FSU/Asolo Conservatory Alumni

Our Alumni

• Class of 2025

  Jasmyn Ackah, Jonathan Acosta, John Leggett, Catherine Luciani, Ashley McCauley Moore, Elle Miller, Ibukun Omotowa, Ayda Ozdoganlar, Caitlin Rose, Brian Zane

• Class of 2024

  Trezure Coles, Brielle Rivera Headrington, Rebecca Rose Mims, Falcian Page, Sharon Pearlman, Jackson Purdy, Jordan Rich, Mikhail Roberts, Brooke Turner, Danielle Vivcharenko, Rueben Wakefield, Rickey Watson, Jr.

• Class of 2023

  Joe Ayers, Dreaa Kay Baudy, Macaria Chaparro Martinez, Christian Douglass, Zoya Martin, Erin O’Connor, Peter Raimondo, Evan Stevens, Sydney Story, Jerald Wheat, Imani Williams

• Class of 2022

  Nydira Adams, Daniel Ajak, Emily Bohn, Charlotte Foster, Ptah Garvin, Paige Klopfenstein, Bryan Lewis, Dayna Lee Palya, Merri Rashoyan, Giovanni Rincon, Jamie Saunders, Garrick Sigl, Derek Sikkema

• Class of 2021

  Anna Beth Baker, Christopher Blonski, Kenny Fedorko, Christopher Hayhurst, Bonita Jackson, Anna Newbury, Liam O’Brien, Naire Poole, Alex Rodriguez, Jacob Sefcak, Kaitlyn Weickel

• Class of 2020

  MARC BITLER | Marc Bitler is excited to eventually get his Covid-19 vaccination. In the meantime, he is continuing to work on his culinary skills and educating himself on social justice issues. He still hopes to pursue a career as an actor and teacher.
   

   

   

   

   

   

  JILLIAN CICALESE | After graduating in April 2020, Jillian Cicalese moved back home to Port Saint Lucie, Florida, to help her family during the pandemic. That summer, she began offering online coaching services to young actors and is currently teaching as an Adjunct Instructor of Visual and Performing Arts for Flagler College. In terms of acting, she recently performed as the villainous Montreville in an online reading of Philip Massinger’s The Unnatural Combat with Sweet Tea Shakespeare, under the direction of Tony Tambasco. When it becomes safer to move around, she plans to take her talents to NYC to pursue her acting career before returning to teaching. Visit her website to keep up with her at jilliancicalese.com.

   

   

   

  

  JONATHAN GRUNERT | Since graduation, Jonathan Grunert has moved to New York City and adopted an adorable dog, Penny. You can support efforts to save the lives of thousands of shelter dogs in need at HeartsAndBonesRescue.com. Find more updates at JonathanGrunert.com.

   

   

   

   

   

  MICHAEL JUDAH | Upon graduating during a global pandemic, Michael Judah decided not to try his hand at entering the theatre industry, showing that he is wise enough to have a graduate degree. Instead, he has been developing other professional skills for industries that aren’t closed down. Currently, he is the administrative assistant helping to coordinate polling places for the May 11th City Elections in Omaha, Nebraska. But don’t cry for him Argentina, he’s loving every minute of it.

   

   

   

   

  Marc Bitler, Jillian Cicalese, Carla Corvo, Joe Ferrarelli, Jonathan Grunert, Michael Judah, Amber McNew, Alex Pelletier, Brian Ritchie, Creg Sclavi

• Class of 2019

   JENNY VALLANCOURT | Jenny Vallancourt currently lives and works in New Jersey. She was involved in various filmed performance projects during the pandemic, including her YouTube channel for preschoolers, Songs with Miss Jenny. She is currently working towards obtaining her teaching certificate in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Jenny also regularly facilitates sessions for the New York City-based Demidov Ensemble.

   

   

   

   

  John Wilson Bennett, Dylan Crow, Andrew Hardaway, Lawrence James, Matthew Kresch, Sara Linares, Erik Meixelsperger, Olivia Osol, Katie Sah, Scott Shomaker, Jenny Vallancourt, DeAnna Wright

• Class of 2018

  DUSTIN BABIN | After leaving the FSU/Asolo Conservatory, Dustin Babin moved to Los Angeles and did a few small projects before the pandemic brought him back to his home state of Louisiana. He recently signed with an agency in hopes of exploring the Southeastern market of Film and Television.

   

   

   

   

   

   

  ANTHONY J. HAMILTON | Currently, Anthony Hamilton is Directing & Choreographing You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown for Hackett Catholic Prep School in Kalamazoo, MI while simultaneously directing two 30-minute scenes for Western Michigan University. Scenes are from the plays: Straight White Men (Young Jean Lee) and Skeleton Crew (Dominique Morisseau). Next up, he will be a guest professor of theatre for the WMU Theatre Department (Fall 2021-Spring 2022).

   

   

   

   

   

  NOLAN HENNELLY | Nolan Hennelly is currently living and working in New York City. Since graduating from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training Nolan has continued to focus on classic texts and creating his own work in front of and behind the camera. During the Covid quarantine, Nolan started learning to record and engineer audio for voiceovers — which he now does alongside his stage work. For more information, check out his website: Nolanhennelly.com 

   

   

   

   

  Dustin Babin, Andrew Bosworth, Christopher Carlson, Mary Ellen Everett, Anthony J. Hamilton, Amy Helms, Nolan Hennelly, Aleksandr Krapivkin, Colleen Lafeber, Amber Lageman, Kedren Spencer, Wes Tolman

• Class of 2017

  Jillian Courtney, Michael Fisher, Rob Glauz, Scott Kuiper, Brett Mack, Brandon Maldonado, Wyatt McNeil, Mike Perez, Danielle Renella, Jacob Sherburne, Kelly Smith, Jessie Taylor

• Class of 2016

  KEVIN BARBER | Kevin Barber returns to New York City after graduating from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2016. At Asolo Rep, he played Walter Jenkins in All the Way, Wint in Ah, Wilderness and Orsino in the New Stages tour of Twelfth Night. Prior to grad school, Kevin acted at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Texas Shakespeare Festival, the Theatre at Monmouth and in numerous small indie films in Cali and NYC. Also a filmmaker, his most recent project, GRAS, has just begun the festival circuit. www.kevinbarber.info

   

   

   

   

   

  ALLY FARZETTA | After graduation, Ally Farzetta will be heading to St. Pete for the summer where she will appear in American Stage’s production of The Pitmen Painters. Immediately following, Ally will bid farewell to The Sunshine State and head up north to spend autumn in Maine, where she will get her farce on in Theatre at Monmouth’s production of Boeing, Boeing. Afterward, Ally plans to make her long-awaited move to NYC with classmate/roommate-to-be, Kelsey Petersen. 

   

   

   

   

   

  JOE KNISPEL | Joe Knispel moved to New York City after graduating from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory For Actor Training. The summer was spent playing Mitch Albom in Tuesdays with Morrie and Curly in OKLAHOMA! with Crane River Theater Company. Since moving to the city, Joe has become a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association and has been auditioning every chance he gets. Aside from auditioning, Joe spends a lot of free time trying to get cheap tickets to Broadway shows and continues to work on his craft by taking classes and making new contacts in the industry. To keep up with Joe, visit his website: www.joeknispel.com

   

   

   

  KELSEY PETERSON | Kelsey Petersen had the pleasure of appearing in the Asolo Rep 2015-2016 season as Viola in Twelfth Night, Sen. Neuberger in All the Way and Mildred in Ah, Wilderness! She is a Chicago native, but looks forward to planting some new roots in New York City after graduation with her classmates (and future roommate Ally Farzetta).

  JORDAN BEN SOBEL | Jordan Sobel is originally from San Diego, California but is very excited to be making the move to New York City. Jordan spent his college years in Boston working with theaters such as The Huntington Theatre Company, American Repertory Theatre and Company One. Jordan is also a percussionist and enjoys playing jazz as well as skiing and ice hockey.

   

   

   

   

   

   

  KIM STEPHENSON | Kim Stephenson will spend the summer after graduation working with the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre and will return to Sarasota briefly in the fall to work with the Sarasota Orchestra. She was seen at the Rep in All the Way, Ah, Wilderness! and Twelfth Night. Other Florida credits include Collected Stories at Banyan Theater Company, Isaac’s Eye at Urbanite Theatre, The Cherry Orchard, [title of show] and As You Like It at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Kim will miss Sarasota but is excited to be returning to the west coast in the fall. www.kim-stephenson.com 

   

   

   

   

   

  LISA EGAN WOODS | Lisa Woods is excited to spend the first few months after graduation performing in Of Mice and Men and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Maples Rep. She will then be heading to Theatre At Monmouth for a production of Boeing Boeing this fall. Up next is moving to New York City. www.lisaeganwoods.com.

   

   

   

   

   

   

  EVAN WHITE | Evan Reynolds White is an actor, singer, dancer, multi-instrumentalist and proud member of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory Class of 2016. His credits on the Mertz stage include West Side Story, All The Way and Ah, Wilderness! His credits on the Conservatory stage include [title of show], As You Like It and The Cherry Orchard. He has also been a Teaching Artist through Asolo Rep’s Education Department, leading workshops on translating the work of Shakespeare from the page to the stage. He is overjoyed to continue his career in New York and is also a member of Actors Equity Association.

