Callboard Spring 2011

PAGE 3 Student Opportunities Flourish with the Expansion of Our Internship Program

PAGE 4 A True London Theatre Experience

PAGE 5 M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing Alum Donald Jolly Discusses His Blueprint for Success

SPRING 2011

“Take Your Seat” Sponsorship Campaign Helps Celebrate Our 20th Anniversary Year

Stark Sands in the Broadway production of Green Day’s American Idiot. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

Where Do School of Theatre Students Go After They Graduate?

To Work!

The strength of our program is reflected in the professional success of our students in theatre, film, television and related careers.

T

Bing Theatre

The School of Theatre has something to celebrate: our 20th anniversary as an independent school.

To help commemorate this special occasion, we are offering a unique opportunity for you to become a permanent part of the School’s history by sponsoring a seat in our beautiful mainstage

he School’s alumni have been honored

Strong (Recount, Mad Men), writer/director Andy

venue, the Bing Theatre, with our “Take Your

with the most prestigious awards in our

Tennant (The Bounty Hunter, Hitch), producer/

Seat” Sponsorship Campaign. This is a chance

profession – the Oscar, Tony, Emmy,

director Jack Bender (Lost, The Sopranos), pro-

to honor your family, recognize your business or

Golden Globe, Laurence Olivier and

ducer Todd Black (The Taking of Pelham 123,

memorialize a friend, a colleague or a beloved

Palme d’Or – and include actors Forest

The Pursuit of Happyness) and choreographer

teacher with a personalized, engraved brass

Whitaker, Eric Stoltz, Tate Donovan, Anthony

Kate Hutter (Artistic Director LA Contemporary

plaque mounted on a seat in the Bing Theatre.

Edwards, James Lesure, John Ritter, LeVar Burton

Dance Co.). We are very proud of our alumni and

Your tax-deductible donation will be invested

and Sophia Bush, as well as writer/actor/director

we wanted to take a moment to spotlight some

in the School’s endowment providing valuable

Grant Heslov (Good Night, and Good Luck, The

recent graduates who have found careers in all

scholarship support for our students in the years

Men Who Stare At Goats), writer/actor Danny

areas of entertainment:

to come. (continued on page 6)

(continued on page 2)

S C HOO L OF THE A TRE B O A RD OF C O U N C I L ORS

A message from the dean

David Anderle, Lisa Barkett, Tim Curry,

Our Talented Artists

Lauren Shuler Donner, Tate Donovan, Michele Dedeaux Engemann (Founding Chair),

There is a little joke I have become quite fond of: Two Russian directors

Michael Gilligan (Chair, USC School of Theatre

are chatting. One asks the other, “So tell me, Boris, why do such talented artists come out of the Conservatory at Pinsk?” The other director replies, “It is because of the talented artists who go into the conservatory at Pinsk.”

Parents Council), Robert Greenblatt, Patti Gribow*, Dean Madeline Puzo

In this issue, we are focusing on the talented artists who came into our school, graduated and are now making their impact in many different ways and in every medium available to them. When you look over the articles, you realize that a degree in theatre prepares you for a career in all areas of the dramatic arts – theatre of course, but also in film and on television, and not just acting, but also writing, producing, design and stage management. And we did not attempt to cover our graduates who have gone on to different fields such as law, education and medicine, although they also have exciting stories

Susan A. Grode, Paula Holt, Donna Isaacson, Gary Lask, Sheila Lipinsky, Laurence Mark, Martin Massman*, Jimmy Miller, Madeline Puzo, Andy Tennant, Allison Thomas, Rik Toulon, Joe Tremaine, Richard Weinberg (Chair) *on leave of absence

to tell. Our students and alumni are smart, dedicated and creative, and we strive to give them the ability and the courage to tailor their careers to their own specifications.

In celebration of our 20th anniversary year, we have established our “Take Your Seat” campaign that gives our friends and supporters the opportunity to sponsor a seat in our mainstage venue, the Bing Theatre. Naming a seat is a vote of confidence in the School and in all that it does and aspires to do. It is an honor that goes beyond the actual monetary donation and continues in perpetuity. The monies raised will also continue into the future in the form of endowed scholarships enabling us to attract the most talented students.

Last year, we embarked on our first out-of-town theatre trip to New York City, the highlight of which

Join us for our 16th edition.

With a beautiful new home at USC, the festival promises to be a real page turner.

was attending the 2010 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall. This year, we are traveling even farther seeing not just the big blockbusters in the West End, but also smaller shows at theatres noted for their groundbreaking and innovative productions, such as the National Theatre, the Almeida Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe, as well as having private backstage tours and intimate conversations with leading British journalists and critics. We hope you’ll be able to join us.

April 30 - May 1

Have a wonderful spring.

Presented by

© 2011 John Bemelmans Marciano.

east with our first overseas adventure to England to experience the riches of London’s theatre. We’ll be

latimes.com/festivalof books Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is in association with USC.

