss America and other documentary DVD's but after a year I moved on to work on various reality TV shows (The Bachelor and High School Reunion). My pride and joy was working for a Court TV interstitial show as a coordinator. Since then, I've produced two independent features along with numerous shorts and will be Producing my first 'big' budget movie come September. I find that I enjoy writing and though my first two attempts at a screenplay were disastrous, I've found my niche in supernatural thrillers. "Dominique" my screenplay about a 9 year old girl as the grim-reaper has found an investor and is slated to shoot in 2005 for which I will produce under my own production company banner: Ursa Major Productions. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way rolling in dough and I can't get into the hoity-toity clubs but I'm completely comfortable in the independent world without the big dogs tell me what to do. I haven't given up acting entirely. I've done enough acting in this town that I don't have to audition but my friends and colleagues call me when they have a project they know I'd be perfect for. I act now for fun rather than money which makes me still appreciate it for what it is. The other great thing about producing is I can cast myself in the smaller fun roles. On Oct 6th, I'm having a short play I wrote premiere in New York City for which I am very excited about. As a day job, I'm working and the Post-Coordinator for the new Bravo show Man Hunt. And as my side project, I am shooting my first (very experimental) film for which I'm starring in - so we'll see how that goes. carriecerta@hotmail.com
Jonathan Chambers Ph.D.
I’m still teaching at Bowling Green State University where I serve as the graduate studies coordinator in the Department of Theatre and Film. I am currently the president of the American Theatre and Drama Society. I am also the co-editor of Theatre Topics, and will serve as senior editor from September 2005-August 2007. Barring some unforeseen disaster, my book on John Howard Lawson will be out next summer. Last year I directed She Stoops to Conquer. This February I will be directing Quiet in the Land. I am still devilishly handsome and have a rapier wit. jonathc@bgnet.bgsu.edu
Lives and works in Los Angeles. cartertribe@juno.com
This past fall I worked on Arts in Celebration here with Ron Naversen, heading up a giant cardboard puppet making workshop for The Puppets, Painting and Poetry theme, and enjoyed the company of the Actors from the London Stage and a workshop with Commedia master from Italy. I have a piece in an online art exhibit I can invite you to see! It is at www.imaginestation.net and is part of the current Landscape exhibit. I was also a runner up and will be having a solo show at this site sometime within the next year. I also had an exhibit here in Carbondale in October at The Longbranch Coffeehouse. hilseacloud@hotmail.com
My husband Matt and I have been married for 6 years, and we just celebrated the birth of our third child, Joshua Daniel, born September 23, 2003. Josh joins his older sister Emily Grace, 3 1/2, and Anna Joy, 2. Needless to say it's been a whirlwind couple of years! Matt and I met through his uncle, with whom I worked in Chicago. After a few emails and tons of letters and phone calls, we met face to face in Corpus Christi, Texas. I got to assistant direct with Brandon Belzer, SIUC Theater alum from the graduate directing program while I was in Corpus Christie! Small world! Along the way I have been able to teach acting and do a little directing and radio voice work, which has been a blast, but my first priorities are my husband and children. Two of our "kids" from the youth group are Salukis this year, and so I am reliving the fun I had as a Saluki through them. I have such great memories of my years at SIU, and the incredible people I met there, most of which, to my shame, I have lost contact with. But I have delighted in picking up the Chicago Tribune and reading theater reviews and even watching television and spotting some alumni. It's awesome. And I am so looking forward to reading all about what's been going on in your lives. Please feel free to email me anytime! nicolegiven@hotmail.com
Charles is the Technical Director at Millikin University Department of Theater and Dance where he works with alumnus Barbara Mangrum. cchapman@mail.millikin.edu
Right now I'm wrapping up my Stage Management internship with The Shakespeare Theatre. I have three more weeks working on Henry IV Part 2 and then I'll be working on Much Ado About Nothing for the Free For All park show. I'm heading home to Nashville for the summer since I'm unable to do summer stock anywhere. The park show ends in the middle of June, and most summer stocks are already well into their season by that point. From there, who knows? I'm waiting to hear back on applications I've put out for Fall/Spring work. So I'm going to just enjoy the summer, make some extra cash, and relax. I feel like I've been going non-stop since graduation so it will be nice to have the down time omilc@hotmail.com
Jessica Coale, BA 91
I am still freelancing as a Lighting Designer in Atlanta, Georgia. I returned
the end of November from 16 days in Shanghai, China. As resident LD at 7
stages, I was part of a group of nine that took Ionesco's "The
Chairs" to the 5th Annual Shanghai Arts Festival. We also added
on three university theater stops as well. We took the set, we took the props,
we took the costumes and we even took two of the three actors’, but the
lighting was what it was! The festival, held at Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center,
was magnificent for lighting! Knock-off Source 4's. no kidding, copied in Japan.
Exactly the same, yet different in voltage and other small outer shell details.
I do believe the lenses were from ETC because same writing inside the tube and
degree stickers. I am also an Artistic Associate with Synchronicity Performance
Group. This past fall they challenged me to design the set and lights for Lobster
Alice by Kira Obolensky and a children's show, newly adapted Alice
through the Wonderglass. The shows ran in rep in a 70-seat black box
theater. It was a great experience and growth for me to take on more than just
the lighting. I have one show running that I have designed lights for,
"The Santa Land Diaries" at Horizon Theatre. I am also the production
electrician for The Atlanta Opera. I basically maintain their warehouse of
stock electrics and supervise the Opera load-in's at The Atlanta Civic center.
