ALUMNI DISTINCTIONS

ALUMNI DISTINCTIONS

Two School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies alumni appeared on the Netflix series “Never Have I Ever”: Adam Shapiro ’02, theatre, played the appropriately named history teacher, Mr. Shapiro, and Adriyah Marie Young ’13, theatre and studio art, appeared in one episode as high schooler Carley. Poorna Jagannathan ’96, journalism, played Nalini, a leading role.

Natasha Rothwell ’03, theatre, co-star of the HBO series “Insecure,” wrote with singer John Legend a modernized version of the holiday classic “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” which he recorded with Kelly Clarkson. The new lyrics for the #MeToo era replace those that critics have suggested celebrated an outdated gender dynamic and hinted at date rape.

When COVID-19 made in-person rehearsals impossible, Matthew Bachman ’05, M.M. ’07, D.M.A. ’14, a manager at Steinway Piano Gallery of Washington, D.C., worked with the School of Music to coordinate moving seven Steinway pianos from School of Music practice rooms in The Clarice to the homes of students who needed them. Three-time Olympic gymnast, Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes ’02, communication, opened her own training facility, the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy, in Clarksburg, Md. The academy aims to provide a safe, uplifting environment for kids and foster friendships and confidence while teaching the sport’s fundamentals.

Reginald Dwayne Betts ’09, English, was the winner of the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry and a finalist for the 2019 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Poetry for his poetry collection “Felon.” Betts is pursuing a Ph.D. in law at Yale.

Chelsey Green D.M.A. ’17, seated second from right, played her viola in support of Lizzo at the opening of the 62nd Grammy Awards on Jan. 26.