Madeline Puzo

latimes.com To subscribe call 1.800.326.5500

“Take Your Seat” Sponsorship Campaign (continued from cover)

Sponsorship levels are Platinum: $5,000; Gold: $2,500; Silver $1,000; and Young Alumni (individuals who have graduated within the last 10 years): $500.

Platinum Level Sponsors may choose their seat locations. Gold, Silver and Young Alumni Sponsor’s seat locations will be within their designated section. All seat sponsors must still purchase tickets to any performance at the Bing Theatre and are not guaranteed seating in the chairs they have named.

All gifts are payable over a 12 month period and are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Please consider becoming a part of the legacy of the School of Theatre and

For more information, you may log on to http://theatre.usc.edu/TakeYourSeat

secure your place before this show is sold out.

to download a brochure or call School of Theatre Director of Donor Relations Kimberly Muhlbach at 213.821.4045 or e-mail muhlbach@usc.edu.

2

Zucker Productions Intern Katherine Killebrew was drawn to Zucker Productions because “it was a small intimate office where I could see everything going on in the company.”

Headed by director Jerry Zucker (best known for his work on Airplane!, Ghost and Rat Race) and his wife, Janet, the Zuckers produced such films as My Best Friend’s Wedding, A Walk in the Clouds and the upcoming Friends with Benefits.

At Zucker Productions, students are offered Thomas Krottinger at Mosaic Media Group

Stephanie Crothers at Highways Performance Space and Gallery

internships in production or development, which allow them to provide research and feedback on

Student Opportunities Flourish with the Expansion of Our Internship Program

current scripts and projects.

“I would say the biggest thing I learned was to be very adaptable. Every day, I was doing something slightly different so I was always readjusting my expectations about what working in the industry was like,” said Killebrew.

Highways Performance Space and Gallery

The USC School of Theatre established its intern-

and educational experiences of my college career

ship program in 2005 to provide opportunities

thus far. I’ve learned about how to present

for students outside the classroom, offering

myself as an actor and as a business professional,

practical administrative experience in the

all the while learning about the insides of

entertainment industry for academic credit.

making movies and managing talent.”

In its inaugural partnership with Center Theatre

Offering students behind-the-scenes experience

Group, one of the nation’s leading professional

in feature film development and production,

theatre companies, 15 students took part in

as well as talent and literary management

the Ahmanson Theatre production of Sidney

with duties ranging from script coverage to

Kingsley’s Dead End (14 acting students and one

administrative support for assistants and execu-

stage management student who served as the

tives, Mosaic’s client roster boasts actors such as

production assistant). This relationship evolved

Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Sarah

and grew to include additional internships in

Silverman, Judd Apatow and many others, and

departments such as marketing, casting, develop-

past films have included Three Kings, The Dark

ment, management and press, giving students

Knight, Get Smart and Land of the Lost.

a glimpse of the different aspects and functions involved in producing live theatre.

The chance to work at Mosaic not only teaches students about talent management but also

In 2007, the School expanded the program to

allows them an inside peek at the movie-making

include internships in the film industry by partnering

process from page to screen and what it takes to

with Zucker Productions and then, in 2009, with

produce and fund a film. The daily task of script

Mosaic Media Group. Through these new offerings,

coverage further enhances their understanding

students now have first-hand experience with

of the business and marketing side of the film

casting, the development of a script from inception

industry as they categorize the scripts into film

to completion, as well as attend actual film

genres or determine what types of audience

production on set or on location. Also, a new

demographics the film might yield.

internship at Highways Performance Space and Gallery was unveiled last year, where students

Krottinger, who has continued at Mosaic this

partake in technical and behind-the-scenes

past fall after having had a successful spring

production, management and programming

internship, explained that the chance to return

for an equity-waiver performance space.

for another semester has resulted in learning more about the specifics of management as

To date, the internship program has benefited

well as taking on additional important projects

over 100 students, further rounding out their

and tasks with increased interaction with the

educational training and helping them strategize

executives on a more intimate level.

their future careers.

“Knowing all of this information,“ he explained, Mosaic Media Group

“will help me as I forge my path in this business

“This opportunity,” said intern Thomas

and already has pushed me forward in the most

Krottinger, “has been one of the most rewarding

exciting ways.”

3

In addition to film production and management opportunities, the internship with Highways offers students experience on how an equitywaiver performance space operates both technically and administratively.

Promoting the development of contemporary, socially involved artists from performances to art exhibits to special events and festivals, students at Highways are hands-on with the preparation and running of the performances or through arts management and programming where they work closely with the Executive Director/Artistic Director and Associate Director.

At Highways, interns may attend meetings on artist contract negotiations, discuss government funding or even lend a helping hand assisting the technical director with hanging and focusing lights and recording cues.

