CALLBOARD JULY 2022
Congratulations to Tate Hanyok (BFA ’02) for her role in the new independent film Love and Baseball directed by Steve Acevedo. Currently running on HBOMAX.
Lynette Hensley (BFA ‘92) has had four art works selected for the Edmonds Juried Art Festival at Edmonds, Washington. See more of her work at lynettehensley.com
Walid Chaya (BFA ‘11 ) directed La Monologue Song Slam at Performing Arts in LA in mid May that was talked about in Broadway World. 25 Actors and Singers participated in front of five Judges.
Gretchen Casler (BFA ‘89 ) has published her thesis Collective Expressions of Monacan Indian Nation Identity: A Communicative Arts Genre Study. She is most grateful to the Monacan Indian Nation, the Ethnomusicology professors and many authors for all their help. She hopes the work contributes to the collective voice of Indigenous artists.
Tiza Garland (MFA ’00) recently taught a master workshop in combat at the Central Illinois Stage Combat Workshop in May and June. Look for Combat workshops around the country.
Andrea Detwiler (BFA ‘93) was the Speciality Creature Supervisor on the new Obi Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. Formerly she worked for the Jim Henson Company and Walking With Dinosaurs Arena Tour.
Peterson Townsend (BFA ’01) is currently in Chains by Elizabeth Baker at the Mint Theatre on New York’s Theatre Row. Production runs through July 23, 2022.
Shinji Elspeth Oh (BFA ’22) has her first professional gig at Folger Theatre as Philostrate in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. If you’re in DC this summer, performances run through August 28th.
Isabel Rubio (BFA ‘79) and Leo Garcia (BFA ’78) teamed up for his latest project called EARTH for Highways Performance Space in CA. This is probably the first time they have worked together since the VCU West Side Story in Shafer Court in 1976 for the Richmond Bicentennial Celebration, where they both danced as Sharks.
Mamma Mia! is showing at Virginia Rep’s November Theatre through August 7. Directed by Happy Mahaney (MFA ’19), Production Stage Manager is Justin Janke (BFA ’18), and Havy Nguyen (BFA ’20) is in the cast as Ali. For showtimes and tickets, go here.
Dante Piro (BFA ’18) has been busy with Uncle Mike Productions LLC with a production of The Verge in New York which played May and June in Brooklyn.
Trevor Riley (BFA ‘10) is happy to be back as Production Stage Manager at Arena Stage with the opening of Drumfolk on June 1, 2022.
kb saine (MFA ’02) is thrilled that her podcast on Black Theatre History is now being featured on Broadway in Demand.
Dawn Westbrook (BFA ‘85) is directing Clue for Theatre West in her new hometown of Scottsbulff, NE. Richmond misses her, but go Dawn.
Dan Ruth’s (BFA ‘90) award winning show Life Behind Bars will be presented at The Rustic Theatre in Idlewyld, California, October 14,15, 2022. All alums in California should go see the dark comedy performance.
Cara Rawlings (MFA ’05) will be serving as the new Intimacy Director for Contemporary American Theatre Festival (CATF) in Shepardstown, WVa. this summer.
Those near Purcellville, VA, Louden County this weekend, O’Keeffe by Lucinda McDermott (BFA ’83) will be performed at Franklin Park Arts Center July 24th @ 2:00pm with costumes by Elizabeth Hopper (professor emeritus and newsletter editor).
Curt Miller (BFA ’16) is Head Audio for the new musical & Juliet which opened recently in Toronto. The show announced that it will be heading to Broadway in the fall.
Connor Scully (BA ’15) is Associate Producing Ice Factory 2022 at the New Ohio Theatre in New York. There are seven shows in the festival. He’s looking forward to seeing alums there.
Tia James (BFA ’04) is starring as Benedick in the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s fun queer twist of Much Ado About Nothing. The company has produced free theatre on the iconic Boston Commons since 1996.
Lennon Hu (BFA ’20) will be playing upright bass in September for “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” at Timberlake Playhouse. Chicago and Midwest friends come on out!
Katy Feldhahn (BFA ’19) and Calie Bain (BFA ’21) are performing in Quill Theatre’s SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Performances thru July 31st.
Delaney Thiesz (BFA 2022) just designed costumes for the Academy of Classical Acting (Shakespeare Theatre/ George Washington University) production of ‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE
Julie Hedrick (BA ’22) is choreographer for SPARC’s production of Spamalot this summer, performances July 28-31st. This fall, they will be teaching theatre to 6th thru 8th graders at Liberty Middle School in Ashland. Congrats Julie!
Don Gibbin Jr’s (BFA ’91) new illustrated book “Sarah Saves the World” is now available on Amazon. Illustrations are by recent costume program alum Audrey Reed (MFA ’21).
In Memorium: Kerry Giese (BFA ’76) passed away quietly on June 18, 2022 after a long illness. He was at home in hospice with his family. The family will hold a Celebration of Life Party on Saturday, August 6, 2022 in Orlando. Family, friends and the Orlando Theatre Community are invited. Read more about Kerry’s very full life here and see photos posted by family and friends.
Compiled by Liz Hopper (professor emeritus) and Jerry Williams (BFA ’71) for the July 2022 Theatre Alumni newsletter