I work closely with the local stagehand union 927, which I am joining early
2004. I consider myself an Illumination Practitioner; at least that's what my
cards say. I especially love to design for new productions, where there is more
collaboration between playwright, director and designers. This past summer was the passing of one of
my most treasured friends, Joseph Chaikin. I was lucky enough to have design
seven productions with Joe at 7 Stages. We last worked together this past May
on Broken Glass by Arthur Miller. We were set to work on an anniversary
production of Waiting for Godot this spring but now Del Hamilton,
Artistic Director at 7 Stages has invited Walter Asmus a former prodigy of
Joe's to direct. I look forward to this production. jcoale@bellsouth.net
I am working to complete my dissertation. I am in my new position as Director of Theatre Augusta State University, Augusta, GA. We are producing two plays next year: Guernica, a new play based on the Picasso painting and I will be directing Harvey in March. ccope@aug.edu
Sabrinna Cox, BA
I am still working full time at the Arts Center of Costal
Carolina as the scenic artist. Currently I am putting up a set I co-designed
for Cole. Its big and art deco. scprops@excite.com
Michael is Artistic Director for the Market House Theater in Paducah, KY. He directed Oklahoma last summer with Ron Naversen as his set designer. m.cochran@mht.com
K.L. (Kenny) is the associate dean for undergraduates at Prescott College. He also teaches creative writing and literature courses in the Arts & Letters Program. His new book, Last Call, winner of the first annual Prairie Schooner Prize for Fiction, will be published by the University of Nebraska Press this fall. He also won the 2002 Santa Fe Writers Project Grand Prize, and he has been awarded residency fellowships to the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. All four of his children are now, unbelievably, in school. kcook@prescott.edu
I just finished my summer carpenter position in Cape Cod for the Cape Playhouse working under alumnus James Bernhardt with an all too brief stop at a theatre in Boston. I am at home for a couple more weeks before I leave for the Nebraska Theatre Caravan's touring production of A Christmas Carol. I am on the crew and it should be a good time. My next definite theatre gig is in March on a children's tour out of New Hampshire. The company is called the Hampstead players and I get to play multiple characters in another production of Irma Vep. As far as January and February go, I am not sure yet what I am doing. I will probably end up in either LA or Chicago working over hire if I can. I am definitely looking for something to do that has nothing to do with sleeping in my Mom's basement. As I am at home and just finishing my transition job (nothing like entering data into a computer eight hours a day), I just might swing down through Carbondale again to beat the doldrums of Monticello. It seemed like SIU was doing great and that makes me smile. That theatre department was extremely special to me. Anyway, I must get going but I hope to hear from you soon. Best of luck on all artistic endeavors down there and maybe I'll be there again someday soon.
Ronnie Crum
Ron is the Operations Manager for Fourth Phase in Los Angeles, California. rcrume@fourthphase.com
Dan is an Engineering
Manager at SECOA Inc., a leading theatre equipment manufacturer of rigging,
orchestra shells and portable staging.
Dan is a veteran of the industry spending 15 years as a Technical
Director at: Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cleveland, OH; StageWest,
Springfield, MA; The Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis, MN; and The
Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN. He also has an MFA in Theatre Technology ‘85
from University of Wisconsin - Madison. Dan serves on the ESTA - Technical
Standards Program, Rigging Working Group and is a member of the Manual
Counterweight Rigging and Fire Safety Curtain Task Groups, writing rigging
standards for our industry. He is also
a Task Group member of NFPA helping to write a code for Fire Safety Curtains.
He has authored an article on cable terminations for TD&T and several
articles for Yale Technical Briefs. Dan is married to Tree O’Halloran, has two
children and lives in Minneapolis, MN. d.culhane@secoa.com
Heather is an assistant
professor of theatre in the Department of Performing Arts, where she teaches
Introductory Acting and Advanced Acting, Voice for the Stage and Theatre
Appreciation. She serves as an adviser and director for the Clemson Players.
She is a recognized actor/combatant with the American Society of Fight
Directors and is a membership candidate of the Actor's Equity Association. hcurrie@clemson.edu
I graduated from the SIU
Theater Dept, with a concentration in dance.
I got my Equity card 5 days after graduation have bounced in and out of
the business ever since. (mostly in, I'm happy to say) I've worked at theaters all over the
country, toured nationally with Sesame St. Live, and had the honor of
performing at the White House in 1981. Since 1993, I've lived in Richmond, VA,
where my wife, Laura, and I moved to start our own production company: Mystery
Dinner Playhouse. I write and produce
comedy/mystery dinner shows. We
currently employ three separate casts of actors, with venues in Richmond,
Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach. We've
also been able to tap into the Internet to license performance rights for these
shows. I have several full time
producers, and numerous nonprofit groups using my scripts, throughout the US
and Canada. laurjam@i2020.net info@mysterydinner.com
Donald Sinclair Davis,
Ph.D.
Continues in his role as the General Hammond in the successful SciFi Channel series Stargate.
James Deanes MFA Costume Design
Some of you, well, most of you probably didn't know, but my world has been
added to yet again in a most FAB'D way; Sol Asher (middle name) was born, Nov.
