Alumni News

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

Thought it would be fun to update on where a few of the CCU alums are working right now. This includes where some of the 2015 grads are headed. There are lots of current students who have booked summer work as well, but I thought I would stick with the alums for this post.

Peter Pan 360 http://peterpantheshow.com/
Universal Studios Japan http://www.usj.co.jp/e/attractions/litebox/uml.html
Deadbeat TV series
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Legends in Concert - Hawaii
TheatreWorks USA
Jenny Wiley Theatre
Cortland Rep
Bigfork Summer Theatre
Potsdam Playhouse
Fulton Theatre
Midtown Arts Center
Hershey Park
Texas the Musical
Sight and Sound Theatre
ArtsPower Tour
Carowinds

2

Just a few more off the top of my head: Grad Adam Roberts just closed “Pippin” on Broadway and is a part of the very popular Apollo Link acapella group (formally “The Spidey Boys” - they were all in “Spiderman” together on Broadway). Grad Trey Gerrald has had supporting roles on various TV shows and films- most recently you can catch him on the hulu series “Deadbeat” (co-starring alongside Cat Deeley and Danny DeVito) and on the latest episode of “Younger” (with Sutton Foster).

Some other notable places that students/alumni have worked at in the last year: Ogunquit Playhouse, Westchester Broadway, Ohio Light Opera, Florida Repertory Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, SITI Company, New London Barn, Hangar, Time Square Arts Center/Nuance Theatre Company, Different Stages, and more.

3

I can’t believe I forgot to add 2012 grad Ryan Shaefer, who is performing in Fuerza Bruta WAYRA, after performing in Fuerza Bruta!

4

Adam Roberts is now on tour with “Dirty Dancing.” We have a 2014 grads on national tour of “Peter Pan” and one who has just completed a national commercial and has a very small role in the upcoming Meryl Streep movie. National Tour of “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” tour (I think) is about to be completed by another 2014 grad.

5

A couple of updates to add as fall comes around. One of the 2014 grads will be heading out on “The Producers” tour, while another will be heading out on the “Alexander Who is Not…Not Going to Move” tour, and another is working at Carousel Music Theatre. Others are still on tour, on cruises, and at the theatres I mentioned in my first post.

In CCU tech news, one of the 2015 grads is headed to Italy to take the position of Technical Coordinator at the Accademia dell’Arte. Another (class of 2014 I think) grads is headed to the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA as a Stage Management Fellow.

6

I can’t seem to figure out how to link to it, but we have a new album we have created on the official CCU Theatre Facebook that includes pictures and bios of many of our wonderful alumni, along with what they are currently doing! We have 3 class of 2015 graduates who have already earned the equity cards since graduating in May, many students heading out on nation tours, and so much more!

7

The alumni album is really great. The notes on how CCU prepared them for life after graduation are really great to read. I don’t think you can post a direct link because it goes to a Facebook page, but to find the album, just search for “Coastal Carolina University Department of Theatre” on Facebook!

8

Just saw that one of the 2014 grads just booked the national tour of Saturday Night Fever. And this was posted on the CCU Theatre Department Facebook page. Very fun interview with 2008 grad Trey Gerrald. I think it gives you a feel for the heart of the CCU program.
https://youtu.be/cssSErXiX00

9

I’ve been seeing casting news so thought I would add some of the places Chants are currently working.
Serenade of the Seas - Royal Caribbean
Folger Theatre
MS Noordam - Holland America
The Alabama Theatre
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Vital Theatre
USO Show Troupe

10

I was inspired to write this by a thread I saw in another school’s forum, as I believe this is a more concise way of presenting where and how much our alumni are working.

(As a reminder, the BFA programs at Coastal Carolina did not exist until 2010. The first graduating class was the class of 2012, and the first class to audition for the BFA program and then spend 4 years training as BFAs was the class of 2014.)

We may not have as long of a list or as many alums compared to some of the older and larger programs out there, but we are proud of the following Chants and their amazing work!

Note that this list also doesn’t include where current students (or soon to be 2016 grads) have performed, so some of the places you’ve seen in the above posts won’t be listed here. I’ll definitely keep updating this as time goes on…

• Michael Kelly (Dramatic Arts, 1990) – Emmy Nomination for the role of Doug Stamper on “House of Cards”. Film: The Changeling, Everest, Man of Steel, Now You See Me, Adjustment Bureau, Fair Game. Television credits: Person of Interest, The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, Law & Order Criminal Intent, Fringe, Generation Kill, The Sopranos

• Adam Roberts (BA Dramatic Arts, MT, 2007) – Broadway: “Pippin” and “Spiderman: Turn off The Dark”. National Tour: “Dirty Dancing”. Choreographer for “Broadway Backwards”, “Bedbugs: The Musical”, and more