Stephanie Crothers, who recently finished her internship at Highways, expressed “how genuinely rare an organization it is.” She said, “I was eager to be a part of something alive like that – a theatrical space that flexed and breathed in sync with the art around them. Overall, I hope to walk away from this internship with not just an essential set of fundamental tools in management and production, but a deeper meaning of what theatre can be to my community and my fellow humans in general.”

If you have an industry contact and would like to help the School develop and secure additional internship opportunities, please contact Meghan Laughlin, Internship & Visiting Artist Coordinator, by e-mail at mlaughli@usc.edu, or by phone at 213.821.2519.

USC FRIENDS OF THEATRE DONOR MARQUEE The USC School of Theatre would like to recognize the tremendous generosity of the following individuals and organizations whose cumulative giving has exceeded $1 million. Their foresight and commitment to the arts and higher education have helped transform the School into a leader in theatre education: VISIONARY CIRCLE Dr. & Mrs. Peter Bing and the Anna H. Bing Living Trust George N. Burns Trust Katherine B. Loker

The USC School of Theatre is grateful to those who have given wisdom, talent, time and financial resources to the benefit of the School’s Annual Fund in addition to scholarship support. The following members have made pledges of $1,000 or more over the past year. We hope that you will consider becoming a member as well by joining these supporters. Please take a moment to return the enclosed reply envelope. For more informa-

in honor of Dean Madeline Puzo • Robert & Elizabeth Plumleigh in honor of Claire Cortney • Bruce & Madeline Ramer • Allison Thomas & Gary Ross • Rik Toulon • Jim & Leslie Visnic • Malcolm Waddell & Suzanne Bruce • Linda Yu

tion about giving to the School of Theatre, please contact Chris Cook at 213.821.4047 or cc.cook@usc.edu.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Anonymous • Lisa & Bill Barkett • Roger & Michele Dedeaux Engemann • Michael & Debbie Felix • Catherine Gousha

PATRONS Anonymous • The Emanuel Bachmann Foundation • Dore Brown & Charles Thurston • Barbara Cotler • Lynda & Al Fadel • Joan Gardner • Marcy & Roger Hahn • Liz & Ira Krottinger • Steven & Sylvia Ré

PRODUCERS Anonymous • Inger A. Armour Ong • Dawn Balcazar • Lynn Davis Lasher • Sheila & Jeff Lipinsky • Gary & Karen Lask • James Low • Martin Massman • Meredith & Drew Rowley • Robert R. Scales in memory of Suzanne Grossmann Scales • Richard & Diane Weinberg

ANGELS Anonymous • Arts in Action • Randolph P. Beatty • Dr. Rosula A. Bell in honor of Luisa S. Andaya • Stacy & Clark Brown • Kathryn & Lawrence Bryan • Caroline Choi • Susan Cymrot • Gail & Jim Ellis • David Emmes & Paula Tomei • Freddie & Andrea Fenster • Debra & Gary Fields • William & Marcia Frank • Lynda & Thomas Gorman • Marilou & Mark Hamill • Debbie & Terry Hammer • Peggy Kehr & Jack Catton • Laura

DIRECTORS David Anderle • MaryLou Boone • John & Leslie Burns • Lauren Shuler Donner & Richard Donner • Tate Donovan • Michael Gilligan & Anne Helgen • Susan A. Grode • Eleanor Grossman • Candace & Clement Hirsch • Sharon Cawthra Morrison • Fred & Emily Nason • Sally & Howard Oxley

Langford • The Bridges Larson Foundation • Deena & Mitchell Lew • Stephen M. Moloney • John Mucci • Mary Lou & William Mullin • Robert & Debbie Myman • Christine Marie Ofiesh • Brian Nelson • Gerald Eugene Paul • Tawana & Raul Pedraza • Dean Madeline Puzo • Virginia & Si Ramo • Nancy Ritter • Andrew J. & Irene Robinson • Jeanette Shammas • Rick Silverman • Nancy Sinatra, Sr. • Karla & Briggs Stahl • Andreas Steiner & Ulrike Stednitz • Ruth Tuomala & Ernest Cravalho • Jeff & Sharon Walsh • Rebecca & John Walsh in honor of Jordan Walsh • Lynne & Stephen Wheeler • Woodell-Mascall Family • Bill & Jeanie Zwiener

We have taken care to list names and gift designations accurately. If you believe there has been an error or omission, please contact Development Assistant J.D. Brown at 213.821.4262 or by email at jeffrey.d.brown@usc.edu.

Thank you for your support.

Also located outside the West End are London’s vibrant alternative or “fringe” theatres, the equivalent to New York’s off-Broadway houses, which offer thrillingly diverse productions – everything from the familiar to the most experimental – in venues ranging from well-equipped small theatres, such as the Menier Chocolate Factory and the Lyric Hammersmith, to rooms above pubs.