   

   

   

   

  Kevin Barber, Mark Comer, Chris Alexey Diaz, Ally Farzetta, Tom Harney, Josh James, Joe Knispel, Kelsey Peterson, Jordan Ben Sobel, Kim Stephenson, Evan White, Lisa Woods

• Class of 2015

  ANDREA ADNOFF | Andrea Adnoff has recently relocated to Los Angeles, CA. She is currently auditioning for film and TV while working alongside a team that builds and sells high-end spec homes in Hollywood proper. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  GRACIE LEE BROWN | Gracie Lee Brown moved to New York City right after graduation, joined Actors Equity and hit the pavement auditioning. The summer months were filled with meeting new people, auditioning for everything she could and taking advantage of seeing some fantastic Broadway shows! She is currently working in Newark, Delaware on a new adaptation of a Feydeau farce by the one and only Greg Leaming called The Patsy with the Resident Ensemble Players (REP). She looks forward to returning to NYC to witness the beauty of fall. http://www.rep.udel.edu/ www.gracieleebrown.com 

   

   

   

   

  ALLIE HENKEL | Allie Henkel is currently living in New York City. She is now a proud member of Actor’s Equity and is auditioning. She is also working part-time as an assistant at TAKE 3 Talent Agency and has started her own personal organization business.

   

   

   

   

   

   

  JORY MURPHY | Jory Murphy graduated from the conservatory in 2015. While in grad school, Jory appeared in productions of Good People, The Matchmaker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Antigone, Loot, The School for Lies and Twelfth Night. He has also worked for Asolo Rep as an American Sign Language coach on Clybourne Park and as the assistant to the choreographer on Noah Racey’s Pulse. He currently lives in New York City. jorymurphy.com 

   

   

   

   

   

  BRIAN OWEN | Brian Owen and his wife, Nicole, moved to New York City shortly after graduating from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Shortly thereafter Brian and classmate Paul Herbig presented the original two-man show, The Bastard Monks, in upstate New York. Following that paragon of literary and dramatic excellence, he has been auditioning as much as possible, trying hard to get tickets to Hamilton and spending lots of time with Nicole (to make up for all that lost time during grad school). He will be heading to Playmakers Rep in North Carolina this fall for their production of Peter and the Starcatcher. @bistrowen www.briandouglasowen.com 

   

   

   

  Andrea Adnoff, Matthew Anderson, Gracie Brown, Michael Frishman, Allie Henkel, Paul Herbig, Jory Murphy, Matthew Olsen, Brian Owen, Olivia Williamson

• Class of 2014

  LUCY LAVELY | Lucy Lavely hails from “the 203” (aka Connecticut) and is making her Off-Broadway debut at the 59E59 Theatre in New York City. The new play, The Widow of Tom’s Hill, ran from Oct. 29 through November 15, 2015. The play is an acute lens on history — exploring the deadly influenza plague of 1918 in the State of Washington. Playwright Aleks Merilo tells the story of how we treat others when we’re afraid of dying. 

  • NY CREDITS: Knots (Fringe Festival) and Henry IV (Inwood Shakespeare Festival). 
  • REGIONAL: Chicken Shop (U.S. Premiere-Urbanite Theatre); One Man Two Guvnors (Pioneer Theatre); Other Desert Cities, The Grapes of Wrath, Romeo and Juliet (Asolo Repertory Theatre); and Crimes of the Heart (Banyan Theatre)

  Lucy Lavely is a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame (BA 2011) and FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Acting (MFA 2014). She sends rainbows of love to everyone at the Asolo and the Conservatory.

   

   

  BRIAN NEMIROFF | Since graduating from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2014, Brian Nemiroff has been involved with two feature films: Attached leading role in the pre-production phase of Half Moon in NYC and a supporting role in the critically acclaimed Paradise, FL in Sarasota. Furthermore, he is developing his own feature film, with evolving success, daily. Living in a beautifully renovated apartment in a quiet, residential area of Queens, Brian tends bar several nights a week at an upscale wine bar and restaurant in Forest Hills. Additionally, Brian is living the actor’s dream (reality) by attending numerous acting auditions — seeking the ever-elusive breakthrough project. Life is good. 

   

   

   

   

  ZLATOMIR MOLDOVANSKI | Zlatomir Moldovanski is currently a resident company member at the Stratford Festival of Canada where he will be Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, Hunter in Treasure Island and in the ensemble of The Breathing Hole in the 2017 season. Since graduating in 2014, he has also worked at Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, CO, Lookingglass Theatre and Profiles Theatre in Chicago, the Drilling Company in NYC and on the primetime series Madam Secretary on CBS. Zlatomir is a company member of Level 11 Theatre in Chicago and is represented by Gray Talent Group. He is a proud graduate of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory — one of the best training programs in the world. His Asolo teachers and colleagues made him the actor he is today and he is forever grateful. Member of Actors’ Equity and Canadian Actors’ Equity.

   

   

   

  Kristen Blossom, Cale Haupert, Tori Hines, Lucy Lavely, Jefferson McDonald, Zlatomir Moldovanski, Amanda Mullen, Brian Nemiroff, Reggie Robinson, Maxey Whitehead, Benjamin Williamson

• Class of 2013

  JOSEPH MCGRANAGHAN | Since graduating, Joseph McGranaghan has kept his nose to the grindstone, coming up for air just long enough to wed the love of his life, Lily Junker, on a perfect summer day in August 2014. As an actor, Joe has worked in New York City with Storm Theatre (Our God’s Brother – New York Times review), The Workshop Theatre Company, Hudson Warehouse and Magis Theatre (which will premier a new adaptation of Life is a Dream at La MaMa ETC in April 2016). 

  Regionally, Joe has worked with Clarence Brown Theatre (Noises Off), Centerstage (George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life), Bucks County Playhouse (In The Dressing Room– New Voices Festival) and Lantern Theatre (Photograph 51). Next: a world premiere play with Quantum Theatre in Pittsburgh. Film: The Lucky Six, Door to Door and Innerspace. Between gigs, Joe works as a teaching artist at the McCarter Theatre. www.josephmcgranaghan.com

   

   

  BRITTANY PROIA | Brittany Proia graduated from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2013 and currently resides in NYC. She recently returned from spending the summer with the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival performing in rep as Desdemona (OTHELLO) and Celia (AS YOU LIKE IT). This fall she looks forward to participating in a concert series singing the works of new music theatre composers at 54 Below and performing the new musical THE SHOWMAN by Ryan McGovern and Noel Carey. 

  Brittany has performed regionally and in NYC with Frog and Peach Theatre Co, The Ozark Actors Theatre, The York Theatre Company, Peterborough Players, Nebraska Shakespeare, Toby’s Dinner Theatre and even returned to The Asolo Repertory for their production of SHOWBOAT! She is also a series regular in the webseries HOUSE OF CANNON, written and directed by fellow FSU classmate Christopher Wynn. www.brittanyproia.com 

   

   

  BRENDAN REGAN | After graduating, Brendan Regan moved to New York City for a year, landing work at Nebraska Shakespeare, Gorilla Theatre and Stageworks. For Gorilla’s An Iliad, Brendan won Theatre Tampa Bay’s award for Best Solo Performance. He returned to the area as a founder and Co-Artistic Director for Sarasota’s newest theatre, Urbanite Theatre, where he appeared in Reborning this summer. This season at Urbanite, Brendan will perform in Lungs and direct The Drowning Girls. Since arriving back in Sarasota from New York, Brendan has made appearances at A Simple Theatre, HOME Resource and the Ringling International Arts Festival. He’s humbled to have so much opportunity and is constantly in awe of the tremendous, lasting relationships he made while at the conservatory. www.urbanitetheatre.com 

  LINDSAY TORNQUIST | After graduating from FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2013, Lindsay Tornquist moved to Chicago, Illinois. She was in the Jeff Award-nominated The Playboy of the Western World at Raven Theatre, published in Samuel French as originating the role of Ellen in Belfast Girls and had been involved with workshops and play festivals with Victory Gardens, Artemisia Theatre, Vivarium Theatre and Broken Nose Theatre. She has worked across the country, in Florida for the feature film The Lucky Six, in South Dakota for the short film The Rabbi Died and in Maine for summer repertory at Theatre at Monmouth. She is continuing her education at iO, formally known as Improv Olympic, learning from the top improvisers in the country. This spring she will be teaching an introduction to acting class at Cornell College.

  Website: www.lindsaytornquist.com. 

   

   

  Kelly Cambell, Jacob Cooper, Jesse Dornan, Joseph McGranaghan, Brittany Proia, Brendan Regan, Sarah Razmann (Brown), Francisco Rodriguez, Lindsay Tornquist, Erin Whitney, Zak Wilson, Christopher Wynn (Williams)

• Class of 2012

  KATIE CUNNINGHAM | Katie Cunningham is based in NYC and works regularly in regional theaters across the U.S. Currently, Katie is acting in her third production (The 39 Steps) at Clarence Brown Theatre, a LORT company in Knoxville, Tennessee, and preparing her course materials to return to McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey, where she works as a teaching artist. In 2014-15, Katie returned to Asolo Rep to play the leading ladies in Our Betters and Both Your Houses. Her Off-Broadway credits include the American Place Theatre and NY Fringe Festival. Along with several FSU/Asolo alumni, Katie co-founded NYC company The Night Shift, which produces an ongoing Drunken Shakespeare series as well as full productions and readings. Katie holds a B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill and is a proud union member (AEA and SAG-AFTRA). www.katiecunningham.com 

   

   

   

  BENJAMIN BOUCVALT | Benjamin Boucvalt is currently in New Orleans writing and acting in film. His summers have been spent with The Great River Shakespeare Festival, where he recently finished playing Romeo, in R&J. The desk he writes at is an old, gutted piano that was once the home to a host of carpenter bees. He published his first novel, THE RIVER ROAD, and the audiobook edition of the book is narrated by Benjamin himself. He has been teaching weekly film acting classes and has also been teaching the younger generation of hardcore Shakespeare nerds while in Minnesota with GRSF. Benjamin is still searching for truth amidst a world of constant self-editing, always seeking forgiveness and continuing to serve the world as a storyteller. BenjaminBoucvalt.com 

