December 2024
If you picked up a copy of Back Bay Living in Virginia last June, the cover photo is Darin Dailey (BFA ‘86) and his wife Nicole with their dog. Nice article. See the wood working that Darin does now.
Frank Alfano (BFA ‘08) rigged all the fire burns for the new movie Goodnight Mommy, starring Naomi Watts. If you see The Exorcist: Believer, you can also watch Frank himself burn. He’s also teaching fire stunts and others in New York if anyone is interested.
Kimberly Exum (BFA ’10) is back on Broadway in A Wonderful World as Louis Armstrong’s third wife Alpha Smith. Also in the company are Matt Armentrout (BFA ‘13) as the company’s wig designer and Alysha Morgan as Ensemble/Co-Dance Captain.
David Bridgewater (BFA ‘85) starred as Dodge in the Firehouse Theatre Production of Buried Child. Also in the production was Elizabeth “Boomie” Pederson (MFA ‘17) and Ashley Thompson (BFA ‘13).
Tyler Fauntleroy (BFA ‘17) will be performing as Alexander Hamilton in the new tour of Hamilton. Bravo!!
Raynor Scheine (BFA ) is in the first five minutes of the new Kevin Costner movie Horizon. Raynor says you can leave after that.
Landon Nagel (BFA ‘08) starred in Dr. Faustus for the Richmond Shakespeare Festival in July. Also in the cast was Christopher Dunn (BFA ‘77) and Keegan Ferrell (BFA ‘23).
Tate Hanyok (BFA ‘02) has written another movie, The Pet-Nup, for Netflix which should show this winter. B Street Theatre in LA has announced their 24-25 season, including a new play by Tate – Dog Mom.
Topher Scofield (BFA ‘03) has taken a new job as the theatre teacher for Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia .
D.Tracy Smith (MFA ‘96) is back as Set Designer/Art Designer on the new season of SWAT which opened in October.
Brian Baez (BFA ‘08) has risen to Manager, Theatrical Casting at Creative Studios by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. If you need a cruise line job, call Brian wherever he is auditioning in the world.
Jason Butler Harner (BFA ‘92) is the LA detective in the new Ryan Murphy series Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story currently running on Netflix. The story of the Menendez brother’s murder and trial.
Steve Barker (BFA ‘01) has a new job as Associate Professor of Theatre as Prince George Community College teaching Technical Theatre and Design.
Jennifer Blue nee Hackney (BFA ‘07) has taken a new position at Yale University as the Marcia Brady Tucker Curatorial Fellow in Decorative Arts, at the Yale University Art Gallery.
John DeVore’s (BFA ‘96) new book Theatre Kids has an excerpt in the September American Theatre Magazine. Still on sale at Amazon and many other sites.
Tia James (BFA ‘04) just directed Kate Hamill’s Pride and Prejudice at Montclair State University.
Donna Coghill (1990 BFA, 1994 MFA) and Jerry Williams (BFA 1971) are members of the Steering Committee for VCU’s new LGBTQ+ Engagement & Philanthropy Committee. They’ve had several meetings in the past year and are preparing to launch the program.
OBITUARIES
Ronald Thacker (BFA ‘94) passed away on September 15, 2024 of both rheumatoid arthritis and lung cancer at his home in Madison Heights, VA. Ron worked at both VCU and UVA as Technical Director after graduating. He moved to Phoenix where he became the Technical Director for the Phoenix Theatre Company and then an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University. After leaving he worked as technical director for Ballet Arizona and Arizona Opera while he became a member of IATSE Local 336. A funeral service was held on September 19, 2024 in Madison Heights, VA. Just looking on his facebook site, you can see how much Ron was loved by his former students. I will miss him a great deal.
Charles Wayne Maloney (BFA, MFA ) passed away suddenly on August 12, 2024 from heart complications at his home in Catonsville, Maryland where he lived for 30 years. Charlie lived many lives including acting and directing over 200 productions of theater and films. Charlie served during the Vietnam war as a radioman and later was an announcer for stations in Roanoke, VA. Charlie studied gun smithing, founding and operated