In organizing our first London tour, our goal was to create a unique opportunity to experience true London theatre in all its exciting variety. You will get to see shows ranging from big budget West End hits to the fringe productions that theatre

A True London Theatre Experience • June 6–11, 2011 A Six-Day Theatre Adventure with Dean Madeline Puzo

cognoscenti are raving about. And you won’t just see the shows. We’ve arranged post-performance discussions with cast members, behind-the-scenes tours of the theatres and intimate conversations

Enjoy priority seating at six world-class theatre

London theatre is arguably Broadway’s only real

with leading British theatre journalists and critics so

productions at some of London’s top theatres;

rival. Productions run the gamut from masterful

that you will have an insider’s view of the “state of

revivals of the classics to internationally loved

the art” in one of the world’s pre-eminent theatre

blockbuster musicals to the most daring and

towns. And we will be staying at one of London’s

groundbreaking new dramas. The “West End,” a

most famous and elegant hotels, Brown’s Hotel,

managers and theatre journalists; discover the

one square-mile-sized district in which more than

located in the heart of Mayfair within walking

magic of theatre with a private, behind-the-

40 commercial theatre houses operate, is home and

distance of key shopping streets, as well as major

scenes tour of the National Theatre.

birthplace of such popular shows as The Phantom

theatres, art galleries and key, central landmarks.

meet artists and leaders from the British arts community, including cast members, production

Last spring, we launched our first annual theatre trip with a memorable excursion to New York City seeing four wonderful shows with the 2010 Tony Awards as our finale. (See Callboard/Fall 2010.)

Now our sights are set on London for June 2011.

We are busy planning our first trip to England and it promises to be even more memorable than our trip to New York.

of the Opera and Miss Saigon, as well as to the longest running play in history (58 years and count-

We hope you will be able to join us on our inaugu-

ing), Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. But many

ral London theatre adventure. If you would like a

West End (and, eventually, Broadway) hits begin in

brochure with pricing and complete trip itinerary

Britain’s incomparable non-profit theatres, most of

or if you have any questions about the tour, please

which are located outside the West End; institutions

contact our Director of Development, Chris Cook,

such as the National Theatre, the Almeida, the Old

at 213.821.4047 or e-mail cc.cook@usc.edu.

Vic, the Royal Court, the Donmar Warehouse, and Shakespeare’s Globe that are renowned for their commanding and innovative productions.

4

New Works Festival II The M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing Playwrights Workshop A workshop of plays featuring the exciting and diverse new works by our second year M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing students.

April 8 – 24

•

M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing Alum Donald Jolly Discusses His Blueprint for Success

Massman Theatre

Wind River By Kirsa Rein In 1985, on the Wind River Reservation in Northern Wyoming, a rash of teenage male suicides has the Native community alarmed. Paul Blevins, a graduate student and fresh transplant to WRR, agrees to take over instruction of the driver’s education course, made up of boys considered especially at risk.

Through my writing, in general, I employ

Kirsa Rein is a native Montanan and former Brooklynite. She received her B.A. from Duke University in 2003. She has been a finalist for the Princess Grace Award, the Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellowship, and a Regional Finalist for the KCACTF John Cauble Short-Play Award.

am and where I fit in this funny/heartbreaking

The Bearded Lady By Rachel Skytt A bearded girl and a would-be juggler must escape the clutches of a pair of swindlers and try to get back to the circus.

Rachel Skytt grew up in Solvang, California.

She attended U.C. Davis where she earned a B.A. in Dramatic Arts and History.

imaginative uses of language to investigate urban identities and explore the intersections/ interactions between race, class, gender, and sexual orientation through historical and contemporary lenses. I do all of this because writing helps me to try to figure out who I /inspiring/woefully dramatic thing we call Life. I like to think that the things that I write about mean something to someone else, and maybe she/he will feel a little less lonely after reading/seeing one of my plays.

Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, Professor & Director of Dramatic Writing Velina Hasu Houston and writer Donald Jolly (M.F.A., 2008).

How did being in USC’s M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing program help you as a writer?

What are the two world premieres that are coming up this year? What are the plays about and what inspired you to write them?

My play bonded will be produced by Playwrights’ Arena at the Los Angeles Theatre Center March 12 – April 3. A historical drama

The Quiet of the Storm By Caroline Adan The town of Gloucester, Massachusetts has experienced a deadly hurricane every year for over a century. When Paul returns to his home town to escape the grief of losing his only child, he searches for the reasons for the annual destruction and uncovers a terrifying secret.

Being in the Dramatic Writing program chal-

set in 1820, bonded follows four slaves on a

lenged me to make bolder artistic choices in my

cash-strapped Virginia farm. Valued for his

writing. My writing, in turn, got much stronger.

hardy brawn and unshakable work ethic, Sonny

The focused attention I received from my men-

is one of the few slaves to not have been sold-

tors at USC was invaluable as they encouraged

off to settle the master’s debts. Sonny was

me to go – FULL THROTTLE!! – after the bile

born a slave, and as he has aged, Sonny has

and the beauty and the scary and the sacred

abandoned those dangerous yearnings to run-

Caroline Adan hails from Las Vegas, Nevada.