   

   

   

   

  TONY STOPPERAN

  In Development:

  • Untitled Dylan McDermott Webseries: Producer, 2016
  • Untitled Justin Long Webseries: Producer, 2016
  • Steve Michelson Documentary Filmmaking E-Course: Producer, 2016
  • Tom Paul Sound Design for Filmmakers E-Course: Producer, 2016

  Feature Films Completed:

  • Dark Night – Directed by Tim Sutton: Associate Producer, 2015
  • Paradise, FL – Directed by Nick Morgulis: Writer and Producer, 2014
  • The Lucky 6 – Directed by Brad Battersby: Executive Producer, 2013

  Luke Bartholomew, Benjamin Boucvalt, Katie Cunningham, Megan DeLay, Geoff Knox, Jon-Michael Miller, Gretchen Porro, Ashley Scallon, Jake Staley, Tony Stopperan, Summer Wallace

• Class of 2011

  LINDSAY BYTOF | After spending three years in NYC, Lindsay Bytof sought to continue the applied theatre education she started while in her final year at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory and the Manatee School For the Arts. She was accepted to the prestigious program at Goldsmiths, University of London. She is there now, closest to the pulse of applied theatre, working amongst companies that put the focus on using theatre for personal and cultural change. She is also drinking a lot of tea. www.lindsaybytof.com 

   

   

   

   

   

  KIM HAUSLER | Kim Hausler is a NYC-based Actor and Teaching Artist known for her instinctive and ambitious approach. She graduated with honors from Rider University on a full tuition acting scholarship and received her MFA at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory For Actor Training, recognized by the U.S. News & World Report and The Hollywood Reporter as a worldwide top graduate actor training program. 

  As a forthright and compassionate leading lady, her work has included Shakespeare, traditional repertory theatre, musical comedy and the development of new writing. Her work in Theatre Education has spanned teaching and directing at a range of professional regional theatres, performing arts organizations and summer camp programs. Combining her natural intuition with practical experience, she motivates the next generation of theatre artists with her personal, yet professional outlook. http://www.kimhausler.com/ 

   

   

  RON KAGAN | Ron Kagan recently starred in a short film that’s going to be making rounds on the festival circuit that’s been directed and produced by staff of the Sundance Institute. Since moving back to New York, Ron has gotten married and now lives in Harlem with his wife and their four rabbits. Ron has been in the premieres of award-winning playwrights, produced theatre downtown and appeared in a commercial for the release of Electronic Arts’ FIFA where he wrestled a bulldog and swung its poop in the air — putting his MFA to good use. Ron also maintains a private accent reduction and public speaking practice. He can be found online at http://www.linkedin.com/in/ronykagan 

   

   

   

   

  ANGELA SAUER

  • LOS ANGELES: Richard III, Measure for Measure (Kingsmen Shakespeare), Figaro (A Noise Within), Othello (Illyrian Players), Lovecraft: Nightmare Suite (Visceral), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Coeurage), Suffragette! (Sacred Fools), Timon of Athens (Porters of Hellsgate) 
  • REGIONAL: Boeing Boeing, Las Meninas, Bonnie & Clyde — pre-Broadway run, Deathtrap, Antigone Now, Some of the People…, The Edge of Peace, The Winter’s Tale, The Imaginary Invalid (Asolo Repertory Theatre); The Winter’s Tale (Workshop Theatre, NYC), In the Garden of… (FACT Theatre, NYC), Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding (Chicago), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Gorilla Tango Theatre, Chicago), Carnal Savior (WIT Theatre, Chicago), The Comedy of Errors, The Brothers Menaechmus, Comedy Tonight (Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival);
  • TV: Masters of Sex, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Pan Am; WEB: 20 Seconds to Live, Rock Star Café, High-Class Problem. 
  • EDUCATION: MFA from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Reigning champion of LA’s Manhattan Monologue Slam. AngelaSauer.com 

  Lindsay Bytof, Adam Carpenter, Devereau Chumrau, Dane Clark, Kim Hausler, Danny Jones, Ron Kagan, Will Little, Angela Sauer

• Classes of 2010-2001

  Class of 2010

  GHAFIR AKBAR | Ghafir Akbar returned to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2012 and has continued to work in theatre and film focusing on producing work with a distinctly Malaysian narrative. He worked as an actor, director, educator, producer or project manager on various projects. He’s also expanded his work in Singapore beginning in 2015 by collaborating with theatre artists there on new projects. He was named 2013 Man of The Year for Theatre in the regional August Man magazine and nominated for multiple national theatre awards as well as the recent Malaysian Film Festival. Ghafir occasionally teaches at the University of Malaya and continues to run workshops around the country. www.ghafirakbar.com 

   

   

   

   

  KRISTIN FRANKLIN | Since graduating from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2010, Kirstin Franklin has worked steadily in Chicago as a leading actor, director and teacher. There, she has worked for theatres such as Northlight Theatre, The Raven, North Park University, Jedlicka Performing Arts Center and Akvavit. In 2014 Kirstin got to check off one of her dream roles when she got to play Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. Kirstin teaches theatre at Harold Washington College and North Park University and is a proud company member and casting director of Akvavit Theatre.

   

   

   

   

  KEVIN STANFA | Kevin Stanfa is currently living/surviving in New York City. He earns his rent working for Equinox Fitness in their corporate offices — a flexible job that supports every theatrical endeavor he has. He volunteers at a new works theater company in town (The Workshop Theater), doing everything from acting in one-act fests to managing their box office. Kevin is also an avid member of The Shakespeare Forum, which advocates for Shakespeare in the classroom and after school, particularly in areas that have no arts funding or drama departments.

   

   

   

   

  The 2010 Class: Ghafir Akbar, Kristin Franklin, Sarah Gavitt, Hannah Goalstone, Alexandra Guyker, Peter Mendez, Nissa Perrott, Kevin Stanfa, Bethany Weise.

  Class of 2009

  ELISABETH PRESTON (AHRENS) | Originally from Kansas, Elisabeth Preston left the land of Oz and, via some wonderful years at Asolo, now calls New York City home. She is currently playing Banquo in Macbeth of the Oppressed with Fab Marquee Productions. A company member of The Queens Company, an all-female classical troupe that advocates for gender-blind casting, she will be playing Petruchio in their Spring production of Taming of the Shrew. She also works with the Hip to Hip Theater Company, touring classical work to underserved communities in Queens and the outer boroughs. Most recently she was seen as Mary Turner in Within the Law at the Metropolitan Playhouse, which was nominated for a New York Innovative Theater Award for best revival of a play. Elisabeth has worked regionally in theater, film and commercials — recently, she is jumping into the world of industrial voiceovers.

   

   

   

  HEATHER KELLEY | Heather Kelley currently serves as the Director of Audience Services for Premiere Stages (www.kean.edu/premierestages), the professional theatre in residence at Kean University and teaches acting for Kean’s Department of Theatre. Recent credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing for South Brooklyn Shakespeare, the World Premieres of Ken Ferrigni’s Occupation (Project: Theater) and Chisa Hutchinson’s This is Not the Play (Mad Dog Theatre Company), recipient of a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Original Short Script. Her fiction and plays have been published in Opium Magazine, 225 Plays by The New York Neo-Futurists from Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (ed. Joey Rizzolo) and What Happened to Us These Last Couple Years? (Elope Press & So New).

   

   

   

  DEMARIO MCREW | DeMario is a native of Mobile, AL. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Alabama State University in 2005 and his Master of Fine Arts degree from FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 2009. DeMario currently resides in Washington, DC, working as a professional makeup artist and Resident Trainer for MAC COSMETICS. DeMario is also a member of the Actors Equity Association.

   

   

   

   

   

   

  STEVEN O’BRIEN | Currently, Steven Alan O’Brien is an NYC-based actor, director, coach and producer as well as the General Manager of ETG (www.EpicenterTheatreGroup.org) The past summer included Prospero in UPSHAKES inaugural production of The Tempest. Steven is currently in pre-production for an NYC Showcase of Dan O’Brien’s WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT UP.

   

   

   

   

   

  The 2009 Class: Elizabeth Preston Ahrens, Brent Bateman, Heather Kelley, DeMario Mcgrew, Steven O’Brien, Kevin O’Callaghan, Dolph Paulsen, Jason Peck, Mishka Trachtenberg, David Yearta.

   

  Class of 2008

  Matt Brown, Juan Cardenas, Karis Danish, Jessi Gormezano, Marcus Johnson, Julie Lachance, Jennifer Logue.

   

  Class of 2007

  KRIS DANFORD | Kris Danford is an actor, singer and teacher currently based in Iowa. She has performed in New York and regionally in both straight and musical theatre. Previously head of the BFA Musical Theatre program at the University of West Florida and now teaches at the University of Iowa, runs a private studio and performs in Iowa City, Iowa. She is also an associate teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association. She is married to fellow alum, Sam Osheroff, and they have two children, Stella and Oliver. www.krisdanfordvoice.com.

   

   

   

   

  BRAD MAKAROWSKI

  • OFF-BROADWAY: The Flea: Design Your Kitchen; Metropolitan Playhouse: Both Your Houses; Resonance Ensemble: R.U.R., Caesar and Cleopatra. 
  • REGIONAL: Shakespeare Theatre Co., Asolo Rep, People’s Light, Depot Theatre. 
  • FILM: The Heart Outright, Me You & the Road. MFA: FSU/Asolo Conservatory 2007 
  • CONTACT: www.BradMakarowski.com 

   

   

   

   

  PAUL MOLNAR | Paul Molnar is a founding member and Producing Artistic Director of South Brooklyn Shakespeare. 