22! He's a lil guy who's on pace with his now BIG brother, Kofi, in terms of
energy! Being well, eating, relaxing - he has the greatest life, eh? Oh, by the
way, he was born on the 22nd as I said, which happens to be the K'-sters
birthday (2yrs old that day) as well! & it wasn't planned, as Sol was a
week early & Kofi was a week late! Hmmmmm...jadnia@hotmail.com
I have been Assistant Professor of Drama, English, and Speech at a small Liberal Arts College (Our Lady of Corpus Christi) here in Texas. I am the head of the department(s) actually, but the funny part is that I am really the only person in the department(s)...ha ha...works fine for me. This semester I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to direct ANTIGONE for the end of the semester program on campus and next semester we are planning to stage selections from Chaucer's THE CANTERBURY TALES, that should be interesting and challenging all at the same time. I have learned so much since coming here in September; it has been a wonderful experience so far. bdesorbo@hotmail.com
James has just been accepted as a non-declared graduate student at SIUC, so we will be seeing him again in the fall. jamesdiemer@yahoo.com
I am currently in the middle of my second year of grad school at Ohio University. We are finishing with Shakespeare and groovin' on the greeks. Next year we move to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park for our last year. This summer I worked in Chatham, MA, out on the Cape and had the fortune of working with and becoming friends with Miss Julie Harris. Yep the legend. I just got off the phone with her this afternoon in fact. I was cast with a major role in all of our 8 shows (8 shows 12 weeks). The faculty and staff at Southern Illinois University were instrumental in my growth and development as an actor, and that experience has helped me handle grad school quite nicely. I hope all is well at SIU and I hope to return there on my spring break for a few days or so. Good luck with the 40th anniversary thing. take care and give everyone there my best. alex_dittmer@yahoo.com
John is currently working on Hamlet for the Trama Theatre Company in Naperville, Illinois. The show premiers in late May. This year, John has worked with the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, New York on a tour of Julius Caesar as the title role. He currently finished a run of "Phaedra" and "Andromache" for the Keyhole Theatre Company in Chicago. John has previously worked with the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Minnesota Fringe Festival, and plans on returning to the Twin Cities after Hamlet. He is also currently writing three shorts for a 30-minute show called 'Baseball Series' that will be premiering in July in San Francisco. jdoolsiu@yahoo.com
Kip Dooley, BA 2004
I am currently living in Chicago. I started my own personal training company and that's going ok. As far as acting goes I'm currently talking and networking with a movie producer and writer so keep your fingers crossed for this one. I'm looking for an agent and just trying to do whatever comes my way. Life is good when you remain positive. Also if you find yourself in the Chicago area and need to get into shape well then I'm your man. Hit me on my email or cell phone. kd308@hotmail.com Follow your dreams.
Kevin lives in Dallas and works as a Senior Marketing Manager for the French telecommunication company Alcatel. He and his wife, Angela, have two beautiful daugthers, Emma (3 yrs.) and Lauren (2 yrs.). Kevin can be reached at keveast@msn.com.
Oh my goodness, talk about a blast from the past namelist... I relocated to Tucson Arizona in 1989 and after the usual trials and tribulations of youth emerged a computer operations expert. Today I am the COO of Tierra Caliente a software company and consult in computer operations triage. fico@fico.com
Timothy Fink, MFA Directing,
Tim Fink spent part of last summer music directing CATS and 42nd
STREET at Bigfork Summer Playhouse.
He directed Jason Robert Brown’s musical PARADE last spring and is directing DON “COMMODORE” PASQUALE This fall. Plans are underway to revive
McLeod Summer Playhouse this coming summer in a new format. tjfink@siu.edu
Recently appeared in 1776 at Parkland College in Champaign as Ben Franklin. This is my second appearance on that stage. Serving as the Academic Advisor and Placement Coordinator for the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Father of two, 6yr old Mitchell and 4 yr old Maggie. Husband and chief trash taker-outer and Lawn personnel. flanagin@uiuc.edu
Mary Ellen Ford-Douglas MFA Acting
First off, I left the Walnut Street Playhouse after my daughter Becca was
born in 1990. Did a few stints locally
at a few theatres as a stage manager but found that it was really hard trying
to find child care with both of us working nights...so I went back to school
(yes, again!) at Temple and received certifications in recreation and
gerontology. I worked many years as an
activity director in an assisted living facility (my stage managing and acting
come in really handy with the old folks!)
Even held drama classes for them!
They loved it. Put on a few
plays with my past residents and even started a few choirs! I now have grown in this profession and work
for a healthcare management company and serve as a consultant and trainer for
them and am an approved trainer for the state of PA in assisted living. Even spoke at a few state conferences (with
added drama and flair, of course!) I
really like what I do, but I miss the hustle and bustle of my past life! Becca is twelve going on 25. She is a beautiful girl with long curly dark
hair, blue eyes and very pale skin (the Scottish and Italian blood in
her). She looks like snow white! I have her enrolled in Summer Stock this
summer (last summer, too) and she has now announced that she is going to
Princeton and wants to be an actress!
Ahhh, its in the blood, I guess!
How I am ever going to pay for Princeton is another story--but I have 5
more years to save! Hah! Medouglass106616@cs.com
http://www.siu.edu/~oirs/SRC_Tour_pages/alumniwall.html#Franz
After graduating from SIUC in May 1999, I moved to New York
City. Although my day job was in
advertising, I took classes in stand-up comedy, voice-over, and improv. I also got to do several voice-overs for my
employer. After tiring of big-city
life, I moved to Portland, Oregon, in August 2003, with no idea as to what I'd
do here. However, I recently had an
epiphany of sorts and decided that I wanted to pursue acting (as opposed to
opera, which I was pursuing at SIUC).
Portland is a great place to explore one's creative side, as the people
here are
generally very appreciative of the arts.
At the time of this writing, I'm taking an improv class at a place
called the Brody Theater and preparing to do a puppet show for children at a
local church. I'm also investigating
voice-over work. Overall I'm doing well
and enjoying life in Portland. Not long
ago I was in a play called "A Grimm Look," based on Grimm's fairy
tales. I also served as an extra for a
scene from the movie "Nearing Grace," due out sometime next
year. The scene was shot at the high
school where much of "Mr. Holland's Opus" was filmed. And yesterday I auditioned for a
(presumably) low-budget film project; I'll find out tomorrow whether I've been
cast!