She received her B.A. from Occidental College.

She’s never been to Massachusetts, but she hears it’s beautiful in the fall. She enjoys going to the beach (when it’s sunny) and ghost stories – the creepier, the better.

and the wild and the joyful in my writing.

away that got him severely punished, and kept

All tickets for New Works Festival II are $5.00.

For tickets and information, please visit www.usc.edu/spectrum or call 213.740.2167.

New Works Festival III The Master of Fine Arts Play Project A festival of plays by the graduating playwrights of the M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing Program.

The readings, which will each have two public performances, will be presented concert style with professional actors and directors.

May 23 – 27, 2011

•

McClintock Theatre

I Changed My Mind, I’m Fine By Stephanie Swirsky After a diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer, a young woman must get her chemotherapy treatments alone. At the hospital, she meets an unlikely ally and suitor: her health insurance agent. Together, the two set off on a strangely romantic journey as they try to discover what health really means.

him closely watched, in his youth. When Asa, a

Since graduating, what are the key writing activities that you have been involved in?

“house boy” from New York, is brought in to

I participated in the 2008-2009 Center Theatre

ries of loss are unlocked, forcing Sonny and the

Group Writers’ Workshop. I am now a mem-

other slaves to toil the rugged terrains of the

ber of the Company of Angels Playwrights’

human heart while being inescapably bound by

Workshop, and I am an Associate Artist with

the dehumanizing world around them.

Playwrights’ Arena. I have also had readings at Celebration Theatre and Company of Angels.

What themes most interest you as a writer and why?

help in the fields, repressed desires and memo-

bonded was my Blueprints play at USC, and Jon Lawrence Rivera was the director. For me, bonded is not just a historical play – this is a project where I am personally seeking out historical affirmation as a gay person of color,

As a playwright, I am passionate about – if not

while striving to serve as inspiration for others

obsessed with – history and myth. In the words of

who feel rejected and systematically oppressed

Suzan-Lori Parks, one of my literary idols, “History

in this society. While the themes and questions

is time that won’t quit.” I want to dig into that

in this new play attempt to explore history,

history. I want to play around in all its dirt, get

they also reflect, and I hope participate in,

all messy and covered in its secrets, sift through

issues of current public debate (such as sexual

the myths and facts, and get buried so deep that

slavery, internalized oppression, victims’ rights,

when I return to the surface, I will have exhumed

gay rights, etc.). Part of the overall mission of

something precious and unexpected. In my work,

the project is to show the full complexity of

I attempt to historicize the queer and queer the

these individuals whose voices have been lost

historic. Furthermore, I want my writing to stand

in time. Through this play, my hope is to tell

in remembrance of those who have been left

an important story that is both affective and

outside of the margins of history.

provocative, and to broaden our understanding

(continued on back cover)

(continued on back cover) 5

Where Do Students Go? (continued from cover)

Stark Sands (B.F.A. Acting 2001) got his first professional acting job immediately after graduating, a guest-starring role in the award-winning HBO series Six Feet Under. He followed that with a highly regarded performance in the cult movie Die Mommy Die, as well as with roles in 11:14, Shall We Dance, Nip/Tuck and Pretty Persuasion, among others. With Clint Eastwood’s acclaimed Flags of Our Fathers, he took on the first of many roles as a military man, a highlight being his performance in the critically acclaimed Generation Kill. He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play and a Theatre World

Jenny Powers and James Snyder in the world premiere musical Dangerous Beauty. Photo: Jim Cox © Pasadena Playhouse.

James Snyder (B.F.A. Acting 2003) has appeared on stage and screen, from starring in John Waters’ Cry-Baby at the La Jolla Playhouse and on Broadway (which earned him a Drama League Award nomination) to guest starring on televi-

Award for his Broadway debut in Journey’s End, followed by roles in A Seagull in the Hamptons at the McCarter Theater, Twelfth Night in New York’s Central Park, The Tempest at the Classic Stage Co., and then his first musical, the title role in Bonnie and Clyde at the La Jolla Playhouse. He is currently playing one of the leads, Tunny, in the Broadway production of Green Day’s American Idiot.

Elephant Theatre), Eva Anderson’s The Epic of

City Center, Broadway: Three Generations, the

Gil (Calamity Theatre) and Jessica Goldberg’s

Los Angeles productions of Rock of Ages (also

Good Thing. He is a yearly participant at the

Las Vegas) and Happy Days, The Fantasticks at

Ojai Playwright’s Conference where he has had

Sacramento Music Theater, Hamlet, Ray Bradbury’s

the honor of work-shopping a number of Bill

Let’s All Kill Constance and Oklahoma! Film credits

Cain’s plays, including Equivocation at the Geffen

include An American in China, Anderson’s Cross,

Theatre for which he received an Ovation Award

She’s the Man and Pretty Persuasion. Other televi-

nomination for Featured Actor in a Play. He also

sion credits include Without a Trace, Cold Case,

produced and directed Peter Weiss’ Marat/Sade

Gilmore Girls, Married to the Kellys, The Suite Life of

with the Blue House Theatre Company, which

Tara Smith

was awarded L.A. Weekly’s Best Production of

Curse, was recently released on Lionsgate Records.

