Alumni in the News

Andrew Aaron Valdez (B.F.A. in Theatre Studies, 2017) has joined the Cleveland Public Theater as the New Play Associate. Valdez is a director, playwright, educator, actor and arts administrator from Donna, Texas. His work is centered on highlighting underrepresented communities and immersive theater set in unconventional spaces.

The Heartland Theatre Collective, founded by alumnae Marian Kansas (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2016) and Nicole Oglesby (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2016), was nominated for a B. Iden Payne Award. Allison Wojtowecz (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2017) was nominated for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Drama for her performance as June in the Heartland Theatre Collective's first production, Dust, which premiered October 2016.

Robert Di Donato (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2016) was recently cast in a series of shorts called "Oddcupations" promoting the glasses company Warby Parker.

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.

Briana Bower (M.F.A., Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities, 2016) received the Distinguished Thesis Award for her M.F.A. thesis “This Object Holds: Exploring Adolescent Identity Through Object-Based Performance” from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE).

Adam Poncio (B.A., Drama, 1986) was selected by Texas Monthly magazine as a Super Lawyer for 2017-2018 in the area of Employment Law for the state of Texas. Poncio is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the areas of labor and employment law and civil appellate law in the State of Texas.

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.

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.