Senior Acting Thesis Program (2024)

Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre presents

CLASS OF 2024 SENIOR ACTING THESES COORDINATED BY CHRISTOPHER V. EDWARDS FEATURING THE BFA ACTING CLASS OF 2024

Studio ONE

855 COMMONWEALTH AVE BOSTON, MA

BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE PRESENTS

CLASS OF 2024 SENIOR ACTING THESES Coordinated by

CHRISTOPHER V. EDWARDS Featuring

BFA ACTING MAJORS OF THE BU SCHOOL OF THEATRE CLASS OF 2024 Pod 1

January 27-28

Pod 2

February 3-4

Pod 3

February 10-11

Pod 4

February 17-18

Pod 5

February 24-25

Pod 6

March 2-3

Studio ONE 855 COMMONWEALTH AVE BOSTON, MA BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

POD 1

POD 2

Matthew Beagan

EJ Hanson

Jenna Burns

Alan Kuang

Peter DiMaggio

Liam McCarron

Christine Dvorak

Jacob Schmitt

POD 3

POD 4

Jenna Dean

Thomas Bilotta

Frankie Otis

Sarah Coleman

Keith Robinson

Buff Thiesmeyer Lydia Winter

POD 5

POD 6

Leah Del Rosario

Isabella Blanca

Jack Dillon

Janelle Grace

Sage Gunning

Hampton Richards

Michaela Lazarou

Nicolas Zuluaga

BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE BFA ACTING CLASS OF 2024 MATTHEW BEAGAN is an Actor and Musician from Annapolis, Maryland. While currently earning a BFA in Acting from Boston University, he is also completing a BA in Mathematics. In addition to performing, he owns and runs a food truck in the summers back home. @smashupburgers. He sends gratitude and love to everyone who has supported him along the way. Recent theatre credits include: Once (Andrej), Shakespeare in Love (Ralph/Nurse), and Fucking A (First Hunter).

THOMAS BILOTTA (he/him) is a Senior Acting major at Boston University, from Valhalla, NY. Here at BU, Thomas is beyond proud to have been a part of shows such as The School for Lies (Frank), Mankind (Mark). He was also lucky enough to study abroad at LAMDA last spring, where he was part of Troilus and Cressida (Troilus). This past summer, Thomas made his Off-Broadway debut at the Rattlestick Theater in, I Hate Hamlet (Andrew). Thomas wants to thank his family and friends for their endless love and support, as well as his professors and the class of ‘24 for making these years special. He thanks you for coming to see Pod 4 present: Mission Impodssible 4: Thesis Protocol. Thomas is most looking forward to graduating as well as performing in Yerma, later this spring!

JENNA BURNS is a senior acting major originally from North Carolina. Some of her favorite BU credits include Mrs. Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility and Moorhen in The Moors. Catch her in the independent short film Crescendo coming this Spring! Jenna would like to thank the SOT faculty and student body for their constant support and patience throughout her journey here. She would also like to extend her love to her family for their unconditional love and support!

SARAH COLEMAN (she/her) is a senior Acting major at Boston University with a concentration in Musical Theatre. She was last seen in BU’s production of Sense & Sensibility where she played Lucy Steele. This April, she will be playing Dot in Sunday in The Park With George at BU’s Booth Theater. She is excited to perform her thesis alongside her best friends/classmates. Sarah would like to thank her parents for their unwavering support, her friends for being by her side and all of the mentors that got her here! Check out more of her work at www.sarahcoleman.actor, and sarah4coleman (IG) JENNA DEAN (she/her) is a senior Acting major with a concentration in Musical Theatre and a minor in Political Science. Selected credits include: Fucking A (First Lady), Mercury (Alicia), The Robber Bridegroom (Salome), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), and This Property is Condemned (Willie Star). She would like to thank her parents for always driving her to play practices and for their endless support.

Additionally, she wants to thank her siblings and her 3 adorable dogs.

LEAH DEL ROSARIO is a senior Acting major at Boston University.

Previous BU credits include Let the Right One In (Eli) with Actor’s Shakespeare Project, Orlando (Chorus), and Revolt. She Said.

Revolt Again. (Do Not Marry/Agnes). She has appeared in two BU short films as Bridget in Ash Wednesday and Bea in Everything’s Fine. During her semester abroad studying classical acting at LAMDA, she also played Ulysses in Troilus and Cressida. Leah is deeply grateful for her family, friends, and professors who have supported her through this wild ride of a college experience.

JACK DILLON (he/him) is a Senior Acting major originally hailing from the corn fields of Mount Airy, Maryland. During his time at BU his favorite credits include Astrov (Uncle Vanya), Sam (Shakespeare in Love), Sam (Mercury) and Sam (Delinquents Never Stay for Long).

Jack studied abroad at LAMDA where he played the titular role in Macbeth. Jack performed in the world premier of Company of Man at the Teatro LATEA last year. He reprised his role (Joe) in his OffBroadway debut this past winter. He sends his love to his family and friends for their endless support throughout the past 4 years.