Award for Outstanding Actress in her junior year, followed by a James and Nony Doolittle Award in her senior year, Deborah was well on her way to a successful career immediately after graduation. She has made guest appearances on many television programs, including Life, Aces ‘n Eights, ER, CSI, My Name Is Earl, The Mentalist and Law & Order: SVU. For her breakout role as Bill Compton’s vampire prog-

Award nominee for producing the hit Broadway musical Xanadu (2008 Outer Critics Circle Award winner for Best Musical) and Will Ferrell’s one-man show, You’re Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush. Most recently, she co-produced the world premiere new musical Dangerous Beauty at the Pasadena Playhouse. Tara co-produced the 2008 critical success The Seagull, starring Kristen Scott Thomas and Peter Saarsgard.

As the founder of Playing Pretend Productions, LLC, in affiliation with b. swibel presents, Tara web series Cubby Bernstein star-

television series True Blood, she

ring Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane

received a nomination for a

and Patti LuPone. With BSP, Tara

Screen Actors Guild Award for

is developing five other musicals,

Outstanding Performance by

including an adaptation of Joyce

an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Maynard’s To Die For and Betty

Her upcoming film roles include

DeRamus’ Forbidden Fruit, Love

Catch .44 starring Bruce Willis

Stories from the Underground

and Forest Whitaker, Seven Days

Railroad. She also worked as

in Utopia with Robert Duvall and

a production coordinator for

Melissa Leo, Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You with Ellen

Tara Smith (B.A. Theatre 2002) is a two-time Tony

co-produced the record-smashing

eny Jessica on the smash HBO

Mark Burnett Productions on Deborah Ann Woll

Burstyn and Marcia Gay Harden, Little Murder with Josh Lucas and Terrence Howard, Mother’s Day and the indie film Highland Park with Billy Burke and Parker Posey.

year at USC. Days after graduating, he began

include Paul Grellong’s Manuscript (Tall Blondes,

stage credits include Marius in Fanny at NY

Outstanding Creative Talent and a Jack Nicholson

Nicholson Award for performance, in his senior

The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? Other theatre credits

Beauty at the Pasadena Playhouse. Additional

After winning a Stanley Musgrove Award for

honored with several awards, including the Jack

Award-winning production of Edward Albee’s

recently, he starred in the new musical Dangerous

Deborah Ann Woll (B.F.A. Acting 2007).

Patrick J. Adams (B.F.A. Acting 2004) was

rehearsals for the Mark Taper Forum’s Ovation

sion shows such as Drop Dead Diva and CSI. Most

Zack and Cody and Related. His first solo album, L.A.

Patrick J. Adams in Equivocation. Photo by Michael Lamont/Geffen Playhouse.

The Casino and The Apprentice Seasons 1 & 2. She is a proud member of the Broadway League and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre.

6

the Year Award for 2007. Film credits include Old School, Sally Potter’s RAGE, Weather Girl and The Waterhole. Television credits include recurring roles on ABC’s Flash Forward and Commander in Chief, as well as roles on Lost, Friday Night Lights, Without a Trace, Ghost Whisperer, Cold Case, NCIS, Lie to Me and Raising the Bar. He will soon-be-seen in the new HBO series Luck.

Jennifer Brienen (B.F.A. Stage Management 2006) began her career while still a student as a Production Assistant for the Ahmanson Theatre’s production of Dead End and hasn’t looked back.

She served as Production Assistant for Center Theatre Group’s productions of Water & Power, Jason Robert Brown’s musical 13, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, Yellow Face and Two Unrelated Plays

by David Mamet. She was also the Production Assistant for the Geffen Playhouse productions Atlanta – A Musical Play and Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress. She joined Actors Equity Association in 2008 and became the Stage Manager for Of Equal Measure and This Beautiful City at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Nine Circles at the Ojai Playwrights Conference and Once on this Island for Reprise Theatre Company.

Adam Blumenthal (B.F.A., 2007) is the lighting designer for bonded at Playwrights’ Arena.

Daniel Borders-Ashe (B.A., 2010) was featured in a CarMax ad that aired during the Super Bowl XLV. He also assistant directed the Elephant Theatre Company’s production of The Little Flower of East Orange.

Katherine Brunk (B.A., 2003) can be seen in the short film Desertion.

LeVar Burton (1976) co-stars opposite Patricia Richardson in The Jensen Project. He can also be heard providing the voice of the War Machine for the Cartoon Network’s “The Super Hero Squad Show.”

