THE CALLBOARD: THEATER ARTS AND ALUMNI NEWS
Theater Arts News
Boston's Elliot Norton Awards
Brandeis 2009 winners include:
- Janie E. Howland (MFA '93) for Outstanding (set) Design by a Small/Midsize Company, Eurydice (New Repertory Theatre) and The History Boys (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
- Elizabeth Aspenlieder for Outstanding Solo Performance, Bad Dates (Shakespeare & Company and Merrimack Repertory Theatre), directed by Adrianne Krstansky (Assistant Professor of Theater Arts)
- Scott Edmiston (Director of the Office of the Arts) for Outstanding Director of a Midsize Company, The History Boys and The Light in the Piazza (SpeakEasy Stage Company) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)
- Marianna Bassham (MFA '02) for Outstanding Actress in a Small/Midsize Company, Blackbird (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
- Look Back in Anger for Outstanding Production by a Fringe Company, Orfeo Group, Project Coordinated by Cristi Miles (MFA '05)
Brandeis 2008 winners include:
- The Clean House for Outstanding Production by a Midsize Company, New Repertory Theatre, featuring Cristi Miles (MFA '05)
- A Marvelous Party: The Noel Coward Celebration for Outstanding Musical Production, American Repertory Theatre, directed by Scott Edmiston (Director of the Office of the Arts)
- The Kentucky Cycle for Outstanding Production by a Fringe Company, Zeitgeist Stage Company, fight choreographed by Meron Langsner (MFA '04)
- Angels in America for Outstanding Production by a Small Company, Boston Theatre Works, fight choreographed by Meron Langsner (MFA '04)
Alumni News
MFA
Ramona Alexander ('08) is working with Citi Performing Arts Center as a Teaching Artist for their Neighborhood Ensemble. She starred with Lindsey McWhorter ('08) in Up You Mighty Race's production of In The Continuum.
Shanessa Sweeney ('05) has worked as an actress in New York and regionally. She is in the beginning stages of starting her own entertainment production company, VeryNessasary Productions, which will focus on creating new, independent theatre, television and film work for the masses. She is the Creative Director of Good Times Entertainment (Atlanta, GA).
Diomedes Koufteros ('05) has been acting in Cyprus. He directed a short documentary, "Shushu," which won first prize at the United Nations Young Filmakers' Project.
Angie Jepson ('05) has been working steadily as an actress, fight choreographer, and teacher in Boston. She has performed at SpeakEasy Stage Company, Shakespeare Now!, The Publick Theatre, Boston Playwrights Theatre, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, New Repertory Theatre, Stoneham Theatre, and Wellesley Summer Theatre.
Cristi Miles ('05) taught at The Boston Conservatory along with many of the surrounding theatres. She founded a critically acclaimed theatre company (The Orfeo Group) and is a member of the Actors Equity Association.
John Benitz ('91) is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Chapman University. He has directed theatre in Boston, Off-Broadway and some of L.A.'s premiere theaters. He has performed in numerous theaters across the country including Ubu Repertory Theater, the Odyssey and Fountain Theaters in L.A., the Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago and Shakespeare Orange County. He is a co-founder of Theatre 88.
Robert Antonelli ('04) has been in numerous productions throughout Boston at Stoneham Theater, New Repertory Theatre, and the Lyric Stage Company among others. Currently, he is the Associate Director at Kidstock!, a children's theater education center in Winchester, MA.
Scott Barrow ('00) was in the ensemble of 33 Variations on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theater starring Jane Fonda. He played Father Flynn in Doubt at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Giles in The Mousetrap at the Olney Theatre, and Elyot in Private Lives at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
Natalie Rose Liberace ('93) is a proud member of AEA, SAG, and AFTRA. She regularly performs with the Portland Stage Company. She also teaches Public Speaking at SUNY Rockland where she is an adjunct professor.
Karen White ('92) has recorded more than fifty audiobooks, including the National Book Award winner, The Hemingses of Monticello. She has won two Audio File awards for her work.
Kate Myre ('92) has worked as a professional actress in dozens of theaters across the United States. She is an Associate Professor of Voice and Speech at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington.
Christian Brandjes ('98) is a member of AEA. He is currently a Tenured Associate Professor of Theater at Daemen College after being an Assistant Professor of Theater there from 2003-2008.
Dana Leslie Goldstein's ('94) Cyclone and the Pig-Faced Lady (book/lyrics) was produced in the NY Musical Theater Festival and Liberty (book/lyrics) has been optioned by a commercial producer. Next Year in Jerusalem, which won the New England New Play Award and was begun at Brandeis, was presented at the WorkShop Theater.
Timothy Carter ('02) is entering his third year playing Scar in the national Broadway tour of Disney's The Lion King. Prior to that, he toured nationally in The Three Musketeers and Macbeth with the acclaimed classical touring troupe, The Acting Company.
Jennifer LaFleur ('04) is the Artistic Producer of The Grid Theatre. She had a small role in the Sundance Film Festival breakout film "Baghead" by the Duplass Brothers and went on to film a leading role in their upcoming film "Do-Deca Pentathlon." She continues her recurring role as Nurse Judy on "Guiding Light" and recently shot the role of Flora in the pilot episode of the TNT series "Bunker Hill."
Andrew Clark ('97) wrote The Random Caruso which was produced by Centastage in 2009. The cast included Tracy Oliverio ('98) and Sam Weisman ('72).
Abigail Killeen ('05) has worked Off-Broadway and in film and television in New York. She is currently teaching acting in the Department of Theater and Dance at Bowdoin College and performing in professional productions in the Portland area. She is also creating a show produced through Threads Theater Company in New York (under an Equity contract) in 2010.
