January-February_CollegeNews25

18 | January & February | College News College of Fine Arts and Communication | 19 THEATRE Acting, Musical Theatre, Per formance and Production, Teacher Certif ication in Theatre, Technical Production, & Theatre FACULTY ACCOLADES Yesenia Garcia Herrington  appeared in the world premiere of  She Was Here  (Amanda/Nicole) by award-winning play- wright Raul Garza ( The Last Mixtape , My HEB , Arbolito ) produced by Austin Playhouse.   Elisa Pedraza Sanchez (B.F.A. Performance & Production '25) served as the Assistant Director and Alyssa Hurtado (B.F.A. Acting '26) and Vivian Noble (B.F.A. Acting '23) rounded out the ensemble cast.  [1] Syd Rushing was named as one of the top ten playwrights nationally for his play Aberdeen and Netarine with the Inaugural Black Arts Festival in Houston. Phylicia Rashad serves as the official ambassador over the festival. STUDENT ACCOLADES Shauna Proctor (P&P) was selected for their play Revolu- tion with the Fade To Black Festival in Houston. Set in a rural town striving to transform into a city, Revolution tells the story of two crickets who confront a builder's real estate agent over the destruction of their home. The play explores themes of survival, justice, and the clash between nature and human ambition, blending humor and drama in a deeply engaging way. Kayla Alonzo was selected to compete at KCACTF Region 6 National Playwriting Program for her plays Pocket Sized Identity and Who sets the Fire that Burns the Bridge . Jacob Canderozzi and Amaya Adams were part of Jersey Boys at ZACH theatre in Austin. Canderozzi was u/s Tommy DeVito/Swing and Adams was the assistant choreographer. Lacey Kohn and Kevin Bowman were cast in West Side Story at Houston Grand Opera. Kohn played Clarice and Bowman played Snowboy. 1 2 3 She Was Here Cast (L to R): Vivian Noble, Alyssa Hur- tado, Tonie Knight, Yesenia García Herrington, and director Jerry Ruiz. Alumnus Kyra Belle Johnson (BFA Musical Theatre 21') was cast as Belle in the North American tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast Rachel Simone Webb (Musical Theatre 21') was leads the cast of the North American tour of & Juliet. ALUMNI ACCOLADES Shelby Acosta is originating the role of Prima Flaca in Real Women Have Curves on Broadway. Paul Amrani was in The Nutcracker at Nunnbetterr Dance Theatre as the Snow King. Taylor Aronson made her TV debut in Law & Order as Taylor Faye. Madeline Bourgeois was part of the company of 42nd Street at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. JaVaun Butler made his TV debut in FBI: Most Wanted. Joann Gilliam played Betty Jean in Winter Wonderettes at the Timber Lake Playhouse. Tori Gresham was part of the company of Disney and Cam- eron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins at the 5th avenue Theatre. Beau Harmon is part of the cast of Trisha Paytas’ Big Broad- way Dream at the St. James Theatre. Trevor James and Eden Witvoet were cast in the North American Tour of Parade . James is playing Young Solider & Others and Without is a swing. Kyra Belle Johnson (BFA Musical Theatre 21') was cast as Belle in the North American tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast launching this summer. See article here. [2] Ashlyn Maddox appeared in a recent episode of Law & Order Ana Paula Monterrubio is currently working in the CoCom- elon sing-a-long tour. Emiliano Morales went on as Fogarty in the Chicago national tour. Carson Palmer was part of the company of Elf at Broadway Sacramento. Adriana Scalice is playing Vanessa in Signature Theatre’s production of In the Heights through May 4th. Spencer Stevenson was cast in Tubi’s original workplace comedy The Z-Suite where they star alongside Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham. Spencer plays Elliot the eccentric and stylish social media team member at a boutique New York ad Agency. Zephaniah Wages was cast in Mystic Pizza at the Riverside Theatre. Rachel Simone Webb (Musical Theatre 21') was lead in the cast of the North American tour of & Juliet. See article h ere. [3] DEPARTMENT ACCOLADES Romeo and Juliet had a successful run in the Texas State School of Theatre, Dance, and Film Season. The production featured many talented Bobcats and was directed by graduate student Kathleen McDowell . Kathleen McDowell (MFA '25) and Megan Codling (MFA '27) hosted a student engagement night on the February 5 performance of Romeo & Juliet . The students had a look at fight call, run by fight captain Amanda Jo Vinklarek (P&P '25)  and participated in a pre-show discussion with scenic designer Max Estudillo (MFA '26) and lighting designer AJ Rose (MFA '26) . Over 60 local high school students from three area schools attended. Prior to the event, Codling and McDowell visited New Braunfels High School with actors Nyah Adler (P&P '26 ) and Faraz Mobli (BFA '27) where the two actors performed an excerpt from the famous balcony scene.  The 2025 New Works Festival had a successful weekend of readings with the Texas State School of Theatre, Dance, and Film. The Festival included plays written by two undergrad- uate Bobcats Rheagan Higgins and Abigail Thompson . Rheagan Higgin’s play Water Over Blood was directed by grad- uate student Angela Rose Williams and Abigail Thompson’s play After School Special was directed by graduate student Megan Codling . Both shows featured talkbacks after their readings led by the directors.