  Directing credits include: 

  • Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet (SBS), Macbeth – a witch’s tale, Hiker/Driver, The Gospel of Cyrus according to Cyrus (Asolo Late Night Series). 

  Acting credits include:

  • NEW YORK: work with KEEN Company, Epiphany, Adobe, Tangent and Fifth Street Theatre. 
  • REGIONAL: Premier Stages, Asolo Rep, Vermont Stage, Lost Nation, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, New American Theatre and 12 Miles West Theatre. 
  • FILM & TELEVISION: Law & Order, Law & Order SVU and Person of Interest. 

  Fight director credits include: 

  • OFF-BROADWAY: Roulette, Tape, Ghoul, DiCapo Opera, EST, 47th Street Theatre, Fordham University, Queens College, MITF and Keen Company where he is the Resident Company Fight Director. 
  • REGIONAL: Bucks County Playhouse, Premiere Stages, Two River, Shakespeare on the Sound, The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Second City (Detroit) & Asolo Rep. 

  When not directing, acting or fighting, Paul and his wife Dee own and run a bar in South Slope, Brooklyn called SOUTH.

  The 2007 Class: Mia Bankston, Tony Bullock, Kris Danford, Alix Jones, Brad Makarowski, Paul Molnar, Josh Rowan, Sara Schabach, Jamie Tintor, Jen Walker and Leigh West.

   

  Class of 2006

  NATASHA STALEY | Natasha Staley is an Assistant Professor of Voice and Acting at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Her areas of specialization include voice, speech, dialects and text work. Natasha also directs, her most recent production showcasing undergraduate acting students in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Natasha returned to Sarasota in January 2015 to serve as Assistant Voice and Dialect coach in the Asolo Rep’s production of Good People. She is a proud member of AEA and VASTA (the Voice and Speech Trainers Association) and is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework®. Most recent performance credits include Cassandra in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at the Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts.

   

   

   

   

  DARLENE HOPE (HORNE) | Darlene Hope’s passion is to encourage and uplift audiences and mentor young artists. Prior to attending the Asolo Conservatory, she toured extensively throughout the U.S., South America and the Caribbean combining humanitarian work, performance and arts education. 

  After graduating in 2006, Darlene settled in NYC and has since performed alongside some of Broadway’s leading stars, including Jeremy Hays and Quentin Darrington. She has appeared in numerous films, commercials and stage productions and recently garnered rave reviews in the Off-Broadway run of Bennett Windheim’s Normalcy. Darlene is the author of two full-length plays, Property and Kosciuszko Stop and is currently working on launching a production company. You can stay in touch with Darlene via her website www.DarleneHope.com.

   

   

   

  The 2006 Class: Ross Boehringer, Lesslie Crane, Bryan Crossan, Mariam Habib, Darlene Hope (Horne), John Long, Natasha Staley, Norah Sweeney and Brit Whittle.

   

  Class of 2005

  SAM OSHEROFF | Sam Osheroff is currently Artistic Director at Riverside Theatre in Iowa City, IA. A member of Actors Equity, he has worked in performance venues all over the country and abroad including the Asolo Rep, Peterborough Players, The Banyan Theatre and many venues in and around New York City. Sam has also toured Argentina and Brazil with the world-renowned Bread and Puppet Theatre and has directed shows at venues in New York City and regionally. He comes to Riverside from his most recent positions as Artistic Director of the Pensacola Shakespeare Theatre and Assistant Professor of acting and directing at the University of West Florida. He is married to Asolo alum, Kris Danford.

   

   

   

   

  The 2005 Class: Ken Ferrigni, Deanna Gibson, Ross Kidder, Aaron Kliner, Mary Lipple, Arlyn Mick, Sam Osheroff, Devon Pipars, Terry Small, Sarah Stockton Hamilton, Melissa Teitel.

   

  Class of 2004

  Dean Anthony, Heather Corwin, Brian Graves, Luciann LaJoie, Robert Lewandowski, Francisco Lozano, Merideth Maddox, Lauren Orkus, Katherine Tanner.

   

  Class of 2003

  DAMON BONETTI | Damon Bonetti was privileged to have had Esther Mertz as his sponsor. He is a Philadelphia-based actor, director and teacher. 

  Recent – Acting: And Then There Were None, (Walnut Street), The Hound of the Baskervilles (Lantern, Barrymore Nomination-Outstanding Ensemble), Rizzo, The English Bride (Exile), God of Carnage, Becky Shaw (Montgomery Theater) and The 39 Steps (Theater Horizon). Directing: True Story, (Barrymore Nomination: Outstanding Director) The Gun Show and The Goldilocks Zone (Passage), Stinky Cheese Man (Walnut Street) The 39 Steps (Hedgerow) and The Rage of Achilles (CCTC). Co-Founder of the Philadelphia Artists’ Collective, dedicated to rare classics. 

  • ACTING: The Duchess of Malfi and Creditors. 
  • DIRECTING: The Sea Plays, Changes of Heart, Blood Wedding (co-production MPiRP/Drexel) and He Who Gets Slapped (co-pro Philadelphia School of Circus Arts.) 
  • CONTACT: www.philartistscollective.org 

   

  SCOTT CASPER | Scott Casper (Astoria, NY c/o 2003) – Co-Founder/Artistic Director of tax-deductible theatre. Founded in 2005, dedicated to developing the uniquely theatrical voice of our company and community of collaborative artists. Co-creator of The Dare Project, world premiere ten-minute plays, written on a dare. Over 100 original plays so far — and still going. Four volumes of plays available for purchase. Writer of the company’s first original full-length play, #hero, world-premiere in 2013. 

  Other credits: Playwright: Member of Queens-based Playwright Lab, Mission to (dit) Mars; A Tortured Mind (Firecracker Productions); Maybe Another Mile or So (Left Hip Productions) – Director: The Foreigner (Okoboji Summer Theater); Breaking Kayfabe (I Mean! Productions) – Actor: I can Smoke? (Short Film – Third Eye Productions); Shadows & Lies (film, Blackacre Entertainment, starring James Franco); Hecuba (Friendly Fire Theatre, starring Kristin Linklater); Metropolitan Playhouse (NYC); Monomoy Theater (Chatham, MA) www.taxdeductibletheatre.org 

   

  

  JENNIFER PLANTS | Jennifer Plants is the Carl Djerassi Playwriting Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she teaches writing for theatre and performance studies. As an artist, Jen acts and directs regionally in the U.S. and the UK. Recent directing credits include Richard II at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival (UK,) Doubt at Atlantic Stage (Myrtle Beach, SC) and [redacted] as part of the Banned Books Monologue Festival at the Forward Theater (Madison, WI.) 

  As a performer and deviser, Jen’s latest work No Feedback creates an immersive audience experience of othering. No Feedback premiered in London in May 2015 and continues development for a European tour in summer 2016. Jen is also the proprietress of Maudetown Vintage. Visit jenplants.com for more information about Jen and her work.

   

   

   

  The 2003 Class: Jed Aicher, Bryan Barter, Damon Bonetti, Scott Casper, Nicole Diestler, Laura Lowry, Jennifer Plants, Dan Schultz, Kim Shively.

   

  Class of 2002

  KRISTA WACHOB | Krista Motley Wachob teaches and directs theatre at King College Prep High School in Chicago, Illinois.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  The 2002 Class: Bryn Boice, Zachary Frischer, Richard Fromm, Jimmie Galaites, Bryant Mason, Creighton Morrison, David Stradley, Krista Wachob, Tria Xiong.

   

  Class of 2001

  BRUCE ROACH | Bruce Roach’s work as an actor, director and educator has taken him across the U.S. and abroad. After graduating from the Conservatory, Bruce did another season of acting in the Asolo Rep company. His next career move took him to teaching, including designing and implementing a summer training program in Lacoste, France for the Savannah College of Art and Design. 

  He then returned to his native Midwest, where he found steady work directing and acting in Kansas City, Missouri. Bruce had fantastic opportunities to direct some fine actors in that professional community, as well as to continue his life as an actor with the top companies there. Notably, Bruce put his Asolo training into his passion — playing Shakespearean roles with the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. So far, his roles have included Richard III, Iago, Leontes and beyond. Bruce has even returned to his roots to do a big musical. For the last five years, he’s been lucky enough to be on the faculty of the Guthrie Theater/University of Minnesota Actor Training Program. As a first year teacher, he works with some of the most gifted young talents in the country. Bruce shared he also got married to a great guy.

  Class of 2001: Julia Cook, Gregory Funaro, T. Geist, Greg Parente, Bruce Roach, Jason Schiessl, Harmony Schuttler, Steven Snyder, Meredith Van Voorst.

• Classes of 2000-1991

  Class of 2000

  SARAH BLOOM | Sarah Bloom graduated from the Asolo Conservatory in 2000. After about six years in New York City, Sarah now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jo, and two children who are in preschool. Since graduation, Sarah has worked in commercial print, commercial voice-over, regional and off-broadway theatre, sketch comedy, independent film, commercials and television. Work highlights over the last decade and a half are sketches on Late Nite with David Letterman, a stellar regional theatre production of Proof and a personally meaningful indie film called Listen, which finished post-production in 2015.

   

   

   

   

  KEITH EDIE | Keith Edie is a member of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory Class of 2000. He currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and step-daughter. He acts in/writes/produces movies and television for a living. In his off time, Keith brews his own craft beer and plays in the ocean. keithedie@gmail.com, www.imdb.com.me/keithedie, Twitter/Instagram: @keithedie

   

   

   

   

   

  The 2000 Class: David Baecker, Sarah Bloom, Victor Browder, Stephanie Burden, Aubrey Caldwell, Amanda Eaglen, Keith Edie, Scott Johnson, Bill Martin, Gretchen Meyerhoefer, Jefferson Slinkard.