Izzy Einsidler ('05) is a Professor of Lighting/Sound Design at Fresno State University where he designs all of their Mainstage shows. His designs include The Lifeblood at the Connelly Theatre in NYC, and Urinetown and Slaughter of the Innocents in California.
Matthew Crider ('08) is a Professor of Voice and Movement at the University of Wisconsin: Stevens Point. He teaches Suzuki, Stage Combat, and Dialects among other classes.
Mimi Huntington ('97) is the Artistic Director of The Nora Theatre Company.
Karla Kash ('99) is the head of Musical Theatre at Drake University where she directed and choreographed Company as well as And the World Goes 'Round. She choreographed Open Heart written by and starring Robby Benson at the Stephen Sondheim Center. www.karlakash.com
Malik El-Amin ('02) was nominated for a NAACP Theatre Award for his role in A Lesson Before Dying. He starred in the world premier of Prove it to Me at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood.
Britney Burgess ('04) and Matthew Jasizcek ('04) (alias: Matthew J. Nichols) are the founders of Zootopia Theatre Company in NYC. Britney was nominated for an Innovative Theatre Award in 2008 for Featured Actress in their production of Professional Skepticism. Zootopia Theatre Company has received six New York Innovative Theatre Award nominations for Still the River Runs, including Outstanding Director- Matthew J. Nichols.
Andrew Eisenman ('90) starred in Last Call on Bourbon Street, part of Living Image Arts' festival of one act plays. He made his NY theater deput with Ma-Yi Theater Company and subsequently served as Associate Director of Ma-Yi for five years. He has worked with various theater companies over the years. andreweisenman.com
Chris Faith ('00) has been nominated for three Barrymore Awards given for excellence in theatre. He has performed at the Wilma Theater, the Arden Theatre Company, the People's Light and Theatre, and the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center. Chris and his wife own Dance Arts Collaborative, a children's performing arts school.
Michael Jarett ('07) was awarded the prestigious Gilbert Hemsley internship at Lincoln Center, where he assisted with lighting for the New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, and the Lincoln Center Festival.
Debbie Lamedman ('96) has written and edited multiple acting books including Laying the Foundation for a Successful Acting Career. debbielamedman.com
Tanya Marten ('90) performed in the Off-Off-Broadway premier of her play Euphoric Tendencies with Actors Repertory Theatre where she is the Managing Director. She continues working with the WorkShop Theater Company in NYC.
Celli Pitt ('03) has done several shows with the experimental company Blessed Unrest. She participated in the reading of Laura Wickens' (MFA '02) adaptation of Ivanov.
Lainy Weaver ('02) (alias: Laiona Michelle) was nominated for a 2007 IRNE Award for her performance in Merrimack Repertory Theatre's Dinah Was.
Undergraduate
Gwen Tulin ('06) is the Artistic Director of Brain Surgeon Theater, a Chicago theater company that creates original rock musicals (among other things). She also works with the Meisner-based company The Artistic Home.
Samson Kohanski ('08) will be performing in the American Repertory Theater's production of The Donkey Show. He performed with Whistler in the Dark in their productions of The Bacchae and Mary's Wedding.
Jessie Podell ('06) has been in multiple productions including If You Really Knew Me, Miracole, and There's a Marquee With My Name On It. She was also in the short film "The Stoop" which was submitted to the Tribeca Film Festival.
Sheldon Best ('08) starred in SpeakEasy Stage Company's New England premiere of The History Boys, Boston Playwright Theater's The Oil Thief, and Actors' Shakespeare Project's Much Ado About Nothing. He performed Off-Broadway in the world premiere of Soul Samurai by Qui Nguyen, produced by Ma-Yi Theatre Company and Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company.
Lauren Simon's ('82) and Anita Simons' play Heartland premiered at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA. The play has won numerous awards, including first prize in the Dayton (OH) Playhouse FutureFest. It is entered in the American College Theatre Festival. lojosimon.com
Kerry Israel ('02) is currently the Audience Development Manager for the American Repertory Theater.
Sarah (Rubin) Sokolic ('93) is an actor and educator and serves as the Associate Executive Director of Storahtelling, Inc., a ten year old non-profit arts and education organization whose mission is the advancement of Judaic literacy and social consciousness through the retelling of ancient stories. storahtelling.org
Eli Schneider ('06) finished two runs of When the Lights Go On Again at the Triad Theater in NYC. The show won the 2008 Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding Revue.
Bill Folman ('98) released his first novel The Scandal Plan. billfolman.com
Miriam Weiner ('93) participated in Soho Repertory Theater's Writer/Director Lab. She worked with Madeleine George on her new play Precious Little, and directed a reading of Antoinette Nwandu's new play Breach at the Public Theatre. She is a Literary Fellow at the Vineyard Theatre and a freelance director in NYC.
Dev Bondarin ('01) directed three pieces for Prospect Theater Company's 2007-2008 Dark Nights Series, which she curated and produced.
Jaime Carrillo ('98) has been a company member of The Classical Theatre of Harlem since 2003. He has performed abroad in Dublin and Winnipeg.
Julia Davis ('04), Evan Green ('04), and Jill Landaker ('04) co-founded Highwire Theatre.
Janet Kim ('04) is a member of Mud/Bone Lab in the Bronx.
Rachel Peters ('99) scored Stretch (a fantasia) which she also conducted and played the typewriter for. She composed the music for Tisch School of the Arts' Only Children.
*To add information to The Callboard please contact Alyssa Avis.*