December 2015 FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS DR. MARCUS LANE directed The Rocky Horror Show in November. The production held a first-ever “midnight performance” (which sold out in 2 hours) on Friday, the Thirteenth. UM alumni and professional actor Chris Sams (BFA 2005) returned to play the lead role of “Frank n’ Furter” and Katie Raulerson (BFA 2015) (currently performing professionally for Birmingham Children’s Theatre) was choreographer.
ALUMNI NEWS MEGAN STEIN recently directed a segment in the Upright Citizens Brigade “Cram III” Film Festival, NYC. RACHEL DOZIER-EZELL recently designed The Seagull for The New School in NYC where she is resident Costume Designer, and continues to design costumes for the Classical Theatre of Harlem, NYC. STEPHEN FRAUSTO is the Assistant Technical Director at North Carolina State University. HANNAH JEAN FARRIS recently started a position as an AEA (Actors Equity Association) Stage Manager at Playmakers Repertory Theatre, NYC. MELISSA LAWLER is performing in A Christmas Carol at Dollywood, TN. LINDSEY BRISTOL is a NYC based actor and recently signed with the JC William Agency in NYC. JASON STYRES continues his work as a casting director at Jay Binder Casting in NYC and recently cast the Broadway production of Dames At Sea.
The final Saturday performance of The Rocky Horror Show featured CoFA’s first “Back Stage Pass,” a panel discussion in response to the production and themes of the play. UM Mass Communication alumni and local News Anchor Mike McClanahan moderated the conversation with the audience and panelists: UM Sociology Professor Dr. Steve Parker; Samford University English Professor Dr. Julie Steward; and Jonathan Fuller, Head of Theatre at Alabama School of Fine Arts and Co-Founder/Artistic Director of City Equity Theatre.
DR. DAVID CALLAGHAN
CARL DEAN (McAdory HS), BLAIR DYSON (Prattville HS) and ERIC BROWNE (Baker HS) all recently competed in the District Trumbauer Festival Competitions and will be bringing students to the state competitions, as well as directing various productions at their schools. CAMERON WATSON, Los Angeles, recently directed a production of La Ronde for the UCLA Theatre Department. JOSEPH WESOLOWSKI is studying improvisation at the famed Second City in Chicago while also working for various Chicago Theatre companies. LEAH LUKER is currently directing Suessical for the Birmingham Children’s Theatre.
hosted an auditions workshop for UM Musical Theatre students led by legendary Broadway singer Eden Espinosa. Espinosa was the second performer to play “Elphaba” on Broadway and either understudied or performed the role for 7 years (she is also know for Brooklyn and playing Maureen in the final cast of Rent on Broadway which was filmed by HBO). Espinosa coached 12 musical theatre majors on their audition pieces and also answered questions about pursuing careers in musical theatre and the arts.
Leah Luker and Chris Sams working together on Suessical.