Is back at SIUC working in the scheduling office at Woody Hall scchabot@siu.edu
I have some exciting things happening, just got back from two months in L.A., couple of pilots and have decided to move from NYC, to L.A. in the fall. Have just signed with two big companies in L.A....very exciting. Just finished a lead role here in a romantic comedy from the people who made "Office Space", and Bella Donna who made "L.I.E.", "Buffalo 66", etc. Some things really, finally starting to happen. Chris Mitchell just got married. My wife and I went out to California for the wedding. WolfGant@aol.com
I am still at the Beverly Arts Center on the south side of Chicago, www.beverlyartcenter.org. It has been a great learning experience, and thanks to my theater management class, I'm able to hold my own. I am listed as the production manager, but I am on the program committee and I am beginning to book acts. My latest deal is with a local musician, Michael McDermott, whose new album is being played constantly on XRT. It really is a dream job, since I am still able to direct, teach and do the techie thing, in between meetings. puttanita@yahoo.com
Lets see it has been a while since I have told you what I have been up to. I have been moonlighting with some other companies, and I have actually been doing some scene design-3 shows actually 2 are one acts for Stray Cat Theatre (Patty Red Pants and Hysteric Studs) and the other is for Greasepaint Theatre (Big, the Musical) www.greasepaint.org (painted the piano flat he is on) it is a small children theatre (children actors) with a very minimal budget, but the extra cash came in at a good time. It is so small that I am designing, painting, and propping. And of course Childsplay. The puppet theater I work for, just opened a new show, The Imaginators, (where the costume shop and I worked together on creating a 12' and a 3' monster tail) Very fun, very Ed Wood in the attack scene:) We are also going into the 16th year of Velveteen Rabbit. This year I am updating more of the props, like the toy bi-plane, once again it was cardboard and pencils that were holding it together and now it is all wood. So in a nutshell that is what has been going on. randybaby7@hotmail.com http://www.straycattheatre.org
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/babyroot79/album?.tok=phYe6qBBJWACRXVJ&.dir=/4c36&.src=ph
Steven is a Media Specialist in Theater at Virginia Commonwealth University working with former SIUC faculty Noreen Barnes Mclain scgerlach@vcu.edu
Leo is a tenured faculty member in the Radio and Television Department at SIUC. leogher@siu.edu
Just a quick note from Boston, I have been working at Mystic Scenic Studio and things are going well. I am in the front office, drafting parts of a large show for Busch Gardens in Tampa. It is huge and design decisions and approvals are coming slowly. But all is going well so far. I maybe going to Tampa for the loading in of the production at Busch Gardens. We shall see. I could be there for one week or eight. The money would be good for the extended stay. If all goes well I maybe able to visit OPY, PJ and the rest of the old gang at Orlando Shakespeare Festival Orlando. We shall see. dgied68@yahoo.com
We enjoyed the last newsletter
very much. In fact, as a result of your
newsletter we made contact with Roger Long, who we hadn't seen or heard
from in more than 40 years. Peggy and I will leave in three weeks for a ten day
visit to Israel. We want to travel some
of the roads and see some of the sights that were previously visited by
Jesus. For those who don't know, we
suffered four hurricanes in six weeks this year. We left for one and stayed for three. Jeanne came right through our back yard. That was an experience to remember. I
retired as Corporate Director of Public Affairs for the General Dynamics
Corporation, where I was responsible for worldwide news media relations. This
was after 30 years in the military (eight years in the U.S. Navy and 22 years
in the U.S. Air Force), and ten years in the defense industry after leaving
SIUC. Although I didn't pursue theater
after college, everything I learned about communications at SIU was put to good
use. I spent a lifetime in public
relations and retired as the Corporate Director of Public Affairs for the
General Dynamics Corporation. There may
be a message here for some of your students who do not pursue professional
theater. In retirement I have become a freelance writer and has had more than
80 articles published in various metropolitan newspapers and defense oriented
internationally circulated magazines.
Enroute to Alton this spring we stopped by SIU to look at the
campus. We had not been back there
since graduation in 1960. As you can imagine, we were more than a little bit
impressed at the many changes on the campus and in the city. We literally did not recognize
anything. But we found the theater
department easily. Since it was a Sunday, everything on campus was closed. However, we also one door open to the McLeod
Theater, so we walked around in the dark, including a trip back stage. Your students cannot imagine how lucky they
are to have such modern technology and such a wonderful place to study. I
wanted you to know we were very impressed with everything we saw as we walked
through the building. What a wonderful
experience theater department students must have now. We had a great SIU experience from 1957-1960, but the department
was very modest in comparison. With all the anniversary tributes to McLeod,
Payne, and Moe, I wish there was also some memorial for Sherwin Abrams--a
contemporary of Dr. McLeod’s who also made a major contribution to the SIU
Theater Department.dgill000@aol.com
Has anyone heard from Kerry?
JoAnn is currently working for Kaskaskia College in the area
of Workforce Development. She also does
consulting work in the areas of marketing, human resource, and training and
development. Her most recent theatre projects
have been portraying Sister Leo for Centralia Cultural Society productions of Nunsense I & II and as Anna in a
Rend Lake College production of Meet Me
In St. Louis. She works out of the
Salem, Illinois extension center and
looks forward to getting involved with the local theatre group there, which is
in the process of renovating the old Salem Theatre. She lives in the country on a lake between Vandalia and Salem,
Illinois and thoroughly enjoys country living.
She would love to hear from anyone affiliated with SIU theatre past or
present and can be emailed at jgivens@kaskaskia.edu
or lehde@hotmail.com
I am in my second year of doctoral studies. This last semester we in had some great visiting artists. I worked as dramaturg for Tim Bond of Oregon Shakespeare festival on our University Theatre production of Lorraine Hansberry's Les Blancs. We also had Richard Gough of the Center for Performance Studies in Wales in to teach classes and devise a performance focusing on food. I was fortunate enough to take his class on food and performance theory. I hope to go to Wales and continue my studies with Richard in their summer program and learn more about devising theatre/performance. I am a teaching assistant for a writing intensive version of our introduction to theatre, and last fall was a teaching fellow and trained others in how to teach this type of writing intensive class across disciplines. In the spring, our department is hosting a Graduate Theatre and Drama Conference and I am serving on that committee.
Here is an update on us: Peter played the role of the father, Joe, in Arthur Miller's play All My Son" at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, January 2003 through April, 2003; Arthur Miller was in the audience one night and the cast was thrilled to meet this amazing playwright. In June our second son got married, now we have two beautiful daughters-in-law. From October 2003 until the end of December 2003, Peter is playing the role of Scrooge in the Guthrie Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol in Minneapolis. We celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary in June (our honeymoon was spent in summer stock with Chris Moe!)