   

  Class of 1999

  CHRIS PARNELL | Chris Parnell serves as Executive Vice President, U.S. Drama Development and Programming for Sony Pictures Television. In this role, Parnell guides the development of scripted programming for drama series, working with writers and producers on projects for broadcast, cable and streaming outlets.

  During his tenure at SPT, Parnell has helped develop many of the studio’s high-profile dramas, including Breaking Bad, Outlander, The Blacklist, the Player, Franklin & Bash, Powers, Zombieland, Helix and Preacher, among many others. Parnell joined SPT in 2003. He holds an MFA in Acting from the Asolo Conservatory of Florida State.

   

   

   

   

  MATHEW TAVIANINI | Matthew Tavianini is the managing director/producer/ actor of BOXTALES Theatre Co. and a founding member of the Lit Moon Theatre Co. He is a graduate of UCSB and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory where he received his MFA in acting. 

  He has worked in Santa Barbara playing such roles as Semyonov Pischik in Lit Moon Theatre Company’s The Cherry Orchard. Trinculo/Alonso in the company’s production of The Tempest, Michal in Genesis West’s production of The Pillowman, Karl in The Last Days of the Empire, Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, Telemachus in BOXTALES’ production of The Odyssey; Joe in The Last Night of Ballyhoo, David in The Rivals and Thurio in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Matt in Wrench and Bobby in American Buffalo. Matthew also teaches acting, Shakespeare and stage combat and directs the GVJH spring production here in Santa Barbara. 

  He has also enjoyed working at the Westport Playhouse, The Odyssey Theatre, the Ogunquit Playhouse, the Asolo Theatre, the Santa Barbara Theatre Group, The Ensemble Theatre, The Santa Barbara Revels, Speaking of Stories, Santa Barbara Shakespeare Co. and City at Peace.

  The 1999 Class: Stacy Barnhisel, Peter Lieu, Brendan O’Neill, Chris Parnell, Melody Seoane, Matthew Tavianinini, Erik Uppling, Craig Zagurski.

   

  Class of 1998

  DAN MATISA | Dan Matista has transitioned to a life of teaching after 16 years as a professional, NYC-based actor. After fulfilling a one-year guest artist position at Elon University in North Carolina, Dan and his fiancée, Taylor, recently relocated to Emporia, Kansas, where he has joined the faculty of Emporia State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and Theatre. 

  Throughout his career, Dan had the great privilege to have performed with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, Vermont Shakespeare Company, American Stage, Florida Studio Theatre, Tennessee Rep and many more. He has appeared on television in Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Ed and SeaQuest 2032. He and his wife will be married in December 2015. www.danmatisa.com 

   

   

  The 1998 Class: Brian Ach, Rob Addison, Cory Blevins, Jamie Forehand, Dan Matisa, Deborah O’Neill, Anna Stone, Kathleen Tracy, Dennis Turney, Pamela Wild.

   

  Class of 1997

  Cheri Addison, R. Benton, James Lawson, Kevin Otos, Meghan Redican, Alex White, Niambi Williams-Rahim.

   

  Class of 1996

  

  BRETT BASSETT | Brett has been serving in the U.S. Army for the last 15 years. CW2 Brett L. Bassett is a Counterintelligence Operations Chief currently stationed in Hawaii. He is responsible for the direction, control and coordination of Counterintelligence activities in his area of command. His military service has taken him to North and South Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee, Kentucky, Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, South Korea and the Philippines. He has been the recipient of more than 25 awards for his outstanding military service. Still an active member of Actors’ Equity, Brett’s most recent project was directing The Scottish Play for the Southwest Shakespeare Festival. He is married and has three children.

   

   

   

   

  MARY EVANS | Mary Evans Lott; a wife, mother, director and teacher, is an actor at heart and by trade and has appeared in professional productions at theatres throughout the Southeastern United States, including Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, The Asolo Theatre Company, Mill Mountain Theatre, Stage One and Theatre West Virginia. She has a BA in Theatre Arts from Roanoke College and earned her MFA in acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in Sarasota, FL. She is a member of Actors’ Equity. She has been a theatre teacher/director at Stuart Hall School, ShenanArts and Music Theatre Louisville. 

  Currently, Mary Evans is an adjunct faculty member at the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School for the Performing Arts in Fishersville, VA, and is a voice-over artist for Rosetta Stone in Harrisonburg, VA. Most days, however, she uses her acting and directing skills in her “real job” as a “stay-at-home mom” to Alice, 14, and William, 10, in Staunton, VA, where they make their home.

   

   

  

  TRICIA MATTHEWS | Currently a member of the resident acting company, director and resident acting coach at the Barter Theatre, a LORT Equity year-round resident repertory theatre located in Abingdon, Virginia (www.bartertheatre.com). A company member since 2005, she has directed or performed in more than 75 productions including the one-woman show The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead and most recently playing Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins, the musical. Before joining the Barter and after graduating from the Asolo, Tricia worked regionally in theatre, film and television. 

  But her greatest accomplishment was just as she was leaving Asolo Rep. In 1996 Tricia donated bone marrow, not once, but twice, to two young boys and was featured on the Oprah Show, in Redbook magazine and awarded the Larry Frederick Humanitarian Award.

   

   

  The 1996 Class: Erika Anselmo, Brett Bassett, Mathew Elkins, Lesley Fera, Mary Lott, Tricia Matthews, Leslie Patterson.

   

  Class of 1995

  Jennifer Branch, James Hymes, D James, Mary Kaye, Wendee Occhipinti, Sabrina Profitt, Matthew Shapo, Charles Tucker, Thomas Wilson.

   

  Class of 1994

  DAN BRIGHT | After taking a few years away from the acting business to teach, coach and direct at Ringling College of Art and Design and Booker HS VPA, Dan Bright recently jumped back into the “mix” and has been fortunate to guest- and co-star in several TV shows and films including Drop Dead Diva, Bloodline, Vampire Diaries, Containment and upcoming films Confirmation on HBO and Rob Reiner’s feature LBJ. 

  Dan has directed at Mad Cow Theatre and — thanks to fellow FSU/Asolo Alum Scott Hayes — directed and taught at a grad program in Virginia. Based in Orlando, it has made perfect sense to take part in the “wizardry” offered up at Universal Studios. Dan’s life is enjoyed with Melanie, friends and family, his pups and pursuits on the water in hand-built watercraft.

  The 1994 Class: Harry Bouvy, Dan Bright, Scott Hayes, Damon Jones.

   

  Class of 1993

  Amanda Clark, Mark Cohen, Rae Duffy, Mark Marvell, Thomas Rousch.

   

  Class of 1992

  Karl Backus, James Briggs, Sarah Hayes, Angela Jones, Bill Lynch, Phoebe Myers, Drew Woolery.

   

  Class of 1991

  JOY OVINGTON | Joy Ovington has logged more than four decades of experience working in all arenas of the industry. She studied Theatre at the University of Alabama, where she was an Irene Ryan Acting Award Finalist and with the National Theatre of Great Britain Summer Acting Programme at Cornell University. Since graduating from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in 1991, she’s worked with a few Chicago theatre companies such as Circle Theatre where she was Jeff Award-Nominated, National Pastime Theatre and Tripaway Theatre.

  Then, after a five-year residence in St. Louis, Joy briefly moved back to her hometown of Montgomery, AL, to teach Acting at Auburn University and play the Queen in Elizabeth Rex. Now in Athens, GA, Joy enjoys choir singing, casting talent for local filmmakers, helping out the Georgia Fine Arts Academy and performing with the Circle Ensemble Theatre Company. She’s the Operations Manager in charge of facilities, purchasing and personnel at the Athens Regional Library System and has fun with her two cats, as well as her eccentric author boyfriend of five years.

  The 1991 Class: Martha Benda, Micheal Curry, Ken DeWyn, Joy Orington, David Parkes, Gregory Radcliff, Jacquelyn Ritz, Genevieve VenJohnson, Kimberly Wright.

• Classes of 1990-1981

  Class of 1990

  SUSAN HAEFNER | Susan Haefner most recently appeared at Weston Playhouse in The Other Place. Other recent credits include Other Desert Cities at Shaker Bridge Theatre, NH and The Dining Room at Playhouse on Park, CT. Earlier in 2015 she played the role of Rosemary Clooney in Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical — a sold-out, extended run at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Her Broadway credits include State Fair, Thoroughly Modern Millie and 42nd Street. Tours include Billy Elliot (national tour and Toronto) and Damn Yankees with Jerry Lewis (national tour, London’s West End). She is also a director (Spelling Bee at Playhouse on Park – CT Critics Award winner) and Teaching Artist (Weston Playhouse). Upcoming: Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins at Northern Stage. www.susanhaefner.com 

   

   

   

  

  CHRIS HIETIKKO | Chris Hietikko is a proud MFA graduate who moved to NYC straight from Florida and has been working as an actor ever since. Some of Chris’ theatrical work is as follows: 

  • NEW YORK: The Actors Company Theatre; Rattlestick Playwrights Theater; Theatre Row Theatre. 
  • REGIONAL: Goodspeed Opera House, Shakespeare Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Old Globe, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, Denver Theatre Center, Humana Festival/ATL, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Pioneer Theatre Company, Meadowbrook. 
  • INTERNATIONAL: English Theatre of Frankfurt. 
  • FILM & TELEVISION: from Law & Order to feature films. 

