Theatre Arts – Student Success
The Department of Theatre Arts at Western Connecticut State University prides itself on the success of its graduates in the arts and entertainment industry. Check out some of our alumni’s recent achievements below. If you’re an alumni and you have news, share with us!
Berny Balbuena, ’23: Ensemble and Jose Fajardo u/s in the National Tour of On Your Feet! The Gloria Estefan Musical
Ashia Collins, ’20: Peaches/Dynamite on the Hairspray 2023-2024 National Tour.
Chrystal Campbell, ’22: Cast as series regular in Wild Life on HBO Max, co-star in City on a Hill on Showtime, featured in BuzzFeed videos. Signed with CLA Partners in NYC and LA.
Michelle D’Amico, ’24: Currently playing Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice: The Musical on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Viva.
Teah M. Renzi, ’22: Ariel in The Little Mermaid at Lexington Theatre Company. Signed with Clear Talent Agency.
Sasha Renae Brown, ’19: Currently playing Cleves in SIX The Musical on Norwegian Cruise Line. Disaster! and Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene) at Connecticut Repertory Theatre.
Katie Girardot, ’20: Covid Safety Coordinator for Hamilton Broadway and National Tours, Production Assistant for Jagged Little Pill national tour, Stage Manager of My Mother’s Severed Head Off-Broadway, and at ACT of CT and New Bedford Theatre Festival.
Theresa Carroll, ’17: Covid Safety Coordinator for Broadway’s A Strange Loop. Covid Safety Manager for Atlantic Theatre Company (off-Broadway), Production Stage Manager for Shakespeare on the Sound, Associate Producer of Valley Shakespeare Festival, Stage Manager at ACT of Connecticut. Currently working in the film and television casting department at Grant Wilfley Casting.
Andrew Gusciora, ’17: Video Programmer for The Kite Runner on Broadway. Teleprompter Operator for Prompting’ Circumstance in NYC, has worked on shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. D3 Op for Carrie Underwood Cry Pretty Tour. Previously worked as a location engineer for Clark Media and as a video department production assistant for Production Resource Group in LA.
Anna Hindman, ’15: Starred in feature film American Siege with Bruce Willis, released in January, 2022 and available on Hulu, Red Box and other streaming services. Currently shooting Crimson Shadows, an independent feature film with Star Trek: Voyager star Robert Picardo.
Andrew Hendrick, ’12: Performed in national tours of Fiddler on the Roof, Kinky Boots, Jekyll and Hyde and Bullets Over Broadway. Actor on Disney Cruise Line. Executive Producer of My Fair Lady cast recording. Associate Producer for Broadway Records and The Broadway Consortium. Assistant Company Manager of the Bullets Over Broadway and Kinky Boots national tours. Company manager of Bard SummerScape festival. Producer of Be More Chill (Broadway, West End, UK tour) and The Secret Garden (2023 Revival).
Eric McKinley, ’17: Recurring in Rise on NBC with Auli’i Cravalho, Rosie Perez and Josh Radnor, co-star in Happy! on SyFy Network/Netfix, The Blacklist on NBC. Appeared in a national commercial for AllState. Starred in Fatty Fatty No Friends at The National Opera Center of America and at The Green Room 42 in NYC. Signed with Carson-Adler Agency. Box Office Manager of Transport Group Theatre Company (off-Broadway).
Alex Allyn, ’17: Wardrobe Supervisor for Our Brothers Son at Signature Theatre (Off-Broadway), Swing Wig Crew for Birthday Candles (Broadway), Paradise Square (Broadway), and What the End Will Be (Off-Broadway). Wardrobe Run Crew for national tours of A Christmas Story and Legally Blonde. Assistant to the Costume Designer for Evita at ACT of Connecticut. Stitcher for Rock of Ages (Off-Broadway). Wig Run Crew for The Flamingo Kid at Hartford Stage.
Tara Llewellyn, ’13: Wrote and starred in Under the Influence pilot. Performed in #LoveStory: A New Musical at Theatre 80, as Marty in Grease at Tank Theatre, and in Chess with The Gallery Plaers. Performed in Schoolhouse Rock the Vote! at Feinstein’s/54 Below, BCEFA’s Gypsy of the Year and Easter Bonnet Competition. Featured on the recordings of Carols for a Cure volumes 18, 19, and 20. Tara has also worked in wardrobe for Doubtfire (Broadway), CATS (Broadway) Pretty Woman (Broadway), Heathers (Off-Broadway), and at 59E59 Theaters and New World Stages.
