CSUF Alum successes

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>It occured to me that a new thread would help folks find info on what our graduates are doing with their training. I cut and pasted the below post from another CSUF thread, and have asked my colleague (our choreographer) to post as well (he knows more of the old timers).</p>

<p>eve–</p>

<p>One of our current MT seniors was selected as a national finalist (one of 16) in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions, hosted by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. We were DOUBLY proud, as he was not only a junior when he won (up against seniors and grad students from CA, UT, NV, AZ, HI, Guam and American Samoa), but he was a Musical Theatre student (this was an ACTING competition)!</p>

<p>He won the Williamstown Theatre Festival internship, and spent the summer working onstage, in classes, and other with professionals. He felt so well prepared for the experience there, thanks to the training he received. He did a cabaret with Sharon Lawrence, and her agent was so impressed with him that they wanted to sign him right away. He explained that he had one more year of school, and then would be right in to see them. They are NY based, but have an LA office, so are having their west coast reps come see everything this student does this year. So ALL our MT kids in his shows will be seen, too. What a great opportunity!</p>

<p>Also, another student, a sophomore who did not pass his juries, was working professionally in San Diego this summer and had to leave the engagment early when he landed the European tour of Grease! They cast him as Roger, and he said he didn’t even need to dance for them - they knew he was perfect for the role (I must add, he can dance very well). So even the students who didn’t make the program are prepared well enough to begin a professional career - another supporting position for jurying after two years of preparatory class work.</p>

<p>And one of our students, who never got to the jury because she was grabbed up as Peggy Saywer in the recent ntl tour of 42ND STREET, has just started the Broadway run of A CHORUS LINE, playing Maggie. Very exciting! We hope that she will consider returning to us, when/if her career slows down…but I’m not banking on this. </p>

<p>And several of our recent alums played leading roles in professional theatre companies this summer: a May '06 graduate is playing Little Sally in URINETOWN in San Diego; a May '05 graduate is featured ensemble and understudy for Milly in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE in San Diego (one of our current juniors was in the ensemble of this show, too). Another May '06 graduate was in chorus of ANYTHING GOES in Long Beach/Cerritos (a reputable CLO company). We have a May '06 grad in MY ONE AND ONLY with the Reprise series in LA (getting her Equity card). Two May '05 grads are now in Tennessee working on a revue that will offer them a choice of run in TN, NYC or San Francisco when the show tours in January. And I’m sure I’m forgetting a ton - right now, my head is swimming with pride.</p>

<p>I’ll keep you updated,</p>

2

<p>Thank you for this post. D is rising Sr in Oakland Public HS. Interested in MT as a BA. Do you require auditions for MT/BA? Where/When?</p>

3

<p>We have only a BFA in Musical Theatre - no BA at this time.</p>

<p>We audition into the BFA at the end of the sophomore year, after two years of curriculum common to all theatre students (voice and movement, acting, analysis, and tech courses) plus any specialized study interest (such as dance and musical theatre classes). Students have two years of training to decide whether or not to jury for the BFA, depending on their goals, their fit with the program, and their sense of competitiveness (we accept only 10-12 students each May)... If the student doesn't jury, or does not pass their juries, then they can continue as a general theatre studies BA student (all the classwork, except perhaps dance I classes) should apply to this BA degree, so they won't lose time. In fact, they can possibly graduate early, if they continue to take a high degree unit load (as they do in the first two years).</p>

<p>I'd be glad to send you a four-year plan of study, and a letter overview of the program if you like. Just email me: <a href="mailto:ehimmelheber@fullerton.edu">ehimmelheber@fullerton.edu</a>.</p>

<p>Thank you for your interest,</p>

<p>eve</p>

4

<p>Once of our alums just got cast in Altar Boyz.</p>

<p>One of our alums has been in the cast of Mamma Mia (on Bway) for several years.</p>

<p>More as I learn of them (remember, I'm only starting my third year as BFA MT program coordinator at this school).</p>

<p>eve</p>

5

<p>Two of our BFA MT '06 kids just got cast as Mama and Papa Who in HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS</p>

6

<p>Two of our BFA MT '06 kids just got cast as Mama and Papa Who in HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. They are getting their Equity cards.</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>Hopefully, they'll be first in line for replacement consideration in NYC and/or any tour.</p>

<p>eve</p>

7

<p>Another MT alum just finished a summer engagement working with PCPA, a leading role in Anna and the Tropics. She is now playing Morales in A Chorus Line in Thousand Oaks.</p>

8

<p>Another alum is doing a major Disneyland production. "The Mouse" is also coming to recruit at our school now.</p>

9

<p>The student cast as Papa Who in San Diego has also been called in to audition for Fiero in WICKED...by Stephen Schwartz himself!</p>

10

<p>One of our current students worked in LUCKY STIFF at Fullerton Civic Light Opera last summer. He is playing Horton in our current SEUSSICAL.</p>

11

<p>I forgot to add that one alum and one current Sr. BFA MT student had standout solo performances at the Hollywood Bowl in VIDEO GAMES LIVE. And several alums and current students were in the (challenging!!!) chorus.</p>