  In addition to Chris’ work as an actor, he is a director, artist, professional photographer and proud father. Chris has been happily married for 26 years. www.chrishietikko.com www.chrishietikkophotography.com 

   

  The 1990 Class: Jack Boslet, Megan Cary, Susan Haefner, Chris Hietikko, Kristin Housely, Leslie Rohland, Krik Woller.

   

  Class of 1989

  R. Duffy, Eric Hissom, Todd Johnson, Candance Kirkpatrick, Rebecca Nice, Robert Patteri, David Peshek, Mary Proctor, David Shattraw, Liz Vago.

   

  Class of 1988

  DOUG BROWN | Since 2004 Doug has been working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. Doug recently completed Larry Silverberg’s certification program in Teaching the Meisner Approach at Willamette University. Doug is a member of AEA. Recent roles include Father in Eurydice and Pozzo in Waiting For Godot and Joe in All My Sons. Please contact Doug if you find yourself in central North Carolina.

   

   

   

   

   

  EVA PATTON | Eva Patton is an actor, writer, teacher and theatre administrator. For twenty years, she was on the acting faculty and the theatre program manager at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus, in NYC. In 2012, she returned to her home state of Indiana where she is an associate professor of acting in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Ball State University. Favorite NYC productions include her one-woman show, Seen/Unseen at The Wild Project; The Mercy Swing by Lane Bernes (Cherry Lane Theatre/NY Fringe Festival); Chick in Crimes of the Heart (Center Stage); and numerous productions at La MaMa, E.T.C. including Jean Harlow in The Beard. Eva has been a frequent participant in the development of new plays for theatres such as New York Theater Workshop, The Lark and New Dramatists.

   

   

   

  

  NATALIE PICOE | Natalie has extensive experience as a voice and personal branding coach, voice-over artist and teacher. She has taught seminars at PricewaterhouseCoopers on Executive Presence for Directors and Partners and for Sony on personal branding for senior executives. She has also taught Vocal and Performance Training seminars for Journalism Students at NYU and MBA Students at Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business. Natalie has taught on-camera acting (through AIA – Three of Us Studios), Playwriting, (through Theater for a New Audience) and Directing for film directors (though Film Video Arts) all located in NYC. As a performer she has done numerous National Voice-overs and worked as an actor in every professional venue; principal characters on Law & Order, EXILED, (TV movie of the week,) independent feature film Nosey Parker and Regional Theater. 

  Natalie also field-produced many short documentaries for “Studio Universal” — the American movie TV channel in Rome, Italy, affiliated with Universal Television. She directed and produced her own documentary feature film titled STRIKE DICE! Betting on my Father and won a grant from NYSCA for post-production and distribution from the Filmmakers Library. http://www.bettervoicescoach.com/bio.html 

  The 1988 Class: Douglas Brown, Robert Bubon, Frederick DeFuria, Christopher Dolman, Robert Ham, Linda Larsen, Eva Patton, Natalie Picoe, Alisa Pritchett, Mary Richey, Amy Shoemaker, Jeanne Waters, Ricky Wright.

   

  Class of 1987

  ELIZABETH HERRON | Elizabeth is a proud member of 3 Ovation, LA Weekly, LADCC, ADA Award-winning Theatre Companies: The Road Theatre, The Interact Theatre and The Rogue Machine and is also a Member of the Circle X’s Writer’s Reading Group. She has been nominated for numerous Ovation, LA Weekly, BroadwayWorld.com and ADA awards including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. 

  At Los Angeles’ LGBT Center: The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later and Deathtrap — both directed by Ken Sawyer & produced by Jon Imparato. 

  At the Road: Currently in the world premiere of HomeFree written by Lisa Loomer and directed by Ovation Award-winning Michael Matthews, Keith Huff’s Pursued by Happiness (House of Cards & A Steady Rain), A Christmas Carol, Shove, Bunbury, Pagans, Backwards in High Heels, Napoli Milionaria, A Mislaid Heaven, Ballad Hunter, The Angels of Lemnos. Executive Producer & Assistant Director of The Woman in Black ( also at The Coronet), Backwards in High Heels and Paris Barclay’s One Red Flower ( The Rubicon & The Brentwood Th.)

   At the Interact: The State of the Union, The Matchmaker, Urinetown ( with John Rubinstein), Our Town and Marvin’s Room. She can be seen in the upcoming films, Wilson with Woody Harrelson and Laura Dern and True Adolescents with Mark DuPlass and Melissa Leo — both directed by Craig Johnson (Sundance-winner The Skeleton Twins). 

  She holds a D.D.S from the University of Washington and an MFA in Acting from FSU/Asolo Conservatory. She is married to Chris Herron and has one daughter, Katie. 

  CHRISTINE SLOANE | Christine is an actress and producer working in film, television, radio and theatre in Los Angeles, CA. She’s a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Actors’ Equity Association. She’s an Ovation Award nominee for her work in The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later and a series regular on the TV comedy, Electives, currently in production. 

  Christine is also a Teaching Artist with Dancing Classrooms Los Angeles. She teaches ballroom and Latin dance to fifth graders (Merengue, Foxtrot, Rumba, Tango, Swing and Waltz), promoting positive youth development and bringing diverse communities together through the practice of social dance. Christine is from Seattle, Washington. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Theatre Arts at The University of Puget Sound and her Master of Fine Arts in Acting at Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory.

   

   

  The 1987 Class: Art Dohany, Richard Falklen, Elizabeth Herron, Kyndal May, Robb Pruitt, Christine Sloane, Alex Thayer.

  Class of 1986

  LYNNE PERKINS-SOCEY | Lynne Perkins Socey is a tenured Associate Professor at Earlham College where she also serves as Convener of the Theatre Arts Department. Last season she directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Richmond Shakespeare Festival (for which she is a founding board member) and Twelfth Night and The Laramie Project for Earlham College Theatre Arts. She also appeared as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof for Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis and re-joined the faculty of Indiana Repertory Theatre’s Summer Conservatory for Youth. Lynne previously served as Artistic Director of Picture This, Co-Producer of Off the Cuff, Producer of Bridgework Touring theatre and recently became a certified instructor of the Expressive Actor Integrated Voice, Movement & Actor Training Method.

   

   

   

  The 1986 Class: Donna Anderson, Karen Bair, Donna DeLonay, Michael Lariscy, Mary Launder, David Levine, Lynne Perkins-Socey, Parry Stewart, Nancy White.

   

  Class of 1985

  

  JODY KIELBASA | Jody Kielbasa represents all of the Arts at U.Va., including two museums, Drama, Dance, Studio Art, Architecture, the Symphony, Music, etc.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  SUSAN MANNINO | Susan Mannino is living in Osprey, Florida. She has worked with GottaVan Productions performing a one-woman show, Angelina, and performed The Widow at Spanish Point for their Victorian Funeral on October 30 (just for fun). Susan spent time in Tenakee Springs, Alaska, where she got to work with her son Darius in his bakery/café each summer and help care for her granddaughter, Ila Wren. susanjonesmannino.com 

   

   

   

   

   

   

  The 1985 Class: Marc Ciokajilo, Eddie Edenfield, Jody Kielbasa, Susan Mannino, Carol McManus, Jennifer McMurtie, Michael Piontek, Kenn Rapczynski, Karen Rasch, Kathyrn Richards, Steve Spencer.

   

  Class of 1984

  

  PATRICK MANLEY | Patrick Manely was a professional actor for 15 years after leaving the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. Notably, Patrick played a cop on Miami Vice and became a Founding Member and Artistic Director of Mental Floss — a comedy improvisational theatre company. At its height, the company had its own 100-seat theatre in the heart of Coconut Grove. He currently teaches Robotics at a Broward County Charter school. Patrick is married and has two beautiful kids.

   

   

   

   

   

  WILLIAM THOMAS | William “Bill” Thomas has worked in dozens of industrial films, feature films, commercials and in several television series, including voice-over work in over 30 episodes of HBOs highly acclaimed drama The Wire while also playing FBI Agent Mason in season 3. More recently, Bill played Emma Watson’s stepdad in the teenage coming-of-age film Perks of Being a Wallflower and can be seen as Surgeon General Barnes in the National Geographic Channel’s Killing Lincoln, as Jackie Kennedy’s trusted U. S. Secret Service Agent Clint Hill in Killing Kennedy and as Mr. Stabler in the soon-to-be-released thriller Blood and Circumstance. He can be seen as U.S. Secret Service Agent Martin Collins in the award-winning, highly acclaimed HBO Comedy Series VEEP, starring Emmy-winners Julia Louis Dreyfus and Tony Hale, and as White House correspondent in the recurring role of Greg in season 3 of House of Cards on Netflix. Bill just wrapped Blue Blood & Broke (2016) in the role of light allergic lawyer Patrick and in the late spring of 2015 completed filming West Virginia Stories in the lead role of Grant. billthomasvoice.com 

   

   

  The 1984 Class: Philip Cass, Diane Compton, Joan Crowe, Ricardo Dominguez, Paul Ellis, Neil Friedman, Colleen Kane, Tom Lorah, Patrick Manley, Pam McCurdy, Holly Methfessel, Heather Spicuzza, William Thomas, Cynthia Toepke, Andrew Watts, Jack Willis.

   

  Class of 1983

  KEVIN BRIEF | Now based in LA, Kevin has worked very consistently as an actor in television, film, commercials, voice-over and stage for 30 years He won the prestigious LA Weekly Theatre Award for Best Leading Performance in 2011 for his role in A Prayer for My Daughter. He was on the shortlist for Emmy nominations in both 2012 and 2013. He will be seen in HBO’s All the Way in 2016. Recent television credits include recurring roles on Big Bang Theory, Pretty Little Liars and Hart of Dixie as well as roles on Justified, Bones, Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds. Credits also include such long-running favorites as Will & Grace, Six Feet Under, E.R., House, Friends, Cold Case, Raymond and Fraiser. www.kevinbrief.com. 

