Alumni in the News

Jessica Nicole Webb (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2009) has been cast as Alex Dettmer on CBS’s The Young and the Restless. Her January role on the soap opera will run for at least five episodes.

Jelisa Jay Robinson (B.F.A., Theatre and Dance, 2014) is a finalist for the Seattle Public Theatre’s Emerald Prize. The $10,000 prize will connect a nationally recognized playwright to the Seattle area's performance community so the region's voice is heard in national conversations. The winning playwright will be announced March 4.

Gay Gaddis (B.F.A., Studio Art, 1977) was named one of the Curator Gallery’s artists of the year. Her work will be on view at the New York City gallery through Feb. 18. Photo of Sizzling Summer by Gay Gaddis.

Emilio Aguilar (M.F.A., Design and Technology, 2005) has been appointed Artistic Director of Teatro Espressivo. Espressivo is one of the most important and vibrant theater companies in Costa Rica. Before this appointment, he worked as resident designer for the theater.

Nikiko Masumoto (M.A., Theatre, 2011) recently performed a short piece from her one-woman show What We Could Carry at a White House event. The presentation, "Generational Experiences of Asian Americans," featured speakers from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities as well as Muslim, Arab, Sikh and South Asian communities. 

Robert Schenkkan’s (B.A., Drama, 1975) latest film, Hacksaw Ridge, has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor). Schenkkan co-wrote the screenplay. 

Robert Schenkkan’s (B.A., Drama, 1975) movie for HBO, All The Way, was nominated for Critic Choice Best Movie Made for TV and Best Actor in a Movie made for TV. Bryan Cranston was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actor in a Made for TV Movie.

After completing an international tour of Annie in Southeast Asia, Allison Ebling (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2011) is joining the first national tour of The Bodyguard as head of audio. 

J. Quinton Johnson, a former student in the Department of Theatre and Dance, has been cast in the role of Hercules Mulligan/James Madison in the Broadway production of the Tony Award-winning smash hit Hamilton.

Bonnie Cullum (M.F.A., Directing, 1989) was interviewed by BroadwayWorld.com about her East Austin theatre, The Vortex.