Where they went to college

College Majors Musical Theater Major
21

Here is a rundown on where the nominees for the 2016 Tony Awards pursued their college studies (from Playbill)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabriel Byrne (Long Day’s Journey Into Night): University College Dublin
Jeff Daniels, (Blackbird): Central Michigan University
Frank Langella, (The Father): Syracuse University
Tim Pigott-Smith, (King Charles III): Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Mark Strong, (Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge): Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Lange, (Long Day’s Journey Into Night): University of Minnesota
Laurie Metcalf, (Misery): Illinois State University
Lupita Nyong’o, (Eclipsed): Hampshire College & Yale School of Drama
Sophie Okonedo, (Arthur Miller’s The Crucible): Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts
Michelle Williams, (Blackbird): Did Not Attend College

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Alex Brightman, (School of Rock-The Musical): New York University
Danny Burstein, (Fiddler on the Roof): Queens College & University of California, San Diego
Zachary Levi, (She Loves Me): Did Not Attend College
Lin-Manuel Miranda, (Hamilton): Wesleyan University
Leslie Odom, Jr., (Hamilton): Carnegie Mellon University

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti, (She Loves Me) Did Not Attend College
Carmen Cusack, (Bright Star): University of North Texas
Cynthia Erivo, (The Color Purple): Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Jessie Mueller, (Waitress): Syracuse University
Phillipa Soo, (Hamilton): The Juilliard School

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Reed Birney, (The Humans): Boston University
Bill Camp, (Arthur Miller’s The Crucible): The Juilliard School
David Furr, (Noises Off): Appalachian State university & University of Alabama/Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Richard Goulding, (King Charles III): Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Michael Shannon, (Long Day’s Journey Into Night): Did Not Attend College

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Pascale Armand, (Eclipsed): Howard University, Georgetown University & New York University
Megan Hilty, (Noises Off): Carnegie Mellon University
Jayne Houdyshell, (The Humans): Oakland University
Andrea Martin, (Noises Off): Emerson College
Saycon Sengbloh, (Eclipsed): Agnes Scott College

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Daveed Diggs, (Hamilton): Brown University
Brandon Victor Dixon, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): Columbia University
Christopher Fitzgerald, (Waitress): Rollins Colleges & American Conservatory Theatre
Jonathan Groff, (Hamilton): Did Not Attend College
Christopher Jackson, (Hamilton): American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Danielle Brooks, (The Color Purple): The Juilliard School
Renée Elise Goldsberry, (Hamilton): Carnegie Mellon University & University of Southern California
Jane Krakowski, (She Loves Me): Rutgers University
Jennifer Simard, (Disaster!): Boston Conservatory & Hunter College
Adrienne Warren, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): Marymount Manhattan College

22

cont’d

Best Play
Eclipsed - Danai Gurira (Author): Macalester College & New York University
The Father - Florian Zeller (Author): Sciences-Po
The Humans - Stephen Karam (Author): Brown University
King Charles III - Mike Bartlett (Author): University of Leeds

Best Book of a Musical
Steve Martin (Bright Star): University of California, Los Angeles
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton): Wesleyan University
Julian Fellowes (School of Rock): University of Cambridge & Weber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
George C. Wolfe (Shuffle Along): Pomona College & New York University

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Steve Martin (Bright Star): University of California, Los Angeles
Edie Brickell (Bright Star): Southern Methodist University
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton): Wesleyan University
Andrew Lloyd Webber (School of Rock): Royal College of Music
Glenn Slater (School of Rock): Harvard University
Sara Bareilles (Waitress): University of California, Los Angles

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt, (Thérèse Raquin): Vassar College & New York University
Christopher Oram, (Hughie): West Sussex College of Art and Design
Jan Versweyveld, (Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge): Sint Lucas Institute
David Zinn, (The Humans): New York University

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Es Devlin, (American Psycho): Bristol University & Central St. Martins College of Art and Design
Finn Ross, (American Psycho): Central School of Speech and Design
David Korins, (Hamilton): University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Santo Loquasto, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): King’s College
David Rockwell, (She Loves Me): Syracuse University

Best Costume Design of a Play
Jane Greenwood, (Long Day’s Journey Into Night): Liverpool Art School & Central School of Arts and Crafts
Michael Krass, (Noises Off): The College of William & Mary
Clint Ramos, (Eclipsed): New York University
Tom Scutt, (King Charles III): Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, (Tuck Everlasting): San Diego University & New York University
Jeff Mahshie, (She Loves Me): Parsons School of Design
Ann Roth, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): Carnegie Mellon University
Paul Tazewell, (Hamilton): University of North Carolina - School of the Arts & New York University

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Katz, (Long Day’s Journey Into Night): Oberlin College
Justin Townsend, (The Humans): University of Massachusetts, Amherst & California Institute of the Arts
Jan Versweyveld, (Arthur Miller’s The Crucible): Sint Lucas Institute
Jan Versweyveld, (Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge): Sint Lucas Institute

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Howell Binkley, (Hamilton): East Carolina University
Jules Fisher, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): Carnegie Institute of Technology
Peggy Eisenhauer, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): Carnegie Mellon University
Ben Stanton, (Spring Awakening): University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Justin Townsend, (American Psycho): University of Massachusetts, Amherst & California Institute of the Arts

Best Direction of a Play
Rupert Goold, (King Charles III): Trinity College, Cambridge
Jonathan Kent, (Long Day’s Journey Into Night): Central School of Speech and Drama
Joe Mantello, (The Humans): University of North Carolina - School of the Arts
Liesl Tommy, (Eclipsed): Trinity Repertory Conservatory
Ivo Van Hove, (Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge): NA

Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, (Spring Awakening): The Juilliard School
John Doyle, (The Color Purple): University of Georgia
Scott Ellis, (She Loves Me): Chicago Goodman School of Drama
Thomas Kail, (Hamilton): Wesleyan University
George C. Wolfe, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): Pomona College & New York University

Best Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, (Hamilton): Southern Methodist University
Savion Glover, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): Did Not Attend College
Hofesh Shechter, (Fiddler on the Roof): Jerusalem Academy of Music & Dance
Randy Skinner, (Dames at Sea): The Ohio State University
Sergio Trujillo, (On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan): University of Toronto

Best Orchestrations
August Eriksmoen, (Bright Star): Berklee College of Music
Larry Hochman, (She Loves Me): Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music & Mannes College of Music
Alex Lacamoire, (Hamilton): Berklee College of Music
Daryl Waters, (Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed): Livingstone College

23

@lovetoact Sarah Bareilles is self trained. Her major at UCLA was communications.

24

^^^ I was going to say that. Love Waitress songs…

This list really shows how varied the backgrounds of people are. Many didn’t even major in theatre/go to college! It’s amazing, but not too surprising, as it really does seem to come down to one’s work ethic, ability to take advantage of opportunities, determination, connections (which can come from a multitude of places), and, yes, talent and plain old luck!

25

Cynthia Erivo (The color purple) only applied to RADA. Hadn’t originally planned to apply to drama school, but was at a loose end after deciding music therapy wasn’t the route for her. Was encouraged to apply by a director she’d done a youth program with.
Major risk that worked out.

26

Excellent @MTMom98 !
And I’m so excited for David Furr! This summer, I saw Cymbeline in Central Park and had ‘stage’ seats. The actual stage was raised, but there were a few rows of seats on an elevated deck next to the stage. The people sitting in these seats had a few lines or reactions during the show that cast members taught us before the show started. Our cast member was David and he talked to our group about his experiences in various Shakespeare companies/performances. He had recently been cast in Noises Off and I thought that in itself was a big deal (it is!), but now to have been nominated for a Tony! My big regret is that I didn’t see Noises Off during its run—I was hoping to see it during Unifieds but then we had that darn blizzard and everything was cancelled!

27

Two Northwestern grads are also receiving Lifetime Achievement Tonys… http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2016/05/sheldon-harnick-and-marshall-w.-mason-to-receive-special-tonys.html

28

Here is a rundown on where the cast and production team of the Broadway revival of Cats pursued their college studies. Visit PlaybillEDU.com to learn how you can follow in their footsteps.

Cast List:
Leona Lewis (Grizabella): BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology
Quentin Earl Darrington (Old Deuteronomy/Victor): University of Southern Florida
Jeremy Davis (Skimbleshanks): University of Michigan
Kim Fauré (Demeter): Oklahoma City University
Sara Jean Ford (Jellylorum): Carnegie Mellon University
Lili Froehlich (Electra): Otterbein University
Daniel Gaymon (Macavity/Plato): Columbia City Jazz Dance School
Shonica Gooden (Rumpleteazer): Point Park University
Christopher Gurr (Bustopher Jones/Gus/Peter): Webster University
Tyler Hanes (Rum Tum Tugger/Bill Bailey): Carnegie Mellon University
Andy Huntington Jones (Munkustrap): University of Michigan
Kolton Krouse (Tumblebrutus): The Juilliard School
Eloise Kropp (Jennaydots): University of Oklahoma
Jess LeProtto (Mungojerri): Pace University
Georgina Pazcoguin (Victoria): New York City Ballet
Emily Pynenburg (Cassandra): Boston Conservatory
Arianna Rosario (Sillabub): New World School of the Arts
Ahmad Simmons (Alonzo): Point Park University
Christine Cornish Smith (Bombaluria): College Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati)
Corey Snide (Coricopat): The Juilliard School
Emily Tate (Tantomile): The Juilliard School
Sharrod Williams (Pouncival): Montclair State University
Richard Todd Adams (Cats Chorus): The Juilliard School
Aaron J. Albano (Cats Chorus/Swing): College Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati)
Callen Bergmann (Swing): Point Park University
Claire Camp (Swing): SUNY Purchase
Francesca Granell (Swing): Florida State University
Jessica Hendy (Cats Chorus): College Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati)
Harris Milgrim (swing): Florida State University
Madison Mitchell (Cats Chorus/Swing): Southern New Hampshire University
Nathan Patrick Morgan (Cats Chorus): Manhattan School of Music
Megan Ort (Cats Chorus): Ithaca College

Production Credits:
Andrew Lloyd Webber (Music & Orchestrations): Royal College of Music
Trevor Nunn (Director): University of Cambridge
Andy Blankenbuehler (Additional Choreography): Southern Methodist University
Kristen Allen Blodgette (Music Supervision & Direction): College Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati)
John Napier (Scenic & Costume Design): Hornsey College of Arts & Central School of Arts & Crafts
Natasha Katz (Lighting Design): Oberlin College
Mick Potter (Sound Design): Central School of Art & Design
Ira Mont (Production Stage Manager): Circle in the Square Theatre School
Jennifer N. Rogers (Stage Manager): New York University

29

Thank you for posting, @MTMom98 ! This represents a great cross-section of schools!

30

^^Which proves there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

31

Remember that this is a dance heavy show- a coup,e of the Juilliard and CCM people were dance majors (Juilliard does not have an MT major, the have VP, Acting, and Dance)

32

^^The two from Point Park who are in principal roles were also dance majors. My guess is, based on previous casts of CATS, that many of the others were also likely to have been dance majors.