Alabama's Public Liberal Arts University

Theatre

Alumni

2007-2008 UM Theatre Graduate Updates

 May 2008

  • Carl Maguire, BFA Acting/Directing, returned to The Lost Colony in NC for his 3rd season, this time in the leading role of “Father Martin.”  Carl also performed as “Hysterium” in their production of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED…after some European travels, Carl will move to NYC to pursue his interests in writing, directing and performance.

  • Megan Stein, BFA Acting/Directing and BM in Vocal Performance, returned to the Discoveryland Theatre in Oklahoma, where she is again playing the leading roles of “Laurie” in OKLAHOMA and “Millie” in 7 BRIDES FOR 7 BROTHERS. Megan is looking forward to spending the 2008-2009 theatre season at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, where she will initially play “Martha Jefferson” in 1776.

  • Stephen Elkins, BA in Theatre and BM in Vocal Performance, will tour AL this fall with Birmingham Children’s Theatre, performing with his wife and UM alum Rebecca Aparicio (BFA in Musical Theatre, 2007). In January, they will move to NYC to pursue performance opportunities and Stephen plans to continue his work as a composer of new musicals.

  • Cale Hughes, BA in Theatre, plans to join many of our recent alumni in NYC and pursue opportunities in film, with possible plans to settle in Los Angeles eventually. While at UM, Cale performed in a number of independent films throughout AL.

  • Steven House, BFA, Design/Technology, returned to work on the scenic crew of Shenandoah Musical Theatre after spending last summer as a scene painting intern at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Steven just moved to Illinois to enter the M.F.A. program in Scenic Design at IL State University, where he received a full assistantship after attending URTA auditions.

  • Kelsey Sherrer, BFA, Acting/Directing, spend the summer as a member of the apprentice company at the Equity Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Kelsey took numerous acting classes and audition workshops and performed as “Viola” in the apprentice production of TWELFTH NIGHT as well as other projects, including scenes from John Osborne’s LOOK BACK IN ANGER.

  • Carrie Cole, BFA Costume Design.  Carrie plans to pursue freelance opportunities in costume and clothing design, with Atlanta possibly being her first stop!

  • Lynsey Buckelew, Theatre Minor and Vocal Performance Major. In addition to creating her own musical theatre cabaret with Dr. Callaghan last fall, Lynsey performed in UM Theatre productions of 5 WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS and as “Marta” in COMPANY. Lynsey just spent the summer at The Lost Colony Theatre, where she also performed as “Cinderella” in INTO THE WOODS. This fall, Lynsey will enter the graduate program in Vocal Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, NYC.

 December 2007

  • Brett Glass, BFA Acting/Directing, moved to NYC where he is rooming with fellow UM theatre alum Jarrod Zayas, working as an assistant stage manager and performing at “Project 30”…Brett and Jarrod are also developing their own silent film project.

  • Mary Barrett, BFA Acting/Directing, played the lead in an independent film in AL before traveling to New England to teach theatre to high schoolers at a summer camp. Mary plans to move to NYC shortly to pursue her performance and writing opportunities.

  • Brian Mayberry, BS in Theatre, performed in MACBETH with the Muse of Fire Company at Sloss Furnace in Birmingham, and as a professional performer at the American Village in AL. He will spend next season working professionally as an acting apprentice with the Atlanta Shakespeare Festival.

  • Jamie Schor, BFA Acting/Directing, performed a lead role in THE WHITE ROSE at Birmingham Festival Theatre before recently moving to NYC, where he is rooming with other UM theatre alums…Jamie plans to pursue his interests in performance and writing.

 Other recent UM theatre alumni sightings…

  • Julian Robinson (BFA, Acting/Directing), received a 2008 Emmy nomination for his editing work on the documentary TV FREE BURNING MAN.  Julian works as an editor at Current TV in San Francisco after receiving his MFA in Film Directing/Producing from Columbia University in NYC.

  • Will Hickman (BFA, Acting/Directing, 2004 ), just moved from NYC to Chicago after another season of acting/directing in professional summer stock in Nebraska.

  • Carlton Hall (BFA, Acting/Directing, 2005), is working with a new company in NYC to create an original theatre piece. Carlton spent the 2007-2008 season professionally employed in production positions at Theatre for a New Audience Off-Broadway and at Joe’s Pub with the Public Theatre.

  • Rachel Rehome (BFA, Costume Design/Technology, 2004), just received her MFA in Costume Design from the University of IL, Urbana-Champaign. After spending a second summer  season at American Players Theatre in Wisconsin, Rachel will begin a visiting professor position at South Dakota State University in Fall 2008.

  • Amber Brantley (BA Theatre, 2007)  recently moved to NYC where she immediately picked up a job as a stage manager on a production with the New York Fringe Festival. Amber is also rooming with UM theatre alums and is interested in pursuing musical theatre work.

  • Leah Luker (BA Theatre, 2005) and Chris Sams (BFA in Acting/Directing, 2005)  performed in leading roles in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with Birmingham’s professional Oak Mountain Theatre, Chris just moved to NYC to pursue performance opportunities in musical theatre, film and TV and Leah will continue working as Production Manager at Birmingham Children’s Theatre,

  • Emily Greene (BFA, Acting/Directing 2004), finished her MFA in Scenic Design at the University of Ohio, where she accrued various regional and summer theatre professional design credits, as well as interning with Tony award winning NYC lighting designer Paul Gallo. Emily recently relocated to San Francisco to pursue freelance theatre design work.

  • Timothy Batten (BFA, Acting/Directing, 2004) recently received excellent review for his performance in Terrence McNally’s SOME MEN at Actor’s Express Theatre in Atlanta, directed by Kent Gash, Associate Artistic Director of the Alliance Theatre.

  • Blair Dyson (BFA, Acting/Directing 2004) recently changed teaching jobs to head the Drama program at Prattville HS in AL. Blair teaches performsance and directs plays and musicals, and took his recent students to attend UM theatre productions of MEASURE FOR MEASURE and THE SEAGULL!

  • Jeff Speetjens (BFA, Acting/Directing 2005) continues to traverse the country after graduating from UM, having first worked in NYC as an assistant director, stage manager and director on productions such as CLOSER. Jeff then returned to his hometown in AL where he created a series of original works and educational theatre programs for local theater groups, before being accepted at the prestigious Pasadena Director’s lab in CA during spring 2008. Jeff currently resides in Los Angeles where he is pursuing theatre directing opportunities—Jeff also specializes in “puppetry effects” as a freelance designer!