Additionally, Jack would like to thank you for attending Pods 5 thesis. He looks forward to acting in Museum before graduating in May. PETER DIMAGGIO Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Peter DiMaggio (he/him) is a passionate actor and multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter/composer. Some of his favorite stage credits include: Once (Guy), Shakespeare in Love (Henslowe), and Mercury (Brian). Peter will be making his regional theatrical debut later this spring in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s production of Romeo and Juliet (Paris/Sampson) in Boston, MA. He is also starring in three independent short films debuting later this year. Peter has immense gratitude for his mentors, friends, family, and his incredible Thesis Pod (let’s go, pod 1!!!!!) for supporting him throughout his artistic journey.

CHRISTINE DVORAK (she/her) is an actor/singer/dancer raised in Miami, Florida. She is so excited to have the chance to create a thesis with some of her dream roles. Some of her favorite past credits includes the titular role of Hedda Gabler, Gabriella in High School Musical and Shelby in Steel Magnolias. This thesis is dedicated to her Mom and Dad for always cheering her on no matter what. Thank you all for coming!

SAGE GUNNING is thrilled to be a graduating from BU this spring with a BFA in Acting and a Concentration in Musical Theatre. She also studied classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art last Spring. In addition to her education, Sage has worked with companies like Boston Playwrights Theatre and Moonbox Theatre company. Sage would like to thank her family for believing in her and supporting this path, and her pod members for being the best goofy goobers ever.

EJ HANSON is a senior acting major from Plymouth, Minnesota.

Recent BU credits include Fucking A, Uncle Vanya, and Delinquents Never Stay for Long.

JANELLE GRACE, she/her, is a St. Louis-born, Boston-based actor, singer, and dancer. During her time at Boston University, she has been able to work and collaborate with some incredible, awardwinning, and award-deserving actors and directors. Her favorite credits include Agatha in The Moors, Aaron in Titus Andronicus, and Shaunta Itun in Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet, and Nurse in the Ain Gordon Project. Recently she had the wonderous joy of being in the Regional Premiere of Stew at Gloucester Stage Company. Janelle is a firm believer in therapy, MUNA, and the magic of mushrooms. @j_gracej BLANCA ISABELLA (she/her) is a senior Acting major at Boston University. At BU, she is proud to have been in shows such as Everybody (Everybody), OTP (Ceci), and The School For Lies (Celimene). She spent her study abroad at LAMDA where she appeared in Titus Andronicus (Tamora) and The Misanthrope (Jennifer). Blanca is excited to share her Acting Thesis and is looking forward to working on Yerma (Yerma) in Quarter 4. With her work, both in theatre and film, Blanca aims to uplift her community through visibility and bring truth and pride to the many experiences of being Latinx and Chicano. She is grateful to her family, professors, and incredible pod for all their love and support in her artistic journey.

ALAN KUANG King of The Dance Floor, soon to be Household name, and Legacy Maker, Alan Kuang is a recent graduate of LAMDA and a senior at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, with a degree in BFA acting performance and a dance minor. Breaking, doing HipHop, and acting both behind the camera and on stage for almost a decade, he has performed, competed, and taught professionally.

Some of his most recent works include, Orlando (Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre), Let The Right One In (Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre), Everybody (directed by Broadway local Melisa Pereyra) Colossal (Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre), Shakespeare in Love (Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre), Midnight Sun (Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre), Laertes and Tybalt (Chelsea Theatre Works), Wizard of Oz (Apollinaire Theatre Company), Bomb-itty of Errors (Actors' Shakespeare Project) Alan thanks his mom and grandma for their unconditional love in pushing him towards and supporting his dreams. IG @alankuang888 MICHAELA LAZAROU is a Senior Acting major at Boston University.

During her time at BU Michaela has participated in many productions including Dead Man’s Cellphone as Jean, Antigone as Ismene, Let the Right One In as Nils, Hedda Gabler as Juliane Tesman, and the pilot episode of ArtHouse (a Boston University School of Theatre and School of Communications collaboration) originating the role of Summer Sage. Michaela is grateful for her experiences and thanks her peers, professors, and family who have made all of these things possible.

LIAM MCCARRON (he/him) is a Senior Acting Major at Boston University. He spent his time abroad studying at LAMDA, receiving a certification in Classical Acting. Past credits include Judge Brack in Hedda Gabler, Da in Once, Burbage and Wabash in Shakespeare in Love. Liam would like to thank his family, friends, and the community here at BU for making all of this possible.

FRANKIE OTIS (He/him) will be graduating from Boston University in May with a BFA in acting and a minor in Political Science. He is from Salt Lake City, Utah but is not Mormon. Selected BU credits include Ejlert Lovborg in Hedda Gabler, Johnny in Let The Right One In, and Creon in Antigone. Frankie also had the pleasure of attending a semester at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts where he played Saturninus in Titus Andronicus. He also played Edmund in King Lear. Frankie would like to thank his terrific family for making the trip all the way from Utah to support him. They are also not Mormon.

