Alumni in the News

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.

Alan E. Hicks (D.M.A., Vocal Arts, 2009) has joined the faculty of the University of Houston's Moores Opera Center as assistant professor and associate producer.

Jonas Criscoe (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2006) has work featured in the Contemporary Austin’s Crit Group Exhibition at GrayDuck Gallery.

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.

Henry Smith (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2017) was named one of MASS Gallery's Hotbox resident artists, Aug. 7 to Sept. 9. The program features a series of multimedia installations and performances.