Around the World Graham Shiels ’99 on the set of True Blood with Anna Paquin. Photo courtesy of Graham Shiels.
Los Angeles with my wife Samantha and our two kids. Did I say ‘kids?’ I meant cats. Thinking about having some humans, too. They’re just as easy to take care of, right? Anyway, my recent writing projects include an hour-long drama for Fox (‘The Oaks’), a feature-length documentary about organic food (Food Fight), and a variety of crazy game shows and specials for G4 (Ninja Warrior, Unbeatable Banzuke). Other hobbies include: writing a humor column for Script magazine, playing tennis, and going on strike.” Robert Murphy ’96 shares, “I’ve been writing! Currently taking a playwriting class with Julie McKee at HB Studio, which has been a blast. I’ve finished a large chunk of the first draft of my first full-length script, which is a mess; I’m hoping to spend the summer writing a more cohesive second draft. And then we enter the exciting, dynamic world of script submission . . .” Allison Narver ’98 is happily living in Seattle with her husband Jim Chesnutt ’89 YC and their 7-year-old daughter Kate Chesnutt. After six years as Artistic Director of Seattle’s Empty Space Theatre, Allison is delighted to be a freelance director once again. Recent world premiere productions at The Empty Space Theatre include the following: 1984 (with Tessa Auberjonois ’98 and Adrian LaTourelle ’99), The Valley of The Dolls, Inflagrante Gothicto, Vera Wilde (music and lyrics by Chris Jeffries ’87 YC), 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother (originally titled G-D Doesn’t Pay Rent Here) and Bust by Lauren Weedman. Other projects include Leaving Queens [by Kate Moira Ryan with music by Kim Sherman (Former Faculty)] at Portland Stage Company and The Women’s Project, and Texarkana Waltz in Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York. Most recent directing projects
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include Bad Dates (Theresa Rebeck) and Memory House (Kathleen Tolan with lighting by Marcus Doshi ’00) at The Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Clean House at ACT, and The 100 Dresses at Seattle Children’s Theater. Upcoming projects include a remount of Bust at City Theatre in Pittsburgh, Eurydice at ACT, and BlueNose at Seattle Children’s Theatre. Allison is currently developing three commissioned projects: Curveball and Maggie Cassidy (adapted from Jack Kerouac’s novel) with long time collaborator Chris Jeffries, and a new piece with Lauren Weedman. Paul Niebanck ’97 shares, “This past autumn I participated in the Sundance Institute/Public Theatre workshop of . . . and Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi by Marcus Gardley ’04. I spent the winter in Chicago playing Iago at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, directed by Marti Maraden, and I had a blast!” D.W. Phineas Perkins ’90 has left Disney companies after seventeen years and joined Birket Engineering as their Senior Project Manager. Phineas’ primary focus over the next year-and-a-half will be managing the design, construction, and installation of technical systems for multiple theme park attractions in Singapore. Projects in Dubai and other parts of Asia are a few months in trail. While still officially living in Orlando, he seems to be sleeping as much on United as in his own bed these days. Todd Rosenthal ’93 won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Set Design of a Play for August: Osage County, which he designed for Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. Todd continues to work as Chicago-based freelance designer, creating many sets for Steppenwolf, while also teaching at Northwestern University as Assistant Professor of Design.
YSD 2008
Liev Schreiber ’92 shares, “I am working in Australia pushing the boundaries of action and facial hair in a prequel to the sequel of the X-Men saga. In bigger news, eight months ago Naomi gave birth to our son Alexander Pete Schreiber (we call him Sasha). Like his father, Sasha has a touch of the idiot savant in front of the camera but more than makes up for it with his uncanny ability to grow hair . . .” Graham Shiels ’99 shares, “My parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year. I’m single. Professionally, I’m guest starring in episodes #1, #2, #3, and #7 of Alan Ball’s new series for HBO, True Blood—Alex Woo ’97 is a staff writer on the show! I will also be acting opposite Jim Carrey in his upcoming Yes Man in December. I’ve been actively volunteering with the Yale In Cinema Series at The Newport Beach Film Festival to try to create a home for Yalie filmmakers. If you want to know more about it, please email me at grahamshiels@sbcglobal.net.” Kris Stone ’98 writes, “I have been working non-stop for the past ten years, but I have managed to woo Christopher Studley, a wonderful lighting designer, into marrying me in spite of my insane schedule. I recently had three shows to tech before they all opened in April. They included: Steve & Idi by David Grimm at The Rattlestick staring Evan Dexter Parke ’97, directed by Eleanor Holdridge ’97, lighting by Les Dickert ’97, and costumes by Jessica Ford ’04; The Scene by Theresa Rebeck, a co–production between George Street Playhouse and Hartford Stage, lit gorgeously by Robert Wierzel ’84, and costumes by Miranda Hoffman ’00; and Paul Niebanck ’97, right, as Iago in Chicago Shakespeare’s production Othello. Photo by Liz Lauren.
Liev Schreiber ’92 with son Sasha.