Alumni in the News

Alumna Pamela Ribon (B.F.A. 1997) was one of the story writers for Disney's Moana, nominated for two Academy Awards (Animated Feature and Original Song).

The film Hacksaw Ridge, co-written by Robert Schenkkan (B.A., Drama, 1975) and directed by Mel Gibson, was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.

Will Davis (M.F.A., Directing, 2013) was recently nominated for outstanding direction of a musical for Evita at Olney Theatre Center in Maryland. The 2017 Helen Hayes Awards will be held May 15 at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C.  

Artina McCain (D.M.A. 2011) and Martin McCain (M.M. 2006, D.M.A. 2008) were chosen to perform in the Austin Chamber Music Center’s Black Composers Concert to celebrate Black History Month. The concert was held Feb. 11.

Yebel Gallegos (B.F.A., Dance, 2007) spoke with Salt Lake City Weekly about being a principal dancer with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in anticipation of their performance Winter Season.

Fulfillment Center, a new work from Abe Koogler (M.F.A., Playwriting, 2014) will have a world premiere in New York City this summer at the Manhattan Theatre Club. The play begins previews June 6 and opens June 20. 

Woody Green (B.A., Studio Art, 2002) discussed with the College of Fine Arts how his art background serves him as a student the Dell Medical School’s inaugural class.

James O. Welsch (D.M.A., Musical Arts Conducting, 2016), music director for the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra, served as conductor of The Bridge, a binational performance between the El Paso orchestra and the Esperanza Azteca Symphony Orchestra of Ciudad Juarez held Jan. 28-29 in both cities. The two cities sit alongside each other on the Texas-Mexico border, and the concert was a showing of unity.

A Perfect Robot, a play by Sarah Saltwick (M.F.A., Playwriting, 2013), opened at The Vortex in Austin on Jan. 19 and runs through Feb. 11. 

Wren & Shark, the nonprofit record label of Brian Cassidy (B.M., Music Studies, 2002; M.M., Music Education, 2004), released a compilation album on Jan. 20, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Natural Resources Defense Council.