Not too much new in LA. I've finished writing my second book, and have finally heard from an agent interested in reading the full manuscript. So keep your fingers crossed! Other than that, it's all work, work, work. Oh yeah... I'm getting married in July! Whee! I'm also maintaining my website, www.monkeywright.com, and doing web work for a few others (www.luchalibre.com - where I took professional wrestling lessons) and a few others.
I am still on the acting
faculty of Los Angeles City College. I have been working there for the past 4
years teaching acting, advanced scene study, improvisation and orientation to
the profession (a goal setting class for actors). Let me know when you want me
to come back to SIU and teach it... It's a pretty cool class. Also on the
faculty is Jim Moody (lighting designer and proud Saluki). We catch up
about Southern days a lot. By the way, he is working on his PhD right now. I
also am working as an assistant to the Producer on the TV show, The West Wing.
We are wrapping up our 5th season. The job allows me to continue to
teach part-time. We'll see what happens with it next year. I am teaching improvisation privately with Carolyn
Wilson and see several of the old gang - Scott West, Marybeth
Scheer, Rich Carter. dtg13@sbcglobal.net
Chad Gross, MFA Technical Direction 2002 & Jamie
(Bays) Gross
Chad recently completed his first year as Technical Director for Idaho State University and is currently working over the summer on opening a new Performing Arts Center for the Department which you can see on his website www.isu.edu. Chad also just finished our production of Something's Afoot. Jamie is working with Chad in the front office doing Box Office work. Besides moving into a new facility over the summer they plan on doing as much fishing as possible. Feel free to email us at groschad@isu.edu or Jamie at directorchik@hotmail.com
Has anyone heard from Liz?
After leaving SIU, I spent
some time in Chicago and worked with First Born Productions as a TD and
designer. I soon decided I needed to
make some money doing what I liked so, I got into the film business. I moved to Hollywood 7 years ago and have
worked steady ever since. Most of my
work started out in film, but is almost exclusively TV now with the exception
of commercials. I’ve only been involved
in two plays in Hollywood, both of which I was the lighting designer. For the
second show, Driving while Black in
Beverly Hills, I was nominated for best lighting design by the NAACP. Most of the TV work I do is as a Best Boy
or Gaffer not a designer. I did five
season of The Man Show, several
Richard Simmons videos and talk shows, Cupid,
Paradise Hotel, Russian Roulette, American Juniors, Swan, 6 Feet Under, and am now finishing up my
third season on American Idol. Our second season of American Idol we were Emmy nominated for best lighting design. I’m very lucky to work with some incredible
talented people. I opened up my own photo studio last year, something to keep
me busy when I’m not working. I run
into a few alumni from time to time, but would like to hear from more of
you. Please feel free to contact me at gary@pixelperfectla.com
I'm the Director for Illinois State University's new Center for the Performing Arts. I teach arts management here as well. I just received my Project Management Professional Certification (PMP), so now I can up my consulting fees. I have my own arts management consulting agency on the side, Bishop and Bishop. I just returned from Montana, where I was contracted as a consultant for the old theatre where I used to be executive director ...that was kind of weird. Fun but weird. My husband and I have a two year old daughter, Miranda. When I'm not wooing corporate sponsors, dealing with union contracts and being a typical type-A manager, I moonlight in massage therapy for pure enjoyment. I'm directing a commedia play, The Clever Thieves right now. And I'm debating what to go back and get a PhD in..business or theatre. I'd love to hear from friends! kgrounds@mchsi.com or klgroun@ilstu.edu
I'm a resident DJ/VJ (Disc Jockey and Music Video Jockey), Program Manager and Audio/ Visual Production Specialist for one of the major Music Video Dance Clubs out here in Hollywood. The club is called 'Micky's' www.mickys.com and is located in West Hollywood. I've also acted since I've been back. A month ago, I was cast in a scene for a Director's Directing class. I hadn't acted since my time at SIUC (2000) and I wondered as I memorized, rehearsed and prepared with my fellow acting partner if I would be able to just pick up where I left off. YES! The scene exceeded all my expectations. Since SIUC, I've had experiences in life that have made it so much easier to access my motions and the peaks and valleys in my work in the scene traveled the gamut of anger and sorrow to sadness and crying. Everyone in the class had to write a critique of the scene, actors, and director. From what I was told, pretty much everyone said that I ruled the scene and was the best they had seen in the course. I can't tell you how proud, fulfilled and rejuvenated that made me. Whether I achieve the success most have in mind when they come to Hollywood isn't the point for me. More so, my goal is to pursue acting for the sake of acting. If given the opportunity, I want to inspire, learn, and grow as an actor/performer and contribute to the positive rather than negative. All the best in Carbondale! www.mylesmatisse.com
Manabu Hasegawa BA
Is working in Japan at an Oil Refinery off the coast of the Sea of Japan. gsr7fruck5abbnkxre@dmocomo.ne.jp
Chip Haas, MFA 94,
Starting in the Fall 2004 semester, Chip is the new TD at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro. Prior to that he spent four years as the TD/Sound Supervisor at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. On a personal note, since he hasn't kept folks updated very well, he is the proud father of Tyler (8), Jackson (3) and Natalie (6 months) (yes we are done now with having kids). He is still married to Wendy, who is extremely happy to be moving back to North Carolina and leaving behind the cold of Indiana. chaas@bsu.edu
I just wanted to write and let you all know that I am moving to Boston in a few weeks. I am currently finishing up Turandot with Virginia Opera. It's been an experience (and they all are right?) But opera is great and it was a fun short gig. I was recently offered the chance to be the assistant production manager of Chamber Theatre Productions, a company in Boston. They produce touring children's theatre all over the country. And I am excited about the chance to have a full time job in theatre for a while. I'm not going to lie I will miss SMing but I'm very excited at the chance for some normalcy in my life for a while and I hear Boston is a great town.
lilplasticcastle22@hotmail.com
LaQuesha Harris, BA
I'm the Praise Dance
Instructor @ Church of Living God, Asst. Choreographer/Dancer/and Make-up
Artist in the up coming play 'I've Never Heard' @ Powell Symphony Hall in St.