HAMPTON RICHARDS Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Hampton Richards (she/her) is an actor, comedian, writer, and movement artist who hopes to inspire other Black women to live their authentic selves. Professional theatrical credits include Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s Taming of the Shrew as Biondello, directed

by Christopher V. Edwards, and Boston Playwright’s Theatre’s OTP as Michelle, directed by Enzo Gonzales. Hampton is receiving a BFA in Acting at Boston University (‘24), and also studied Physical Theatre at Accademia Dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. She is a versatile artist with credits including: The Odd Couple (Florence), Mercury (Pamela), and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (Ensemble/Movement Captain). She is incredibly grateful for her community; to her family for always supporting her, to her friends for always pushing her, and to every person who has made her laugh.

KEITH ROBINSON Growing up in the Greater Boston Suburbs, Keith Robinson (he/him) performed and studied at Boston Children’s Theatre for four years before receiving a classical acting certificate from LAMDA and studying acting at Boston University. Keith is a passionate and determined actor. Keith has worked on numerous independent and student films through

Emerson College and Boston University. His most recent credits include: Legally Blonde (Warner) at Moonbox Productions, The Great Gatsby an American Musical (Nick Carraway) at Marblehead Little Theatre, Save the Whales (Todd) at Boston Playwright’s Theatre. Selected theatre credits: Murder Ballad (Michael), Footloose (Ren McCormack), Glass Menagerie (Jim O’Connor), 1984 (O’Brien), The Drowsy Chaperone (Robert Martin). Keith has immense gratitude for the many teachers and mentors who have helped him in his artistic path; thank you. Keith-robinson.com Instagram: keith_robs JACOB SCHMITT (they/he) is a senior acting major in Boston University’s School of Theatre, concentrating in film/TV studies and movement direction. They studied classical performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, becoming certified with distinction in broadsword from the renowned British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat; he also served as the music director and movement captain of multiple productions over his college career.

Jacob directed at the Tony Award-nominated Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre in their 2022 mainstage season, making their professional film debut later that year.

Selected theatre credits include The Tempest (Ariel) and Macbeth (Banquo) at RADA. During their time at BU, Jacob has performed in Shakespeare’s R&J (Juliet) and Sense & Sensibility (Edward); other favorite credits include STAMP’s The Chariot Reversed and the Booth Theatre productions of Colossal and Once.

Jacob extends gratitude to his incredible mentors over the years, the community of artists and friends at BUSOT, and his parents who mean the world. Go BU, go BU.

BUFF THIESMEYER is a senior acting major from Grover Beach California. He is also a proud alumni of the Shakespeare in Performance program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Past BUSOT credits include EVERYBODY, Uncle Vanya, Shakespeare in Love, and The School For Lies. Buff thanks his coworkers, friends, faculty, and family for making his pursuits possible.

LYDIA WINTER (she/her) is an actor and model born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. Lydia found her place on the stage at a young age. Having the unique experience of being born an identical twin, Lydia has an uncanny ability to explore and play in the mind of another person. As a junior in high school, Lydia competed in the English Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Monologue Competition, in which she placed in the country’s final ten. She continued her education at Boston University’s School of Theatre where she is currently pursuing a BFA in Acting. This past spring, Lydia spent her semester in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art studying Shakespeare in Performance. During her time at RADA, Lydia was challenged to discover new features of her acting prowess in her classes which culminated in a production of The Tempest, in which she played Trinculo under the direction of Zoë Waites. Lydia recently made her professional theatre debut in the world premier of the musical Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight at the Wilbury Theatre Group. Some of her favorite credits include The School for Lies (Eliante), The Winter’s Tale (Leontes), She Kills Monsters (Tilly Evans), ONCE (Ex-Girlfriend), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), Men on Boats (John Wesley Powell), and Sisters on The Ground (Harriet). She is incredibly grateful to her family and friends for their undying love and support. Instagram: @itslydiawinter Website: thelydiawinter.com

NICOLAS ZULUAGA (he/him) is a Senior Acting major at Boston University. At BU, he is proud to have been a part of shows such as The Legend of Georgia McBride (Rexy), The School for Lies (Clitander), Mother May I? (Eliot) at Boston Center for the Arts and Colossal (Player). He is grateful to have had the experience of studying abroad at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa where he studied theatre and philosophy. Nicolas would like to thank his family, professors, and friends for their love and support throughout this four year journey. He also wants to thank you for coming to experience the work of Pod 6! Later this spring, you can watch him as Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet at Actors Shakespeare Project starting May 10-June 2.

ABOUT BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS SCHOOL OF THEATRE The School of Theatre at Boston University College of Fine Arts offers conservatory-style education for the study of acting, management, design, production, and all aspects of the theatre profession within the setting of a major research university. The School of Theatre seeks to provide students with opportunities for artistic growth through rigorous curriculum, professional connections, and an emphasis on collaboration and new work. Learn more about the current BU School of Theatre production season at bu.edu/cfa/theatre/season.

Learn more at bu.edu/cfa/theatre And find us on social media @buarts, @bu_schooloftheatre