Angela Pupello Cistone (B.A., 1991) performed the role of Columbia in the one-night special performance of Rocky Horror – In Concert in Los Angeles.

Paul Comi (A.B., 1958, M.A., 1969) currently serves on the 2010 Foreign Film Committee for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has remained an active member in its actors’ branch since 1970.

Meghan Corea (B.F.A., 2006) was the Costume Coordinator for CW’s “Gossip Girl” and is currently working as the Costume Department Coordinator for the film Ivy Chronicles starring Sarah Jessica Parker.

Deborah Dachinger’s (B.F.A., 1980) radio show “Dare to Dream” was recently spotlighted by YouPublish.com as an Editor’s Pick: Featured Creators, Intriguing Creator. She has been featured in Earth Times, Yahoo News and Singapore Star News, and was recently celebrated with an Honorary Achievement Award by Elite VIP. Veronika Dash (B.A., 2010) can be seen on the IFC series “The Onion News Show.”

Khalia Davis (B.A., 2010) starred as TiMoune in the Northern California’s Willows Theatre Company production of Once on this Island. She continues to work as a teacher, director and choreographer for Kids on Stage in Santa Monica, CA. Davis also recently developed a web series entitled Khloe’s Klubhouse, aimed at 3 to 7 year-olds, using the art of live action storytelling to teach lessons such as tolerance, cleanliness or civility to one’s brothers and sisters.

Michael J. Despars (B.F.A., 2005) was the recipient of the 2010 California Education Theatre Association’s (CETA) New Teacher Award for the significant impact he has made in theatre education in less than five years of teaching.

He is currently the International Baccalaureate Theatrical Arts Teacher at Fullerton Union High School in Orange County, CA. Tate Donovan (B.F.A., 1985) returns to the New York stage this spring starring opposite Frances McDormand in David Lindsay-Abaire’s new play Good People, produced by Manhattan Theatre Club. This June, he will reprise his off-Broadway performance in Kenneth Lonergan’s play Lobby

Hero for L.A. Theatre Works. He has also directed for episodic TV including Fox’s “Glee,” CW’s “Gossip Girl,” Fox’s “The Good Guys,” and HBO’s “Weeds.”

Tim Dowling (B.A., 1996) was recently profiled by Variety in the feature article “10 Screenwriters to Watch.”

Steve Edlund (B.A., 2009) was the Associate Director for the world premiere of Randy Newman’s Harps and Angels at the Mark Taper Forum, where fellow SOT alum Molly McGraw (B.F.A., 2010) served as one of the Production Assistants. This spring, Edlund is the Assistant Director for the Broadway musical Sister Act working alongside director Jerry Zaks.

Jesse Einstein (B.A., 2010) worked on the short film Richual and filmed a movie musical titled A Reason to Sing. This spring, Einstein can be seen in the Blank Theatre Company’s production of The Cradle Will Rock and Circus Theatricals’ Last Fling.

Amanda Folena (B.A., 2004) recently directed Compleat Female Stage Beauty for San Jose’s City Lights Theater Company.

Sean Foote (B.F.A., 2010) served as the Assistant Sound Designer for the world premiere musical Dangerous Beauty at the Pasadena Playhouse.

SOT Alums Lili Fuller (B.A., 2009) and Joe Sofranko (B.F.A., 2009), along with USC alum Juliana Tyson (Interdisciplinary, 2008), shared a 2010 Ovation Award nomination for their choreography for NeverWonderLand 2010. Fellow SOT alums that were nominated include Mason Barker (B.A., 2008) for his lighting design for NeverWonderLand 2010; Michael Michetti (B.F.A., 1980) for his direction of the musical Carousel at Reprise Theatre Company and the play The Twentieth-Century Way at The Theatre @ Boston Court; and Jeremy Pivnick (B.A., 2001) for his lighting design for Oedipus el Rey at The Theatre @ Boston Court.

Laura Howard (B.A., 2006) guest-starred on an episode of CW’s “90210” and was seen in the play A Shayna Maidel at the International City Theatre.

Yafit Josephson (B.A., 2008) co-wrote and starred in the world premiere play New Eyes at Whitefire Theatre in Studio City, CA. Andy Kamenetzy (B.A., 1994) and his brother Brian were recently profiled in the Los Angeles Daily News for their weekend sports-talk radio show “ESPNLA on Air.” The Kamenetzy brothers also provide guest commentaries to the “Lakers Zone” pre-game talk on KSPN-AM. Meagan Adele Lopez (B.A., 2006) recently completed her first novel, Three Questions. Lopez also served as Casting Assistant for the films Repo Men and Jennifer’s Body.

and directed by Dr. Brian Herlinger of My Date With Drew.

Joy Nash (B.A., 2003) finished a tour of the children’s show Ooooogy Green and Other Fables and will be performing in How the Raven Stole Fire, which is presented in collaboration with the Geffen Playhouse’s education department. She can be seen in the upcoming web series called “Stallions… de Amor,” a spoof on Spanish telenovelas.

