CALLBOARD – AUGUST 2023
Alumni in the Richmond area – remember that you can book two complimentary tickets to department mainstages! We have the supernatural thriller “Let the Right One In” in October and Molière’s hilarious “The Imaginary Invalid” in December. Read more here. Please contact the VCUarts Theatre Box Office to reserve your tickets! theatretix@vcu.edu / 804-828-6026
Joshua James Crawford (BA ’16) just joined the National Tour of “Hairspray.” Congrats!
Morgan Barbour (BFA ’14) appeared on America’s Got Talent this month as half of the aerial duo Morgan and Roxi! Their performance was spectacular—Watch here.
Alvan Bolling II (BA ’21) will be heading to France to perform at Disneyland Paris in “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands” as Pumbaa. Congratulations!
Chris Fairchild (BFA ’02) has won two design awards from the Craft Beer Marketing Association for his work in Tampa Bay. Chris and Tampa Bay Ale Trail received two 2023 CMBA “Gold Crushies,” one for the Best Beer Trail, and a second for the Best Brand Identity / Use of Icon or Mascot in Logo or Branding, recognizing the use of local regional icons in their marketing materials.
JJ Johnson (BFA ’97) is appearing as “Krogstad” in A Doll’s House at Everyman Theatre, Sept. 3 – 29. More here.
Courtney Bishop White (BFA ’03) and her husband have opened a new brewery called Intermission Beer Company in Glen Allen Va. Come for Beer and live music Wednesday thru Sunday. Follow Intermission on insta here.
James Manno (BFA) was playing weekly during the summer at Live on Atlantic in Virginia Beach. Last show will be 8-23.
Andrew Timko (BFA ’01) has left his longtime position at Red Rock Rescue in Las Vegas and has finished his credentials as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the same city.
Tate Hanyok (BFA ’02) has been accepted into the Warner Brothers Directing Fellowship program. Only five participants are accepted each year. Congratulations, Tate.
Diana Kyle (BFA)had a very successful one person cabaret on July 1, 2023 at the Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, NC titled From Sunset to Times Square. A friend has posted some clips on Theatre VCU Past and Present on Facebook.
David Weeks (BFA ’93) has been welcomed as an Associate Board Member to the Meals on Wheels Chicago where he has been an active member for many years.
Rick St. Peter (MFA ’98) has taken a new position as Assistant Professor at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.
Jason Butler Harner (BFA ’92) and his husband Mickey Rapkin have won first place for Film Movement Award for Best Narrative Short in the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival for The Anne Frank Gift Shop.
Paige Smeltzer (BFA ’22) has been featured in Swagger Season 2, Welcome to the Show and voice over work for the graphic novel Will Interactive.
Diego Villada (MFA ’08) has left his position at the New College of Florida and is moving to St. Mary’s College of Maryland as Assistant Professor of Theatre, Dance and Performance. Good luck on your new venture and state.
Josh Bickford (BFA ’93) will be a teaching artist at ISTA Young Creators Leadership Program in Bogota, Columbia this fall
Ed Powers (MFA ’87) has officially retired from Penn West/Clarion University in Pennsylvania.
IN MEMORIUM
It was reported by Tom Barrett (BFA) that Charley Baxter (BFA ’83) has died in Savannah, Georgia on August 13, 2023. Charley was a long time member of the film Industry and Teamsters Union Local 728. Many friends have left memories on his Facebook page and on Theatre VCU-Past and Present. Charley worked for a long time as a location manager and as Tom said, “That’s a Wrap, CB.” You can read his obituary here.
There will be a memorial service for Charlie on September 6, 2023 from 6-8 at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery In Richmond, VA for those friends in the Richmond area.
Minta Manning (BFA ’77) died of Alzheimer’s on May 19, 2023 as her husband John Landmesser noted on facebook to her many friends. She was the Costume Designer for Wayland and Madame for 8 years and worked for the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television for 37 years as a specialist in garment construction, foam armatures, wirework and millinery, molding and casting. There was a memorial service on July 7, 2023 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in CA.
Compiled by Liz Hopper (professor emeritus) and Jerry Williams (BFA ’71) for the August 2023 Theatre Alumni newsletter