Alumni in the News

The New York Times featured Charm, a play directed by Will Davis (M.F.A. Directing, 2013).

Alison Heryer (M.F.A., Costume Design, 2010) is an associate professor at the School of Art + Design at Portland State University. She recently designed two shows at Portland Center Stage, a production of Cosi fan tutte at Portland Opera, and brought her work Picnic to 2017 World Stage Design in Taiwan. Her work as a costume designer includes productions at Steppenwolf, The New Victory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and ZACH Theatre (Austin).

David Crespy (M.F.A., Playwriting, 1986) published a new book, Ladford Wilson: Early Stories, Sketches, and Poems. The book features a selection of early work from Wilson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.

Cheng-Wei Teng (M.F.A., Lighting Design, 2012) received the Gold Medal for Professional Lighting at the 2017 World Stage Design in Taiwan for his work Serenade. A freelance designer based in Taipei, Taiwan, Teng’s work includes One Hundred Years of Solitude by Shakespeare Wild Sisters Group, Queen Xiao-zhuang and Dorgon by GaoGuang Opera Company and Mulan the Musical by Tainanier Ensemble.

Stephanie Chiarello Noppenberg (B.A., Dance, 1998) created and is directing, producing, hosting and writing for “Over the Lege,” a live political satire comedy variety show about the Texas Legislature that returns this September to the Institution Theater. The musical, sketch and improv show is in its second year.

Lilly Lane Stafford (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2017) starred as Patsy Cline in a TexARTS productions of A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline from July 14-30.

Robert Di Donato (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2016) will perform as a member of the clown ensemble for one night at the People’s Improv Theater of New York (The PIT Theater) as part of his clown training with Christopher Bayes, head of physical theatre at Yale School of Drama.

Jelisa Jay Robinson’s (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2014) play Stories of Us will be presented by Chicago’s Visión Latino Theatre Company on Aug. 10.

Arthur Bryan Marroquin (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2013) will star as Corey in the feature film Urban Country, alongside Walking Dead star Brighton Sharbino and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Department of Theatre and Dance alumna Madilynn Garcia was selected to participate in Rising Leader of Color, a program sponsored by Theatre Communications Group. The honor includes year-long curriculum designed to provide professional development and networking opportunities.