Julie Taiwo Oni’s (M.F.A., 2009) play Tether, first developed at Under Construction: The School of Theatre’s Master of Fine Arts Play Project, was recently mounted by Doorway Arts Ensemble Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. as part of its 2010-11 Season.

Darcy Rice (B.A., 1980) is the Director of the Arts at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Alexis Roblan (M.F.A., 2009) currently serves as the Artistic Intern at Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City.

Cari Smulyan (B.A., 2002) is the Event Coordinator at Theatre Communications Group in New York.

Steve Sobel (B.F.A., 1995) is currently writing The Berenstein Bears film for Sony Animation and Walden Media and the Universal Pictures comedy Sick Day. Maxie Solters (B.A., 2009) recently appeared in the Los Angeles premiere of Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Open Fist Theatre. She will be producing and performing in The Vagina Monologues this spring as part of V-Day Studio City, which she founded in 2009 to benefit Peace Over Violence, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and ending violence against women. Solters was also a co-producer of festivity LA, a festival of plays presented at the Atwater Village Theatre, and oversaw the new play Mosquito Bites.

Anthony Sparks (B.F.A., 1994) was a writerproducer for the new J.J. Abrams’ NBC spy series “Undercovers” and was a 2010 honoree in the Writers’ Guild of America Writer Access Program script competition.

Eric Stoltz (B.A., 1981) directed the “Duets” episode on the hit FOX series “Glee.”

Nick Thurston (B.F.A., 2010) stars in the film The Truth Below.

Peter Vack (B.F.A., 2009) stars in the upcoming MTV series, “I Just Want My Pants Back.”

Kevin Mambo (B.F.A. 1995) was seen in the Virginia Stage Company production of SCKBSTD, an original musical by Grammy Award winner Bruce Hornsby.

Forest Whitaker (1982) can be seen in the upcoming CBS spin-off “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior” and in the films Lullaby for Pi; The Experiment co-starring Adrian Brody and Cam Gigandet; and My Own Love Song with Renée Zellwegger and Nick Nolte. He is currently filming A Single Shot and Little Treasure, and recently wrapped filming Catch .44.

Kelli McNeil (B.A. 2003) co-starred in the feature film White on Rice with director Talun Hsu and co-starred in the pilot Today’s Tiara’s written

Elizabeth Zerebko (B.A., 2010) was seen this past fall in A Noise Within’s production of Measure for Measure.

7

New Works Festival III (continued from page 5)

Stephanie Swirsky is the recipient of Primary Stages’ Marvin Einhorn Scholarship and the Kirstie McDonald Mori Emerging Playwright Award for her play, Lashon Hora, which is featured in the anthology, “Living and Writing of America’s Left Coast: Contemporary Women’s Plays.”

M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing Alum Donald Jolly Discusses His Blueprint for Success (continued from page 5)

of this period in American history. By looking to the past, perhaps we can better understand our present, and be more prepared in not repeating mistakes as we shape our future.

The Blue Hour By Cort Brinkerhoff Rachel’s husband has been missing for six months and with her savings account nearly depleted she must start practicing psychiatry again, before she is fully ready. As her brother and father begin uncovering clues about the disappearance, Rachel is presented with the ugly truths about her situation.

Next, my play Baby Eyes is scheduled for a

Cort Brinkerhoff was born and raised in Salt Lake City. His play Squat was produced aboard the Queen Mary by Alive Theatre in 2009. Last spring, Cort’s Play (yes, that’s the title) was produced in Hollywood by PianoFight Productions, and became the first play in the history of the company to survive through all six rounds of the audience-judged playwriting competition.

Greek myth of the god Zeus and his boy-lover

production this fall at Company of Angels.

In Baby Eyes, The Gaggle, a chorus of lustful and mischievous Sissies, spins the tale of (white) Boy meets Negro (man) in this erotic fable that re-imagines and upends the Ancient The School of Theatre’s playwright’s workshop, Blueprints, presented Jolly’s play bonded in 2007.

Ganymede – placing it in the seedy streets of 1950s Baltimore, where any young boy’s hunger can be just as voracious and dangerous as any fully grown man’s.

This is my Under Construction Play from USC. I was inspired to write Baby Eyes for young

Admission for New Works Festival III is free and will be available at the door on a first-come, first

sissies (like I once was) growing up in a world

served basis.

get a chance to truly love and appreciate all

that tries to beat them down before they even the wonderful gifts that they have inside.

Who is directing each premiere and how are those collaborations evolving? bonded will be directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera.

We don’t have a director set yet for Baby Eyes.

I idolize Jon. I had the privilege of working with him during my days at USC. Right now I am doing lots and lots and lots of re-writing. I trust him, and – as stressful as it can be – I know that the work that he is having me put in now is meant to help me have as successful a debut

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