Congratulations to JASON BUTLER HARNER (BFA 91) on his new series NEXT on Fox from the executive producers of 24. NEXT premiered Tuesday October 6th.
FELIA DAVENPORT’s (BFA 04)
Felia’s new Clothing Collection Kaleesi.Rose.Kollectio is currently for sale at her ETSY site! The children’s Halloween Pajamas are adorable, and there’s some cool adult tees too!
ANDREA DETWILER (BFA ’93)
Andrea was one of the team of puppet masters for the new Moschino Spring 2021 Ready-To-Wear Collection. Not only are the 30” puppets beautiful, they wear the most exquisite Moschino clothes. The fashion show looks back to the French couture miniature collection of fashion after the Second World War called Theatre de la Mode.
HILARY NOXON JARAMILLO (BFA ’03)
Hilary is back to work as the Assistant Art Director on YOUNGER for TV Land. Previously she has worked for ‘God Friended Me’, ‘Power’ and ‘Blindspot’. Season 7 should film in 2021.
VIRGINIA LILLIAN RECTOR (BFA ’05)
Virginia has been promoted to Vice-President of Operations at LUKE’S LOBSTERS. Virginia kept their restaurants open during the pandemic with extremely hard work and unbreakable spirit.
J.J. JOHNSON (BFA ’97)
J.J. is one of a group of eleven artists commissioned by 1st Stage in McLean, VA to create new individual solo works of diverse, modern theatre for workshops and readings that will be available to the public.
MIKE HAMBERGER (BFA ’06)
Mike is starting a new job at Precon Events as Production Resources manager. Congratulations Mike!
BRIAN BARKER (BFA ’03)
Brian was the designer for the National COVID-19 Remembrance Ceremony which was placed across from the White House on the Ellipse on October 5th. There were 20,000 empty chairs set up on the green space that represent less than 10% of the actual deaths from COVID but visually the effect was profound. Each chair representing 10 deaths. Brian says that many participants thought they had set up 200,000 chairs.
Jerry Williams (BFA ’71) / Dorie Barton (MFA ’20)
On this past week’s edition of the podcast Curtain Call, alum and newsletter contributor Jerry Williams (BFA ’71) talked to Dorie Barton (MFA ’20), one of the co-directors of the VCUarts production of SHE KILLS MONSTERS: VIRTUAL REALMS.
‘The Good Lord Bird’ premiered on Showtime 10/4
VCUarts Theatre Associate Professor and Head of Design / Technology NENO RUSSELL worked on costume construction for the show last year and led a team of VCU alumni and current students who patterned and constructed a wide range of costumes. Congrats to all of our VCU alums! EMILY TAPPAN (MFA ’19), VICTORIA COZZA (BFA ’20), AUDREY REED (MFA ’21), HAILEY PARKER-COMBES (BFA ’20), KYLE ARTONE (BFA ’19), THEO DUBOIS (BFA ’19) MAURA CRAVEY (MFA ’01 and Former Faculty). Alums LINDSEY AUSTRIA (BFA ’13) and NIA SAFARR BANKS (BFA ’19) also worked on the production in different areas.
‘Walking Dead: World Beyond’ filmed near Shafer!
The Walking Dead spin off was filmed in Richmond last year, and the first episode features several scenes shot in the Shafer Street Court area. Jerry caught a shot of folks walking out of Shafer Street Playhouse!
In memoriam: Wendy Overly (MFA ’87)
Our classmate and friend, Wendy Overly, peacefully passed away on Oct 13 due to complications from Stage 4 Bile Duct Cancer. She was surrounded by loved ones and the collective circle of friends and family around the country. A true original, Wendy was a splendid stage actress, director, theatre teacher, and choreographer…
ALUM NIGHT! She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms
Don’t forget to tune into our first virtual production! The show runs October 28th-November 6th, and the department is hosting an Alum Night on Thursday the 29th! Register for a virtual alum happy hour over Zoom, and you receive a discount on tickets for that evening’s performance. You have to bring your own drinks but the dress code is lax 🙂
Come on, people! We know there’s stuff going on out there!
An award?
A new job?
A casting?
A new baby?
Retirement?
Share your news with fellow alumni. Email Jerry Williams (jerry@tvjerry.com) or Liz Hopper (elizhopper12@gmail.com).
Compiled by Liz Hopper (Emeritus Faculty) and Jerry Williams (BFA ’71) for the September 2020 Theatre Alumni Newsletter