Louis, Mo in July (Please look out for it), and member of MyJeriah Productions
as actress/dancer/choreographer. laqueshaharris@hotmail.com
I stayed around St. Louis for a year after graduating in '93, doing various things: A few voice-overs, live industrials, a couple Sondheim’s at SIUE (because working in live theater in St. Louis early 90's was like panning for gold in the Mississippi river. Besides, SIUE had a budget for costumes). I also became familiar with unemployment benefits, telemarketing, and working in graveyard. In October '94 I moved to Chicago where all my friends were and started auditioning and temping. In a nutshell, for the past 8 or nine years I was in Chicago (still the best theater town) doing tons of work at small theaters for small money, with the occasional "make a living" show thrown in here and there. I became an ensemble member at an amazing theater company called Roadworks Productions in the spring of '95, and we did some great, gutsy work. At one time we were thought of as the next Steppenwolf...but we weren't. The company sort of bit it a few months ago. In Jan. of 2003, I started doing "Zazu" in the Chicago production of THE LION KING, which ran for ten months, and I'm still doing it in the San Francisco production. In November 04, we head to Seattle; basically starting the west coast leg of the Broadway National Tour (we're called the Cheetah Company. Go Figure.) In summer 2005 it heads back to Chicago, but we'll see if I make it. So. There. My past ten years. It's hard to "blurb" ten years. We're all old now, aren't we? Show Bio-wise: Broadway Tour: The Lion King ("Zazu"). Regional: Metamorphoses (Mark Taper Forum). Chicago: Sunday in the Park with George (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Phyro-Giants!, Dealer's Choice (Roadworks Productions, ensemble member); Disappeared (Steppenwolf Studio); Cloud Nine (After Dark Award) and A Home at the End of the World (Jeff nomination, About Face Theater); Pride's Crossing (Famous Door Theater); I Hate Hamlet, The Foreigner (After Dark Award, Drury Lane Oakbrook). Film: Totally Confused. Hasenstab@mac.com
Was honored as the Theater Department’s Distinguished Alumni at Alumni Day on March 18th. Corlis has been brought in as a guest artist with Black American Studies developing an ensemble theatre performance based on African American tales. The performance was held in the McLeod Theater. The ensemble now called the Back Porch Players plans to continue develop stories and takes them to local area schools. Corlis is Associate Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and Communications at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. She has been active with the Charlotte Repertory Theatre and Theatre Charlotte as a Board Member, performer and director. chayes@livingstone.edu
Once leaving college Elizabeth worked in Arkansas doing a children’s touring show. Then she moved to Atlanta to work The 1996 Summer Olympics. Staying in Atlanta, she began her career in the convention business. She moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL to be closer to family and took a job as an Audio Visual manager at the Miami Beach Convention Center. While dating her current boyfriend they moved to Orlando, FL where they currently reside in their new home. She is going to receive a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management from the University of Central Florida. Currently, she works at doctor’s office and is in charge of medical records. She enjoy working and going to school and looks forward to a career in the health profession.elizabethhearst@hotmail.com
Dan Hechenberger
Dan has returned to SIUC where he is pursuing masters in Curriculum and
Instruction. Dan is also an Illinois
Roads Scholar traveling to various schools ad events giving a first person,
living history presentation of the character of Pere Jacques Gravier, a Jesuit
missionary who came to the “Illinois Country” not long after the explorations
of Marquette and Joliet. Gravier spent many years and had strong ties with the
Illinois people, compiling a written dictionary of their language, experiencing
firsthand the wars between the Illinois and Iroquois and sharing in Illinois
daily life and ritual. dhechenb@siu.edu
The only change is that I have opened my own law office in Murphysboro and no longer work for my previous firm. heinslaw@neondsl.com
Is an event coordinator for Steller Events in Dallas
Has anyone heard from Jeff?
I wrote a memoir structured like a documentary that tells the story of a spiritual awakening. I'm cleaning it up now and working on the perfect query. We'll see. Right now I'm working at a cool grocery store and editing my book. (Did you know that I wrote a book last fall?). Once I get that cleaned up a bit, I'm going to be sending it out trying to find agents and the like. Michael Gonzales and I ran into each other downtown and I’d like to meet some of the other alumni out here. marc.herb@earthlink.net
Has anyone heard from Danny?
Jeff Herrmann ('87) is the Director of Drama at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio During the summer months, he is a resident designer for Cain Park, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Jeff is currently designing Songs for a New World for Cain Park. Later this year, he will design A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for the Idaho Shakespeare Company in Boise, Idaho. Jeff and his partner Bob reside in Lakewood, Ohio.You can contact Jeff at jeherrma@bw.edu. You can also see some of Jeff's designs on his website: http://hometown.aol.com/opieone59/index.html opieone59@yahoo.com
Alex and I are in fact parents; we have a beautiful baby boy. Ethan Lee Hilgenkamp was born on April 6th. We are doing pretty well with figuring out how to be parents, Ethan is teaching us new things everyday. Alex will be going back to work soon at a veterinarian clinic. She will also start classes veterinarian in the fall. Yes classes, she is working on a pre-vet degree. My first summer season as Scenic Director is starting this week. The season is looking pretty good. hilgenkamp@suu.edu
Rodney has directed for professional, community, and college theatres in Chicagoland for several years. He frequently teaches Introduction to Theatre, Voice and Diction, Improvisation, History of Theatre, Nonverbal Communication, Dramatic Theory, among other courses. He previously served as acting chair of the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre at Northeastern Illinois University and currently holds the position of Managing and Artistic Director of the Stage Center Theatre. Rodney can be reached at r-higginbotham1@neiu.edu http://www.neiu.edu/~rghiggin/ Julie can be reached at: urghiggi@yahoo.com www.neiu.edu/~rghiggin/Thaiadopt/start.html
Thomas Hischak, MFA Playwriting, 1978
Tom is Professor of Theatre at the
State University of New York College at Cortland. He has published 13 books on
theatre, musical theatre, film musicals, and Tin Pan Alley. His most recent
book is the third edition of the OXFORD COMPANION TO AMERICAN THEATRE. He has
also published 18 plays, mostly classics adapted for the stage for schools.
