Alumni Call Board November 2022
CURT MILLER just opened his first Broadway production as Head of Sound for &Juliet. Congrats!
ADAM KARAVATAKIS (BFA ‘10) is the Art Director for the new season of American Horror Story and is one of the two Art Directors on The Watcher, now playing on Netflix.
TEVIN DAVIS (BFA ’21) continues at American Shakespeare Center. This Fall he plays Caliban in The Tempest; Lysimachus, Ensemble, U/S Pericles in Pericles; Caliban in Une Tempête.
MARK LAUER’S (BFA ’90) home is featured in the current issue of Early American Life in its Christmas issue for 2022. His period house has beautiful early American features. Mark is also a formally trained and noted American Folk Artist.
MEGAN COATNEY (BFA ’22) started in one of the Berkeley Rep fellowship positions for the 2022/23 season! She is working with the development team.
SHANNON LESKIN (BFA ’81) has been named the new Executive Director of North Carolina Advocates for Justice. This group of lawyers protects individual rights of workers, disabled persons, those with family problems, consumers and those accused of a crime.
DANTE PIRO (BFA ’18) will be directing Overlap by Erin Proctor at the Dramatists Guild of America in NYC on 11/22. His mother, LUCINDA MCDERMOTT PIRO (BFA ’83), is one of the actors.
JOHN WALDRON (BFA ’01) is currently a guide for Bones and Booze pub tours for Ghost Adventures tours in DC. A good time for all.
Fifty years ago, when he was a senior in Theatre Directing at VCU, Jerry Williams (BFA ’71) directed a production of Anything Goes at the Jewish Community Center. 50 years later, he’s going full circle to direct it again as Jewish Family Theatre’s holiday offering (December 8-18). More here.
The Studio Theatre of the Burbage Theatre Company in Pawtucket, RI was renamed the Wendy Overly Studio Theatre on October 15, 2022 after their beloved mentor who passed away two years ago (MFA ‘87)
JAY RYAN (BFA ‘90 ) recently designed lights for The History of Empires which ran at La Mama Experiential Theatre Club in New York through November 6, 2022. The show was choreographed and performed by Marcus McGregor with Daniel Paltrow.
For all you alums in California, BEN ELLIOTT (BFA ‘02 ), or better known as DAS FRANK, will be in Anaheim at the DesignerCon 2022 from November 18-20 at Booth 2419. Go see all the new designs, say hi and buy a poster or t-shirt. He has also just done the cover art for Pete Stegemeyer’s brand new comedy album PETE-T.S.D. Profits from the album will be going to benefit veterans to get help with their PTSD journey.
LYNETTE HENSLEY’s (BFA ‘92) 2023 Calendars have sold out on her website. Take a look at them for next year’s orders.
LENNY STEINLINE (BFA ‘89) is in the new Nick Nolte movie Rittenhouse Square playing Bishop Harris. Directed by Brandon Eric Kanin, It premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival in October 2022
ELIZABETH GARITI (BFA ’86) will be appearing in Harvey in late November in Boulder, CO. The show is being performed as a radio play complete with live sound effects and old time commercials. Go and have a laugh with Elizabeth!
HELEN NIXON (MFA ‘94) has left her job as Assistant Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools and taken a new one as director of Human Resources for the United Mine Workers of America. She will be in charge of the Health and Retirement Fund.
JASON BUTLER HARNER (BFA ’92) is one of the actors in the new Colin Farrell drama series Sugar, ordered by Apple TV.
HILLARY NOXON (BFA ’03) with great pleasure has just wrapped season 5 – the last season – of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Hillary says it has been her favorite job in film/tv so far and has high praise for all the designers and crews.
ANDREW MARTINEAU (BFA) just had his play script For The Time Being published by Next Stage Press. Congratulations!!
JASE SMITH SULLIVAN (MFA ’08) returned to Richmond during the summer with his husband and twins to be the Managing Director of Richmond Shakes (formerly Quill Theatre).
GARNER KNUTSON (BFA ’92) (Garner Lee) was a special guest with KRUNCH, a local cover band, at Hoss’s Deli in Newport News, Va on Nov. 11 playing music from his new solo album
BOBBY ROTENBERRY (BFA’78) had his new play script Elizabeth and Alexander read in Philadelphia. The script was selected by the Dramatists Guild of America for a play reading series called Footlights in Philadelphia.
All Alums in New York – CONNER SCULLY (BFA ’15) is working as the Marketing and Audience Engagement Manager at The Tank in Manhattan. He is excited to announce The Attic! A new studio expansion which consists of five rehearsal spaces at their current location. The space is available for hourly rental, with subsidized rates for non-profits and independent artists. Give Conner a call if you need space.
IN MEMORIUM
J. Rodney Busch passed away in Richmond, Va. on October 6, 2022 at the age of 83.
J. Rodney taught in the Department of Theatre at VCU from 1968 – 1975 teaching Introduction to Theatre, Acting and Directing. Former alums/students from those years have paid homage to him on facebook remembering him as a lovely man and good director and are sharing stories and photos of his classes and shows. Read his obituary in the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Compiled by Liz Hopper (professor emeritus) and Jerry Williams (BFA ’71) for the November 2022 Theatre Alumni newsletter