• Emily Brockway (BFA MT, 2012) - Disney Cruise Line, Westchester Broadway Theatre, Potsdam Music Theatre, Opera North, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Short North Stage, New Harmony Theatre, Theatre By the Sea

• Katherine Margo Brown (BFA MT, 2014) - “Saturday Night Fever” National Tour, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America

• Charlie Tingen (BFA MT, 2014) - National Tour of “The Producers”, Hangar Theatre Company, New Huntington Theatre, Bigfork Summer Playhouse

• Trey Gerrald (BA Dramatic Arts, 2009) - Recurring TV roles: Orange is the New Black, Deadbeat, Younger, You’re The Worst, The Carrie Diaries, Next Caller, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

• Adrienne Griffiths (BA Dramatic Arts, MT, 2009) - Flat Rock Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre

• Kevin Kane - Emmy Award for “Inside Amy Shumer” (Actor and Writer)

• Ryan Shaefer (BFA MT, 2012) - Fuerza Bruta, Fuerza Bruta “Wayra” (NYC and International Tours)

• Caroline Cuseo (BA Dramatic Arts, MT, 2009) - “Legally Blonde” National Tour, NCSI New Orleans, American Horror Story

• Conor DeVoe (BFA MT, 2015) - Fulton Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Cortland Repertory Theatre

• Aaron Burr - International Tour with TAPDOGS, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Holland American Cruise Line

• Justina Adorno (BFA Acting, 2013) - Folger Theatre, Access Theatre. Commercial: Warner Bras. Film: “Ricky and The Flash” with Meryl Streep

• Robert Wallace (BA MT, 2013) - Greenbrier Valley Theatre

• Taylor Wright (BFA MT, 2015) - Hangar Theatre, New London Barn, Northern Stage, New Bedford Festival, Shaker Bridge Theatre

• Michael Lawrence (BFA MT, 2014) - Ogunquit Playhouse, Universal Osaka, Norwegian Cruise Lines

• Matthew McCoy (BFA MT, 2012) - Founder of Bay Area Musicals in San Francisco, CA

• James Wells (BA MT, 2011) - Flatrock Playhouse, Theatre by the Sea

• Daniel Wilt (BFA Acting, 2014) - National Tour of “Peter Pan 360”

• Jackson Bartelme (BFA MT, 2014) - National Tour of “Peter Pan 360”, SPT Theatre

• Alexa Doggett (BFA MT, 2014) - Two tours with Theatreworks USA, Vital Theatre Company, Gretna Theatre, ZACH Theatre, Nuance Theatre Company (NYC)

• Hannah Zilber (BFA MT, 2014) - Cortland Repertory Theatre, Tent Theatre Missouri, Virginia Music Theatre, Jenny Wiley Theatre

• Gabby Harker (BFA MT, 2015) - Beef and Boards, Broadway Palm, Bigfork Summer Playhouse, Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, USO Showtroupe

• Brantley Ivey (BFA Acting, 2012) - Ume Theatre Group (NYC)

• Nathan Smith (BFA Acting, 2015) - Amphibian Stage Productions, Williamstown Theatre Festival

• Tyler Keller (BFA MT, 2015) - Music Theatre of Connecticut

• Rachel Swindler (BA Dramatic Arts, MT, 2010) - “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” at Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas, Legends in Concert, Norwegian Cruise Lines, “Spoofical The Musical”

• Jackie Wiatrowski (BFA MT, 2013) - Tribute artist working for Legends in Concerts, stars in her own show as Lady Gaga

• Amelia Fischer (BA Dramatic Arts, 2009) - Houston Shakespeare Festival, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Walla, Walla

• Jessica Leigh Bryant (BFA PT, 2015) - Founded Panda Head Theatre Company in Italy with BFA Physical Theatre Class of 2017 graduate Peter Seifarth

• Jackie Irving (BFA MT, 2014) - Powerhouse Thearte Company at Vassar College

• Anna Saunders (BFA MT, 2015) - Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, TEXAS!

• Charles Armstrong (BA MT, 2013) - ArtsPower, Weathervane, Forestburgh, NYC Fringe Festival, Jenny Wiley Theatre

• Shannon Burke (BFA MT, 2013) - “We Are the Tigers” NYC Workshop, “Sharknado” NYC Workshop, “Bigfoot and Other Lost Souls” NYC Workshop

• Justin Ables (BFA MT, 2013) - Sight & Sound Theatre, Woodstock Playhouse, Shakesperience Productions

• Caleb Jernigan (BFA MT, 2012) - Norwegian Cruise Lines

• Eric Waters (BFA MT, 2014) - Midtown Arts Center, TriArts Sharon Playhouse, Weathervane