Last spring he received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarly and
Creative Activity. He lives in Cortland, NY, with his wife and two children,
Mark and Karen. hischakt@cortland.edu
Is a faculty member in the Art Department at Rend Lake College and will continue to design scenery for alumnus Tracey Brouillette-Webb. HOWARD@RLC.CC.IL.US
Is a graduate Student inn Costume Design at the University of Idaho. “I had a great time in Santa Fe this summer working for the opera company. I saw Adam Rowe in Santa Fe. I designed costumes for A Chorus Line this semester. It was an OK job, I think. This is my first time to design the show. I become bored not acting. I will have free time after Chorus Line is over. So, I plan to make a short play and perform here. Nobody may be interested, however it makes me happy.” Masako also won a regional ACTF award for technical excellence in costuming last January.
Not much going on in my life right now other than law school. I'm attending law school here at SIUC, and am part of the class of 2006. I'm still not married and don't have any kids. I haven't done any theater for a while, not since working with Jenny Holcombe in Lincoln as her stage manager for King and I in summer of 2002. Right now I'm just focusing on my studies in law and that's about all I have time for. They work us pretty hard. I'm excited to see this newsletter. theaterdva@hotmail.com
trickyp23@hotmail.com Patrick.Higgs@BASES.com
Teaches in the Speech Communications Department at SIUC. maryhp@siu.edu
Shirlene Holmes, MFA Acting 1985, Ph.D. 1991 Performance Studies
Shirlene recently visited when she performed for the Kleinau Theater’s Returning Artist Series. She is an associate professor at Georgia State University teaching in Communications and African American Studies. joushh@panther.gsu.edu
Brain has lived in Chicago for over 11 years where he directed and produced for the SIU alum-founded theater company Firstborn Productions. After receiving an MA in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and practicing as an adolescent psychotherapist for a number of years, Brian now applies those skills as Director of Customer Support for an Internet software company. He also runs HoltzMedia, a web development business on the side. brian@holtzmedia.com http://www.holtzmedia.com
Well. I am in the
process of designing for our spring production of "Chicago. I handed the
maintenance crew (who is building the set, yet again) a 1/2 inch scale white
model last Monday and they were thrilled.
From this they have already built quite a bit of the unit set and will
be starting on the wagons, soon.
If ANYONE knows of a
Doctoral program that deals with interdisciplinary arts--also known as
comparative arts-- (I am looking for something that incorporates fine art and
theater), please give me a heads up. So
far, the only one I have found is in
Athens, Ohio and that is quite a distance to commute! I am looking for
something that might be done as an
independent program, meeting every few months for a concentrated 1-2 weeks
program of work. tdhoward@midwest.net
Is currently a doctoral student in Performance Studies here at SIUC. steph@siu.edu
I was a (design-tech) graduate 1974, working under Darwin Payne with grad-assistant Bruce Cameron and Randy Moreland. Currently, I am working as a Systems Specialist for an Elmhurst, IL sound contracting firm, servicing and doing performance measurements on new theater sound systems. Most recently the (still under construction) Rochelle, H.S. auditorium and previously the new Lake Zurich H.S. and Lake Forest H.S. performance spaces.
Motoi Ibaraki, BA
rozie@jp-t.ne.jp saigetsu@hotmail.com
I have just recently been promoted to Assistant Professor / Lighting & Scenic Designer at Northwest Missouri State University where I am finishing my 7th. year. I am a Vice-Commissioner for Web Publications for the USITT Technical Production Commission as well as serving as editor for "Technical Source Guide". Terry and I are approaching our 13th wedding anniversary and we are blessed to have two wonderful kids, Madison who is 7 and Michael who is 4! pimmel@mail.nwmissouri.edu http://info.nwmissouri.edu/~pimmel/pats_web/INDEX.html
Whitney Johnson (Smith)
2002 BA Musical Theater
Whitney is currently working on her Master's of Science in the Department of Speech Communication at SIUC, with an emphasis in performance studies. Bulah5@hotmail.com
After graduation Star went to Ireland and the UK. Star recently appeared in the Stage Company’s production of Proof at the Stage Company and Lobby Hero for the Main Street Players here in southern Illinois as well as a performance in St. Louis for West End Players. starina27@hotmail.com
Tara Marshall-Johnson, BA, MFA Costume Design 2002
I have been enjoying the western mountain ranges since leaving SIU-C to
work at Idaho State University as an Assistant Professor in Costume
Design. Working along with Alumnus, Chad
Gross our department is currently organizing a move into a new $35 million
Performing Arts Center. Other exciting
news: Tyler learned how to down hill ski and is now a dare-devil in the
mountains and just graduated from Kindergarten, Wow!!! johntar2@isu.edu
My life has changed a lot in the last few years. I'm living with my boyfriend Robin and we are raising 3 of his children together. I'm not working in the theatre anymore, the hours are hard with the kids and the stability just isn't there. Anyway, right now I work for MetLife and I'm doing pretty well for myself. I wanted to send you a little note to thank you for all the support you and the rest of the theatre department gave me while I was there. I loved my experience at Southern and it was mainly because of the people. Thank you for providing such an excellent technical theatre program. For the 2 years after graduation that I did work in professional theatre, Southern provided me with the skills to work wherever I wanted (Steppenwolf) I will always appreciate that. Thank you and the rest of the faculty for making it such a great place to learn and grow, not only as a theatre technician, but as a person as well. dharma333@hotmail.com
Is an associate professor in the English Dept at U of Missouri, Springfield where he teaches playwriting. rmj526f@smsu.edu martinjones@mchsi.com
After graduating Jombi began his first year of graduate school here working towards his MFA in Lighting Design under Mark Varns. Jombi has just finished his last semester on the GI Bill and is looking forward to a graduate assistantship in the theater where he will teach basic lighting and supervise lab students in the electrics area. Jombi designed lights for Guest Director Shirley Jo Finney’s production of In the Blood and Tom Kidd’s recent production of The Green Bird.. beartrack76@hotmail.com
Has anyone heard from
Jeni?
