CALLBOARD – FEBRUARY 2024
Keep your eyes open for Tevin Davis (BFA ’21) in Survivor 46 starting Wednesday February 28 on CBS. Will he make it?! Very exciting.
Congratulations to Joshua Quinn (MFA ’13), Assistant Costume Designer on Oppenheimer. The 1940’s costumes have been nominated for an Academy Award
Mikayla Barthlomew (BFA ’17) recently attended the World Premiere of her new film Grace which was selected for this year’s Sundance Festival. Previously she was acting in The Salvagers at Yale Rep.
Congratulations to alumni Emily Rosko (BFA ’11) and Matthew Armentrout (BFA ’13), plus the entire Hairstyling team behind “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” on their 2023 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Period And/Or Character Hairstyling. The photo shows Matt at the awards in January.
Willa Piro (BFA ’16) is the Associate Costume Designer for the Broadway production of Prayer for the French Republic at Manhattan Theatre Club.
Julie Coleman (BFA ’86) was named Monacan High School’s Teacher of the Year
Brian Ruggaber (BFA ‘92) recently designed the scenery for The Cunning Little Vixen for the Manhattan School of Music
Jason Butler Harner (BFA ’92) will next be seen in the second season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series Monster on Netflix. Season 2 will follow the Menendez brothers, and Harner will play Det. Les Zoeller, the Beverly Hills PD detective in charge of the case.
Holly Alford (MFA ’97) is now Assistant Dean in the School of the Arts at VCU.
Matt Mitchell (BFA ’11) has returned to Richmond and will be performing in Radiant Vermin for 5th Wall Theatre at The Basement, March 14-30, 2024
Tia James (BFA ’04) is directing Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage at the College of William & Mary
if you are in Seattle, see alum Amy Curley Gentry (BFA ’95) in Colder Than Here at the As If Theatre Company from March 14-30, 2024. In addition Amy is Director of Marketing and Communications at Seattle Theatre Group.
Major Thomas “TJ” Simmons (BFA ’04) spoke at the Martin Luther King memorial breakfast at Maxwell Airport Base in Montgomery, Alabama of the life, legacy and lessons. Later on a family vacation, he was able to preach from Dr. King’s own pulpit at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL
Jenny McConnell (BFA ’97) founder and producing director of Rorschach theatre in Washington DC is heading her theatre into it’s 25th year. Jenny says that several members have been nominated for Helen Hayes awards this year.
Last Fall Kate Poms (BFA ’18) was the casting director for The Honey Trap, a show with Solas Nua, DC’s Irish Theatre Company. On Monday 1/23/24 the show was nominated for 10 Helen Hayes Awards. Every actor was nominated, so Katie had cast each person. Bravo.
Katrinah Carol Lewis (BFA ’03) has joined the staff of The New Theatre at Firehouse theatre in Richmond as Associate Artistic Director. Currently she will be performing in Memories of Over Development by Caridad Svach, all the while continuing as an Associate Faculty member at SPARC.
Avery Johnson (BFA ’23) and James Murphy (BFA ’14) star in Born With Teeth by Liz Duffy Adams at the Carpenter Center in Richmond through February. The reviews are glowing. Lucinda McDermott Piro (BFA ’83) served as Intimacy Director.
Sarah White Pruden’s (BFA ’10) students at Glen Allen High School in Richmond received first place in the VHSL one act play competition with three students receiving best actor awards. The weekend of February 3 they competed in the Regionals.
Lucian Restivo Artistic Director at Richmond Triangle Players, will be Arnold Beckoff in the Richmond Triangle Players production of Torch Song directed by Gary C. Hopper (former VCU faculty). Also in the cast are Liam Storm (BFA ’22) as David and Deborah Clinton (MFA ’97) as Mrs. Beckhoff. Playing through March.
Chuck O’Keefe is currently in Almost Maine at Carol Community Theatre in Ruther Glen, VA. through February. Chuck also plays Edmund Pendleton at the 2nd Virginia Convention at St. John’s Church in Richmond where in his youth he played Patrick Henry.
Abigail Davis-Hess (BFA ’92) Owner of ADH Consulting, will be speaking at the Association of Legal Administrators in May at their annual conference in Colorado
Will Leskin (BFA ’85) has launched a new business B2B consulting firm specializing on his years in brand strategy and leadership coaching, called The Leskin Collective. Give Will a call if you’d like business help.
Todd Sherman (MFA ’88) has opened The Women Who Mapped the Stars in conjunction with the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. The play highlights the work of the women at Harvard in the early 20th century whose work changed the way we map and view our universe.
OBITUARY
Tricia Burke passed away on November 23, 2023 of a rare and aggressive cancer. Her funeral took place on January 27, 2024 at lake Oswego, Oregon.
Memorial Services for Bill Davis (MFA) will be held at Richmond Triangle Players in Richmond on March 23, 2024 from 2-4.
Compiled by Liz Hopper (professor emeritus), Jerry Williams (BFA ’71), and VCUarts Theatre for the February 2024 Theatre Alumni newsletter