Alumni in the News

Stephanie Chiarello Noppenberg (B.A., Dance, 1998) will direct, produce, write for and host a live political comedy satire show at Austin’s Institution Theater called “Over the Lege” running Sept. 9 through Oct. 1. “Over the Lege” exposes the shenanigans of the Texas Legislature through song, dance, sketch and improv. She also performs in the musical improv troupe "That Racket".

Catherine Ann Jones (B.F.A., Drama, 1965) received the Nautilus Book Award for Heal Your Self with Writing; her latest publication is a one-woman play about H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)'s analysis and friendship with Sigmund Freud in Vienna, 1933. Jones will perform her play in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Aug. 4, and in Santa Barbara, California, on Dec. 3. The play is available on amazon and Kindle.

Adam Poncio (B.A., Drama, 1986), an attorney Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both Labor and Employment and Civil Appellate Law, has been recognized by San Antonio Scene Magazine as one of the Best S.A. Lawyers of 2016 in the area of Labor and Employment Law.

Matt Huff (M.F.A., Directing, 2004) was recently promoted to associate professor with tenure at Oglethorpe University. He also is part of a creative team that received a 2016-2017 Reiser Artists Lab grant from the Alliance Theater.

Kyle Kennedy (M.F.A., Drama, 1993) was recently named Head of Acting at Middle Tennessee State University where he serves on the acting area advisory board for the Southeastern Theatre Conference.

Natasha Gorel (B.A., Acting, 2014) just closed Oskar and the Curiously Colorful Clash, a touring play for theater for young audiences with The Alley Theatre's Education department in Houston.

Jared Oberholtzer (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2010) is currently the assistant stage manager on Signature Plays at the Signature Theatre, an event in celebration of the theater's 25th anniversary.

Martin Rodriguez (B.F.A., Theatre Studies, 2015) was recently hired by Los Angeles Unified School District as head drama teacher at newly founded charter high school, Hawkins High School to create and develop their drama/theatre program. He is now certified and holds a teaching credential in English and Theatre Arts in California to go along with his Texas credentials.

"Sum You Some Me," a two-person exhibition featuring spouses Felice House (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2011) and Dana Younger (B.A., Drama, 1995) is currently on display Aquinas College's Art and Music Center Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. See it Jan. 17 through Feb. 12. 

Award-winning voice-over artist, voice-over trainer and voice talent demo producer Lainie Frasier (B.F.A., Theatrical Design, 1979) began teaching a voice-over course at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas as an adjunct instructor in spring 2016. In 2005 she co-authored a college textbook for McGraw-Hill entitled “Speak Skillfully and Successfully:  A Guide to Developing Diction and Voice-Over Excellence."