   

   

   

   

  PAUL KASSEL | Paul is a full professor of Theatre Arts at SUNY New Paltz, teaching all levels of acting, play analysis and directing. His book, Acting: An Introduction to the Art and Craft of Playing, was published in 2006. He is an Associate Artist with Half Moon Theatre Company. Paul worked at SUNY Stony Brook and Bradley University. In New York City for eleven years as a professional actor, director and writer, Paul worked off and off-off Broadway, in regional theaters and as a guest artist. Paul’s scholarly work includes several articles and conference presentations including “The Four Fundamental Verbs” and “Random Acts” — in Method Acting Reconsidered. He is the founding Managing Editor for The Players’ Journal — a new publication by and for actors and teachers of acting (theplayersjournal.org) Member AEA, SAG/AFTRA.

   

   

   

  The 1983 Class: Kevin Brief. Max Croft, Phillip Douglas, Suzanne Grodner, Kelley Hazan, Randy Hyten, Paul Kassel, Liz Keefe, Thomas Kendall, Keith LaPan, Jerry Plourde, Brant Pope, Wendy Scharfman, Jane Smilie, Leslie Smith, Donna Smithey, Duncan Stephens.

   

  Class of 1982

  LARRY DAGGETT | Larry Dagget is currently residing in New York City. 

  • NEXT UP: Peter and the Starcatcher at Orlando Shakespeare Theater (winter, 2015).
  • CREDITS: Ragtime (Henry Ford; original Broadway cast), Candide (NYC Opera). 
  • REGIONAL: My Fair Lady (Doolittle/Pickering), Man of La Mancha (Quixote/Carrasco), A Little Night Music (Fredrik), Sweeney Todd (Judge Turpin), Follies (Ben Stone), Damn Yankees (Applegate), Souvenir (Cosme), This Wonderful Life (36 characters), Sunset Boulevard (Max) and many more, at theatres which include Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arkansas Repertory, Barrington Stage, Barnstormers, Cape Fear Regional, Cleveland Play House, Fulton Opera, Goodspeed Opera, Lyric Stage Co. of Boston, Music Theatre of Connecticut, New Harmony, North Shore Music Theatre, Pittsburgh Public, Portland Center Stage, Sierra Repertory, Theatre League of Kansas City, White Plains PAC, Wilma Theatre, among others.
  • For information visit www.larrydaggett.com

   

  RICHARD GRUBBS | Richard Grubbs is a Strategic Account Director as well as Training Lead for a trade show marketing agency. He has a son and a daughter and is enjoying life.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  PHILIP LOMBARDO | Philip Lombardo went to NYC after graduation, did plays, had fun and got into trouble. He said goodbye to the stage and began driving Amtrak trains. Which is not theatre at all — or is it?

  Philip currently lives on the Central Coast of California, where the sun rises and sets. He’s found peace there — noticing his breathing more often than before and staying in touch with others through the Facebook pages.

  CARLOS VALDES-DAPENA | Carlos is an organization development professional with a focus on unlocking organizational performance through leadership and collaboration. Since 2000, he has worked for Mars, Incorporated, a global consumer packaged goods company known for such brands as M&M’s, Wrigley’s Gum, Uncle Ben’s and Greenies pet treats. Carlos’s signature achievement was the research and development of the Mars Framework for High Performance Collaboration (HPC) which has been adopted for use by Mars, globally and was awarded Mars’s global “Make the Difference” award for innovation in 2013.

  Carlos is also certified and active as a yoga instructor. In addition to his MFA from Florida State, he has also earned an MSOD from American University. He and his wife Janet have two children, Molly and George, ages 24 and 17 respectively.

   

   

  The 1982 Class: Deborah Allen, Larry Dagget, Ray Frewen, Leo Garcia, Jane Grenier, Richard Grubbs, Daniel Hagan, Jay Keye, Graves Kiely, Philip Lombardo, Vicki March, Carol McCann, Mark Mikesell, David Sellers, Sharon Taylor, Carlos Valdes-Dapena, Thomas Williams.

   

  Class of 1981

  CHARLIE CRONK | Charlie Cronk has been a professional mime for more than 30 years and still performs for many groups, clubs and organizations. He just recently finished doing selected scenes from Richard III. He played Richard. Planning on performing the role of Malvolio in 12th Night next summer in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Charlie is giving a two-hour mime workshop in Tarpon as well. Life is good. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

  JOHN MICHAELSON | Jonathan R. Michaelsen is Chair of the Department of Theatre, Drama and Dance at Indiana University. He is also Producing Artistic Director of both the Indiana Festival Theatre and Premiere Musicals: Developing New Works at Indiana University. Professor Michaelsen has directed and acted in numerous professional and collegiate productions, including King Lear, Macbeth, Merchant of Venice, Sweeney Todd, Angels in America and Uncle Vanya. At Indiana University Michaelsen has directed A Clean House, The Scarlet Letter, Arcadia, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and the world premiere of Reel, which was selected for regional honors by the American College Theatre Festival. He has had four productions selected for presentation at regional American College Theatre Festivals, with the world premiere production of Southern Girls receiving national honors. The Department of Theatre and Dance for ten years. He created a professional theatre company for the University of Alabama, SummerTide and directed its inaugural production.

   

   

  

  JEANANN POWER | Jeanann Glassford Power co-founded the Edge of the Wood Theatre in the summer of 2000. It has evolved into a vibrant theatre school featuring three terms of courses for ages 6-18. Edge has served nearly 1000 students over the past decade, many of whom have gone on to careers in the performing arts and arts education. Edge launched its Resident Theatre in 2013, producing shows across genres, bringing professional caliber theatre to the community and inspiring young people as performers and theatre-goers. 

  Jeanann holds a bachelor’s degree from Rollins College and an MFA from the Asolo Conservatory. She co-directs weekly two-hour classes, acts as vocal coach and technical director for Edge of the Wood productions, stage manages all student performances and is a producer for the Resident Theatre, where she appeared in The Secret Garden (Mrs. Medlock), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Quince), Into the Woods (Stepmother), Our Town (Mrs. Webb) and The Man Who Came to Dinner (Harriet Stanley).

   

   

  MARK ROSENWINKEL | Mark Rosenwinkel’s professional acting career spans nearly three decades and includes work with most of the major theatres in the Twin Cities (MN) area. Among them are the Guthrie Theater (Peer Gynt, Music Man, 1776,); the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre (West Side Story, Guys and Dolls); History Theatre (Sisters of Swing, Hiding in the Open); and Park Square (Medea, Romeo and Juliet). In addition, he appeared Off Broadway in the Mixed Blood production of Pure Confidence and, most recently, with Tiger Lion Arts in their production of Nature at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. 

  A long-time member of the Playwrights’ Center, he has received numerous awards for playwriting and holds an MFA in theatre from the Asolo/FSU Conservatory for Actor Training in Sarasota, Florida. He currently serves as Chair of the Dept. of Theatre and Dance at Concordia University in St. Paul.

   

   

  The 1981 Class: Charles Bennison, Jonathan Clapp, Steven Clark, Charles Cronk, Robert Ferguson, Marc Glick, Elizabeth Harrell, Michael Hodgson, Arthur Hughes, Georgeann Joseph, Robert Kratky, Robin Llewellyn, Lowry Marshall, Peter Massey, Jonathan Michaelson, Jeanann Power, Mark Rosenwinkel, Elizabeth Rosenwinkle, Connie Rotunda, Maria Williams.

• Classes of 1980-1974

  Class of 1980

  Susannah Berryman, Paula Cabot, Marnie Carmichael, James Clarke, James Daniels, Maggi Guran, Mark Hirschfield, Helen Lampert, Clardy Malugen, Mark Noble, Alan Sapp, Paul Singleton, John Toia.

   

  Class of 1979

  PORTER ANDERSON | Porter Anderson is a journalist and consultant in book publishing. His main venue is London’s The Bookseller (paywall), specifically The FutureBook section (no paywall), which is focused on the digital disruption of the book world. He also writes for Thought Catalog in New York and produces The Hot Sheet (subscription), a bi-weekly newsletter designed for professional authors. 

  As a publishing consultant, he programs and speaks at up to 35 publishing conferences a year in four or five countries. 

  Previously: CNN (anchor, editor, senior producer), Village Voice, Dallas Times Herald, UN World Food Programme posted to Rome, INDEX: Design To Improve Life in Copenhagen. Porter’s dream sponsor is Campari. PorterAnderson.com 

   

   

  JAMES BAUDOIN | James Baudoin (’79) has worked as a theatre administrator, artist manager and project director for new performing arts centers. His current work on future facilities takes him across America, from planning the future Vista Arts Center in Tri-Cities (WA) to conducting strategic planning for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem (NC). James operates a planning firm for new theatre ventures, TCTB (www.tctb.org), with offices in Las Vegas (NV) and Asheville (NC). Consulting clients are located in Durham (NC), Salt Lake City (UT), Columbus (GA), Chandler (AZ) and Asheville (NC). He is a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina and also provides facility planning for existing theatres through his second company, JB Projects LLC. 

  After leaving Asolo Theater, James began presenting jazz artists with Harry James, Count Basie and Lionel Hampton. His projects expanded to a wide range of performers such as Bob Hope, Jay Leno and Yo-Yo Ma and national touring theatrical events. James has worked as a scenic designer, as a stage manager for corporate shows and as a teacher at the college level. He has been a presenter at numerous state and national arts conferences and is a published writer.

