Theatre Alumni News
CJ Hill (BA '99) theatre directing alumna who graduated with honors is working with the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company in Nevada, where she'll be Production Stage Management for Hamlet October 6-27 as part of the company's Shakespeare in the Park series.
Jonathan Goldthwaite (BA '12) Arts, Entertainment and Media Management, cum laude alumnus and Ryan Bourque (BFA '09) theatre acting alumnus who graduated with honors worked on Kokandy Productions' current production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical, running through August 26 at Chicago's Theater Wit. Goldthwaite is Kokandy's company manager, and Bourque was the fight choreographer for the show.
Theatre alumnus Tom McGunn (BA in Acting, '09) will appear in a cabaret showcase at Davenports Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee, with guest star Carey Anderson of the national touring companies of Mamma Mia! and Avenue Q. The cabaret event starts at 8 PM. McGunn will be joined by fellow members of the cast of a new production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Assassins, running October 12-November 10 at the Viaduct Theatre.
The Goodman Theatre of Chicago has announced that Columbia College Theatre alumnus (and former faculty member) David Cromer will direct a major revival of Sweet Bird of Youth, by Tennessee Williams, running Sept. 15-Oct. 21. The cast will be headed by Diane Lane, star of such films as Under the Tuscan Sun and The Perfect Storm.
Columbia College Theatre alumnus Joseph Stearns (BA in Acting '98) is featured in the Chicago premiere of Princes of Waco, running Aug. 16-Sept. 22 at Signal Ensemble Theatre. The play by New York playwright Robert Askins, presented Off-Broadway in 2010, is described as “a viciously funny tale of violence and loyalty in deep Texas.” Stearns is co-Artistic Director of Signal Ensemble Theatre, which he co-founded in 2003.
Musical Theatre alumnus Alex Newkirk (BFA '11) is featured in the Chicago premiere of A Class Act, presented by Porchlight Music Theatre at Theater Wit September 1-October 7.
Musical Theatre alumni Brittany Townsley (BA '08) and Harter Clingman (BFA '11) are featured in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, presented by Bailiwick Chicago at the National Pastime Theater October 4-November 11.
Theatre acting cum lade alumnus Kevin Wiczer (BA '05) directed the children's play James and the Giant Peach, which ran through July 28 at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. Then his staging of the dark comedy Dearly Departed will kick off the 2012-13 season at Circle Theatre in Oak Park, running September 19-October 28. Then, for the Christmas holiday season, Kevin is directing Scrooge: The Musical, running November 17-December 23 at Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles.
Theatre acting alumnus Max Arciniega (BA '03), now based in Los Angeles is a real up-and-comer -- keep an eye on this talented actor, writer and hip-hop artist (MaxSoul).He is an accomplished actor, best known for his recurring role on AMC’s Emmy-nominated Breaking Bad. He has also been featured on some of the biggest prime-time shows on network television: Fringe (FOX), Blue Bloods (CBS), Off the Map (ABC), The Unit (CBS), ER (NBC), and Without a Trace (CBS).