<p>I have to add that it was a remarkable evening! Catch the show if you can when it comes to your town!!</p>

12

<p>Another of our May '06 grads landed chorus in the Sept. '06 production of "My One and Only" (Reprise series) with RACHEL YORK, MICHAEL GRUBER and BETTY GARRETT.</p>

<p>She is now in the company for the upcoming national tour of CAMELOT, with MICHAEL YORK, RACHEL YORK and JAMES BARBOUR.</p>

<p>Way to go, Megan!</p>

13

<p>Yet another May '06 grad has worked consistently since graduating: at Candelight Dinner Theatre (Liesl in THE SOUND OF MUSIC), at several summer musical companies, she's now in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE with Musical Theatre West (Equity), and will soon be Tzeitel in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at the Lawrence Welk Resort (Equity) from January through April of 2007.</p>

<p>Yay, Angelina!</p>

14

<p>Another '06 grad has been cast in A CHORUS LINE in Thousand Oaks, and is now in NUNCRACKERS (with SALLY STRUTHERS and ADRIAN ZMED) at the El Portal Theatre in L.A.</p>

<p>We love you, Shanon!</p>

15

<p>hi i am interested in your B.A acting program but i totally overlooked CSUF while looking for colleges, i know its after the due date for CSU( applications but is there any way to still be able to apply to CSUF anymore??? i am a senior in high school...</p>

16

<p>They will accept applications until full. So call Admissions and ask if they're still accepting them. You could also check online at: <a href="http://www.fullerton.edu/prospective.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.fullerton.edu/prospective.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You'll have to poke around a bit to find the info, but I'm sure it's there with the application information.</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>eve</p>

17

<p>thanks so much!!!!!</p>

18

<p>Mara Davi, our alum who is currently playing Maggie in A CHORUS LINE on Broadway will soon be taking over the Sutton Foster role in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. We're so very proud of her!</p>

<p>:)</p>

19

<p>Time for an update, I guess. If I write "early 2000s," it means it was before my time at CSUF (started here in 2004); and no year means even before THAT:</p>

<p>Angelina Holliman ('05) was recently in Long Beach Civic Light Opera's PIRATES OF PENZANCE (along with a current rising senior, Lesley McKinnell, Andy Scott '06, and August Stoten early 2000s), and is now in the Hollywood Bowl's production of SOUTH PACIFIC (with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Reba), and will soon be joining Megan Bayha ('06) in the national tour of CAMELOT.</p>

<p>Jeff Deards ('06) and Gregg Hammer (rising senior) were cast in PCPA's summer season (Jeff played Paul, and sang "Too Darned Hot", Gregg understudied Fred/Petruchio). Jeff will also be in their URINETOWN this summer.</p>

<p>Marshal Carolan ('07) was just cast in the chorus of MAMA MIA in Las Vegas.</p>

<p>Michael Haayen ('07) has booked a cruise line 8 month gig (to the Carribean), on the heels of Fullerton Civic Light Opera's SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS.</p>

<p>David Gordon was cast as Roger in the European tour of GREASE, joining Nicole Nesbitt ('05).</p>

<p>Andy Scott ('06) was cast in South Coast Repertory's LIFE IS A DREAM.</p>

<p>Shanon Mills ('06) was in THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG at the El Portal Theatre.</p>

<p>Ryan Sanders (early 2000s), in Mama Mia on Broadway (for several years) is the dance captain, and as such got to coach Meryl Streep on the upcoming movie version.</p>

<p>Dashaun Young (early 2000s) was in the national tour of HAIRSPRAY (Seaweed), the NY Musical Theatre Festival's EMERALD MAN, and is now playing Simba in the national tour of THE LION KING.</p>

<p>Noah Rivera (early 2000s) was in the Las Vegas HAIRSPRAY, and is now in WICKED on Broadway (understudying Boq).</p>

<p>Emily Mitchell (early 2000s) was in the Broadway cast of Hairspray, has worked extensively in regional theatre and in commercials (<a href="http://www.emilymitchell.net/resume.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.emilymitchell.net/resume.htm&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>Eric Gunhus just finished a long run with THE PRODUCERS on Broadway.</p>

<p>Linda Emond (<a href="http://www.lindaemond.com/resume.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.lindaemond.com/resume.html&lt;/a&gt;) has done too much to list here...see her webpage.</p>

<p>Linda Griffin was in the original Broadway cast of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE.</p>

<p>More as I hear of them...</p>

20

<p>More...</p>

<p>Jeff Deards ('06) and Erin Watson ('06) were both recently in the Sierra Repertory Theatre production of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE.</p>

<p>Ryan Nearhoff ('07) and Marshal Carolan ('07) were cast in the national tour of ALMOST HEAVEN: THE MUSIC OF JOHN DENVER (though Marshal secured a Las Vegas run of Mama Mia, and so had to turn this offer down).</p>

<p>Ayme Olivo ('06) is playing Maria in Moonlight Theatre's production of WEST SIDE STORY. Jessica Gurul</p>