• Sarah Burton (BA Dramatic Arts, MT, 2013) - Midtown Arts Center

• Jenna Tumino (BA Dramatic Arts, MT, 2010) - Norwegian Cruise Lines

• Caleb Jernigan (BFA MT, 2012) - Norwegian Cruise Lines

• Jennifer Pagano (BFA MT, 2014) - Carousel Music Theatre, Jenny Wiley Theatre, The Prizery

• Joseph Rosko (BA Dramatic Arts, MT, 2010) - Sight and Sound, North Shore Music Theatre, The Prizery

• Anna Sheridan (BFA MT, 2015) - Jean’s Playhouse, Atlantic Stage

• Emily Dixon (BFA Acting, 2013) - “Descendants of Chalice” workshop (NYC), Hershey Park

• Emily Dixon (BFA Acting, 2013) - Jenny Wiley Theatre

• Colleen Kerrigan (BFA MT, 2012) - The Lost Colony

• Julia Catherine Marshall (BFA MT, 2012) - The Lost Colony

• Brandy Ward (BA Dramatic Arts, MT, 2009) - Alabama Theatre

11

Already missed a few! Also, a mistake…

• Kathryn Gaffney (BFA MT, 2015) - “Descendants of Chalice” workshop (NYC), Hershey Park (**fixed from above)

• Michael Lawrence (BFA MT, 2014) - Holland America** Cruise Lines, Ogunquit Playhouse, Universal Osaka, Central Piedmont Summer Theatre

• Miquela Rivers (BFA MT, 2015) - Highlands Playhouse, Peach State Summer Theatre

• Bryan Robinson (BA, 2009) - Prather, Broadway Palm

• Townsend J. Pass (BA, 2009) - Theatre By The Sea, The Lost Colony

• Chandler Parnell (BA, 2015) - Disney World

• Stephen Craig (Physical Theatre, 2014) - Barnum and Bailey Circus

12

AMAZING!! After visiting the campus as an accepted student this weekend and meeting with Monica Bell, my daughter is all in! Truly a stellar campus, program, and staff.

13

A few updates after since we last posted. So excited to share-

Alexa Doggett (BFA MT, 2014) - Touring with the Kennedy Center’s Performances for Young Audience in 2017 in “Elephant and Piggie’s We Are In A Play”. Joining AEA through the contract.

Emily Brockway (BFA MT, 2012) - Mary Poppins in “Mary Poppins” at Syracuse Stage. Joined AEA through the contract.

Anna Sheridan (BFA MT, 2015) Ensemble in “From Here to Eternity” at Merry Go Round Finger Lakes Music Theatre - a new musical by Tim Rice.

Taylor Wright (BFA MT, 2015) - Diesel in “West Side Story” at the Wick Theatre in FL.

Charlie Tingen (BFA MT, 2014) - “Christmas Carol” at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts

Katherine Brown (BFA MT, 2014) - “Christmas Carol” and “Best Little Whorehouse…” at Palace Theatre in NH.

Trey Gerald (BA, 2009) - Recurring TV roles. Theatre: “Buyer and Cellar” at Cape May Stage. “It’s Only a Play” at The Waterfront Playhouse.

Peter Seifarth (BFA PT, 2017), Emily Peiffer (BFA Acting, 2017), and Jess Bryant (BFA PT, 2016) - “The Great Invention”, a piece they created, won “Best of Fringe” at Charm City Fringe Festival 2016 in Boston.

Shelby Dangerfield (BFA MT, 2016) and Eric Waters (BFA MT, 2014) - “Holly Jolly Christmas” at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre.

Elliott Smith (BFA MT, 2016) - Cogsworth in “Beauty and the Beast” at Virginia Musical Theatre.

Anna Sheridan (BFA MT, 2015) - Royal Caribbean - Adventure of the Seas - Singer

Tyler Keller (BFA MT, 2015) - Franz in “Rock of Ages” aboard The Norwegian Breakaway.

Gabby Harker (BFA MT, 2015) - Rapunzel in “Into the Woods” at Beef and Boards in IN.

Jennifer Pagano (BFA MT, 2014) and Jackie Irving (BFA MT, 2014) - “Stories We Tell To Night” at the Hudson Theatre Guild in NYC, as part of the Manhattan Winterfest Thespis Festival.

We definitely missed some! Share if you know any.

14

Apologies for posting so much, but I can’t edit to correct…

**Anna Saunders (BFA MT 2015) - Royal Caribbean - Adventure of the Seas - Singer

Also, since I already had to post…

Shelby Dangerfield (BFA MT 2016) - Disney Fantasy Cruise - Main Stage Performer

Krista Gierlach (BFA Acting 2015) - “The Babies” - Off-Broadway at St Luke’s Theatre!

Matthew Holcombe (Design/Tech) - Master Electrician at The Juilliard School

And, why not…

John Woodson (Faculty Member) - Joe Keller in All My Sons - Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

15

Yeah John!