   

  JEFFREY KING | Jeffrey King is currently finishing up his sixteenth season at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Some favorite roles there: Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra, Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire and Claudius in Hamlet. He originated the role of Joe Pitt in Angels in America at the Eureka Theatre in San Francisco and The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Other theatres include: the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The California Shakespeare Festival and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, where he will return to play Henry in The Lion in Winter this fall. Film and television credits include: Mars Attacks, That Darn Cat and 90210.

   

   

   

   

  ANNIE STAFFORD | After graduation, Annie Stafford spent a couple of years based in Dallas doing regional theater, dinner theater and a couple of cut-rate horror movies (that actually have a small but devoted cult following now). Annie moved to NYC in ’81, which increased the auditions she could get. She continued in regional theater — doing several shows at the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton — and did a tour of Germany and Scandinavia playing Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. But most of the time, Annie was the supporting player, which she found to be some of the most fun roles to have. 

  She remarried in 1990 and had a baby (Alexander – he’s 22 now) in 1993. The family moved to Pennsylvania soon after and she began the fabulous second act of her life as a mother, wife and Administrative Assistant. 

  Annie is retired now and enjoys looking back on her years at Asolo. She keeps in touch with her classmates and still considers them her close, dear friends. Annie shared that she is grateful to Neal, Jimmy, Isa and Ruby for being encouraging and making sure she had the tools she needed. 

   

  The 1979 Class: Porter Anderson, James Baudoin, Richard Belcher, Carolyn Blackinton, Dov Fahrer, Joseph Farrell, Marilyn Foote, Jeff King, Michael Locklair, Mary Anne Mullin, Janet Nawrocki, Cynthia Newman, Evan Parry, Carolyn Rose, Christine Songer, James St. Clair, Annie Stafford.

   

  Class of 1978

  MARINA BARRY | After leaving the FSU/Asolo Conservatory, Marina spent time in Los Angeles. But her heart has always been in New York City and that’s where she now lives — Washington Heights to be exact. Marina is acting, writing and directing. She currently has a play in the Emerging Artists New Works Fall Festival http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2352364 

  Discover everything Marina is doing now and her past projects at: www.marinabarry.com AEA- SAG-AFTRA, member of the Dramatists Guild.

   

   

   

   

  ARTHUR HANKET | Arthur Hanket is thrilled to hit the Asolo Archive reviewing his checkered career that started with the 1976/77 season in Sarasota and included the Second Stage production of Scapino. He reveled in playing the lead role and it sold a lotta tickets…Then in shows though graduating in 1978, he returned for the 1982/83 and 85/86 seasons on the old Asolo Stage (Misalliance, Sleuth, etc). In 1996 he had the pleasure of playing the Mertz stage as Petruchio in Eb Thomas’ production of Taming of the Shrew ….what a ball! 

  Currently a resident of Los Angeles and reacquainting himself with the business of acting after a corporate career of some 10+ years while being a father, he looks back on his work with: NY Public Theater, NY Theater Workshop, Hudson Guild, Playwrights Horizon, LA Ahmanson, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Old Globe, Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Houston Alley, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Milwaukee Rep, Missouri Rep, St. Louis Rep, California, Utah and Alabama Shakespeare Festivals. He loved touring in Some Like It Hot: The Musical (with Tony Curtis) playing Tony’s film role Joe/Josephine/Junior and creating roles in the New York premiers of works by Tony Kushner and his former Asolo cohort, Eric Overmyer. He is quite mad for the Virgos in his life, Stephanie and Zoe.

  The 1978 Class: Marina Barry, Ritch Brinkley, Thomas Etheridge, Don Gaughf, John Green, Arthur Hanket, Jean Lickson, Angela Lloyd, Kim Motter, Joseph Reed, Lou Salkin, Robert Walker, Kathleen Wolfgram.

   

  Class of 1977

  STEVEN RANKIN | After graduating, Mr. Rankin moved to NYC — doing many Off-Broadway and regional productions including 8 seasons at the Actors Theater of Louisville. In 1989, he moved to California, where he played co-star, guest lead, recurring and starring roles in more than 100 television and movie projects including: Blue Streak, Men In Black, Pearl Harbor, Apollo 13, True Blood, Storm of the Century plus all of the Star Trek series. Mr. Rankin is also a fight director, staging more than 200 productions on Broadway and Off-Broadway and regionally including: Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Who’s Tommy plus fights in 25 of Shakespeare’s plays. Some companies of note include the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, The Metropolitan Opera Company and 28 seasons at the Old Globe in San Diego where he is an Associate Artist as an actor and fight director. 

  Currently, as an actor, he has a lead role in the film Listen coming out early next year and as a fight director, he is working on a new stage adaptation of Rear Window, starring Kevin Bacon. Mr. Rankin plays mandolin with the Americana Roots artist Susie Glaze and the HiLonesome Band.

   

  DEBORAH UNGER | Deborah Unger is living and working in NYC. Currently performing both on stage and screen, she can currently be seen in the pilot episode of Difficult People on Hulu and in episodes of the web series Yes And (2 episodes) and Parker and Steve (pilot episode). Nominated in 2012 and 2014 for Outstanding Lead Actress at the Midtown International Theatre Festival, in original scripts, the production of The Bauer Sisters won for Outstanding Ensemble in a full-length play.

  She is currently writing a stage play (that includes film clips), a non-realistic stage piece and a web series. A short play she co-authored is beginning to make the rounds of festivals. Another exciting thing: she worked for a month on Birdman and got to watch the magic happen. You can see her back several times.

   

   

   

  The 1977 Class: Molly DePree, Bill Herman, Arlene Hutton, Peter Ivanov, David Loftin, Steven Rankin, Sarah Shelley, Deborah Unger, Kenn Van-Dieren, John Wall, Thomas West.

   

  Class of 1976

  STEPHEN JOSEPH | Stephen Joseph is currently working as Manager of Special Events for The Actors Fund. www.actorsfund.org 

  DAVID KWAIT | David Kwiat has been a professor in the Theater Division at the New World School of the Arts, Miami, Florida, for the past 27 years. He is the recipient of an Endowed Teaching Chair and his many performances in South Florida have earned him two Carbonell Awards as well as the Bill Hindman Award for long-term career achievement in the South Florida Arts Community. He has performed at the Guthrie Theater, Arizona Theater Company, Asolo State Theatre of Florida, Actors Theatre of St. Paul, GableStage, Actors’ Playhouse, New Theatre, New Classic Theatre and the Minnesota Festival Theatre. His Asolo one-person show, John Barrymore: Confessions of an Actor has been performed at the Edinburgh International Theater Festival, The King’s Head Theatre in London and throughout the United States. www.nwsa.mdc.edu 

   

   

   

  The 1976 Class: Cathy Chappell, Nora Chester, Jim Crisp, Richard Denning, James Goss, John Gray, Dan Gwin, Stephen Joseph, David Kwait, Ernie McLeod, Clark Niederjohn, Patricia Oetken, Frederic-Winslow Oram, Donna Robinson, Janice Roosevelt, Robert Stallworth, Romulus Zamora.

   

  Class of 1975

  LEWIS AGRELL | After graduating from Asolo Rep, Lewis Agrell got his Equity Card after appearing at the Golden Apple in The Mousetrap. From that point onward, he made a beeline for graphic design and illustration. Lewis was hired as the Chief Artist for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he worked from ’82 to ’92, doing editorial illustrations, maps and graphic design. Lewis was also trained in this new-fangled invention called the Apple Computer. In ’92, he headed West and set up his own business: The Agrell Group, Inc. (www.theagrellgroup.com). He worked with local businesses for about 15 years, until he became involved with book cover design. Lewis now works primarily with four publishing companies around the country designing book covers. He loves “commuting” from his bedroom to his computer every morning to work on new designs. 

  ANNE SANDOE | Anne Sandoe was most recently the Executive Director of MBA and MS Programs at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has more than 30 years of experience in the MBA industry, with previous positions at Cornell University and Duke University. Prior to her career in academic administration, Anne taught acting and voice at San Francisco State University and then Wright State University where she was tenured as an associate professor. During those teaching years, she acted professionally with a variety of regional theatres, including the Alabama, Antioch, Virginia and Oregon Shakespeare Festivals. For two years, Anne was Director of the Conservatory program with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. She continues to perform with local theatre companies, including the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Anne received her BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder, an MFA from Florida State University and an MBA from Duke University.

   

   

   

  LARRY VERBIT | Larry Verbit, FSU/Asolo, MFA, Theatre Administration. Larry managed LORT and CORST Theatres, including the North Shore Music Theatre and Folger Theatre Group, among others before embarking on a legal career. Larry has been an entertainment lawyer for almost thirty years. He was part of the team that just won an Emmy for “The People’s Court” and recently was selected as a 2016 Southern California “Super Lawyer.” 

  Larry represents production companies, businesses and individuals in production and the entertainment and media industries. He has extensive expertise in Reality/Factual Television and has worked with a majority of the networks that present reality and documentary television. He also works on theatricals, movies of the week and multiple digital projects, including the recent Making a Scene for AOL starring James Franco and Crossroads of History for History Channel and Maker Studios. You can learn more about Larry and his industry activities at www.dhvlaw.com 

  The 1975 Class: Lewis Agrell, Alan Brooks, Dorothy Brooks, Pat Hurley, Thomas Quimby, Anne Sandoe, Larry Verbit.

   

  Class of 1974

  Denny Albee, Donna Aronson, John Behan, John Chenault, Joan Inwood, Joan Mackenzie, Ellen Olian-Bate, Valerie Ososky, William Overstreet, Christine Riedel, Steve Rothman, Burma Smith, Linda Smith, William Turner.