Connie (Juranek) Petersen, MFA Costume and Scenic Design, 2002. Since graduation, I went back to Des Moines Metro Opera for my 9th and last season as Costume Designer. It was time to move on. I went on to Central City Opera as Assistant Designer and Wardrobe Supervisor. I was then given a one-year contract as Costume Shop Manager and Designer while a good friend; Tina Campbell was on maternity leave. The following spring, she decided to stay home, in which I was given another one-year contract. Last summer, I had a wonderful experience as a set costumer for the upcoming Disney film, Mr. 3000 with Bernie Mac. We did almost all the filming here in Milwaukee at Miller Park. It is set to be released this September. This spring I went through the interview process in which I was given the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Marquette University. I am pleased to have this position permanently. Our whole department has been fighting university politics to get us on tenure track. What a challenge to have this university understand creative works. I enjoy running the shop along with being able to design 2 or 3 shows a year. Mostly when my colleague, Deb Krajec is directing. We had an exciting year having an original script being produced at ACTF at the Kennedy Center. Our student, Garrett Zuercher, who is deaf, wrote and directed Quid Pro Quo. I never thought I would enjoy the academic world as much as I do. I was married to Heath Petersen Labor Day weekend. We had a beautiful day, even with the Cornhuskers playing. I am very grateful for all the friends from SIU and NWMSU that was able to make the trip. connie.petersen@marquette.edu
After graduation in
January 92 I married Tricia, a fellow SIU grad in Forestry. We moved to Wilmington, NC and lived there
for 7 years. I was a carpenter at
Dupont, a sign maker, and in July of 92 was offered a job as Assistant
Technical Director of a Historic Theater - Thalian Hall. I held that position for 3 years until I was
promoted to Technical Director. The
space was a historic 1000 seat proscenium theater. I was the TD for the next 4 years. In 1998 I was freelancing for a show in Durham’s historic
Carolina Theatre and was offered a chance to work in Duke University’s Theatre
Operations Department. I also became an
adjunct professor in their theatre department.
I had seven theatre spaces to over see, dealt with groups ranging from
college theatre groups to off Broadway productions like “Birdy”. I was offered and took the position of
Assistant Manager over Special Events. I dealt with everything from setting up basketball
and foot ball games to the annual reunion and graduation. Two years ago I was offered the position of
Director of Administration/Operations at Sarah P. Duke Gardens where I am
now. I still am trying to continue my
involvement with the performance side of things; I am looking for ways to bring
theatre into the Gardens and other special events. Tricia and I have two kids, Madison age 7 and Zachary age 4. kart4@mindspring.com (h) paul.kartcheske@duke.edu (w) www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens
Jen currently works as Publications Manager/Director for The National Center for Family Literacy here in Louisville. I'm working at the Louisville Zoo doing in marketing. It's not the highest paying job in the universe, but it's always interesting and sometimes I even get to pet a tiger baby, get up close to a gorilla or get splashed by a sea lion. And because I'm the only one in the department who understands PhotoShop, Web development or even how to change the colors on my desktop, people leave me alone.
Jennifer and I were
married on April 1st, 2000 in Las Vegas.
Yes, the date seemed fitting.
Rob Boostrom, Dave McKay and Jeff Lewis attended the wedding along with
our families and assorted friends from Louisville and beyond. It was a wonderful time and Jenn and I
re-experienced it when we went to Vegas last April for our 4th anniversary and
to be witnesses at Jeff Lewis’s wedding. robertkemnitz@loukymetro.org
Harrison Scott Key
Ph.D. Playwriting 2003
Right now, I'm awaiting
the publication of UP ON MOUNT NEBO, after it was part of ATHE's New Play
Development Workshop in New York, NY, just a few floors above the Marriot
Marquis Theater on Times Square. I
enjoyed making copies of the play at the Kinko's on Broadway, which I'm sure is
where Mamet would make his copies if he still wrote plays and cared to make
copies of them himself. I spent the
fall and spring working on my comedy about Cupid, retiled THE NEW Q. After the
success of AVENUE Q in NYC, I will
likely change the title again or add puppets.
The first act of THE NEW Q was
staged here at Mississippi State, by a very funny cast with day jobs. I also have news that my new short comedy, A PRIMER FOR CHARLIE SUTTON AND OTHER SECRET
TRAVELERS, is tentatively scheduled for inclusion in "The Fall
Collection," an Off-Off Broadway play and film festival in the downtown
area. After the end of the spring term,
Lauren and I plan on moving to New Orleans or at least closer to the Gulf of
Mexico. hkey@comm.msstate.edu hskey@hotmail.com
I have been working as a live concert lighting designer for such acts as Joshua Redman, Barbara Cook, Indigo Girls, Cecil Bridgewater and Clark Terry. The list of jazz artist goes on. In the not so distant past I worked as resident lighting designer for a small South West Florida venue. Designing La Cage, 42nd Street, Nunsense to name a few. I was also the TD at that venue.
(See New Faculty Profiles above)
Currently head of the acting MFA program at Western Illinois University's department of theatre, where I recently directed Fuddy Meers. This summer, will musical direct the inaugural season of Johnny Appleseed Historical Outdoor Drama. After that, he performed in New England Shakespeare Festival's production of Richard III as Lord Stanley, and is returning to Brown County Playhouse to direct The Odd Couple there. Bill also understudied the role of Kent for Elizabeth Carlin’s production of King Lear at the Vitalist Theater in Chi