Alana Cauthen, ’11: 20th Anniversary national tour of Rent (“Seasons of Love” soloist), Dreamgirls (Effie) at Downtown Cabaret Theatre, All Shook Up (Sylvia) at Lyceum Theatre and Flat Rock Playhouse, Big River at OldCastle Theatre, Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Beehive: The 60’s Musical at Theatre By The Sea, Broadway Celebrates New Musical Theatre at Feinstein’s/54 Below, performer on The Disney Wonder.
Tyler Gallaher, ’20: Jersey Boys and Camelot at Millbrook Playhouse, Anything Goes, The Music Man and Far Away at The Sharon Playhouse. Props Master for the regional premiere of Escape to Margaritaville at Ogunquit Playhouse. Signed with Broad Talent Agency.
Lauren Bell, ’18: Off-Broadway and national tour of Friends The Musical Parody. Commercial: Hawthorne, Culler Beauty, Meet North app, Beam Organics, Deisoi, Genomelink, Z-Grill, Ferebe, Coinbase, Build-a-Bear.
Tony Harkin, ’21: Jean-Michel in Cinderella at Theatre by the Sea. Forbidden Broadway at the Forestburgh Playhouse.
Darius Mullens, ’22: Cast in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 regional premiere at Hangar Theatre.
Megan O’Callaghan, ’17: Medium Allison in Fun Home at Music Theatre of Connecticut (Connecticut Critics Circle Award), White Plains Performing Arts Center and Farmers Alley Theatre in Kalamazoo, MI. The Bridges of Madison County at Music Theatre of Connecticut, Elephant and Piggy at Playhouse on Park. Signed with Carson-Adler Agency.
Colin Gallaher, ’20: Obtained MFA in Make-up and Wig Design and Construction from University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.
Derek Alexander, ’22: Brad Majors in Rocky Horror Picture Show and Norman in The Star-Spangled Girl at Roxy Regional Theatre. Ft. Meyers Broadway Palm Theatre, RWS Hershey Park.
Kelsey Lepesko, ’21: Currently: Marty in Grease on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
Ethan Chan, ’23: The Sound of Music in Concert at NCCA Jean’s Playhouse, The Journey Home and Haunted at the Playwright Center of San Francisco.
Ally Olinyk, ’17: Props Assistant for national tour of Beetlejuice: The Musical. Props Assistant for national tour of American in Paris, Head Props for national tour of Spamalot, Carpenter at Goodspeed Opera House. Recipient of Andrew A. Isen Prize at Goodspeed Musicals. Currently touring with The Band’s Visit.
Ulric Alfred Taylor, ’22: Signed with Bloc Agency in NYC. Upcoming: Church Lady Jerene in The Color Purple at Roxy Regional Theatre.
John Hartman, ’19: A2 for world premiere of The Karate Kid: The Musical at Stages St. Louis.
Sam Rogers, ’22: Seacoast Repertory Theatre 2022 season, co-star in Crush on Hulu
Emma Giorgio, ’19: Athena at the Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.
Jared Starkey, ’17: Doody in Grease on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Young Max in How The Grinch Stole Christmas national tour. Two by Two at 54 Below directed by Martin Charnin. Peter and the Starcatcher at Playhouse on Park. seasons at Woodstock Playhouse, Ivoryton Playhouse and Peterborough Players. Signed with Carson-Adler Agency.
John Mudgett, ’19: Booker and production assistant for Good Morning America 3 and ABC News Live.
Shaylen Harger, ’18: Disney on Classic Tour (2019), Godspell and Killing Mom at ACT of Connecticut, Mamma Mia! and Jesus Christ Superstar at Connecticut Repertory Theatre.
Cynthia Ana Rivera, ’20: In the Heights and Escape to Margaritaville at The Broadway Palm in Fort Myers, FL. Co-star on Law & Order: Organized Crime. Signed with Take 3 Talent Agency and is repped in their Musical Theatre and Film & Television departments.
Dylan Dineen, ’16: Assistant Carpenter and flyman for national tours of Pretty Woman, Once on this Island, Spamalot.
Caleigh Lozito, ’19: Currently plays Michael Scott in The Office! A Musical Parody off-Broadway, and can be seen in The Binge on Hulu.
Alex Colavecchio, ’19: Joseph and the Amazing Technical Dreamcoat at Sharon Playhouse, Evil on CBS. Signed with Bloc Talent Agency in NYC. Professional photographer specializing in headshots.
Howard Hendrix Powell, ’18: Was a featured model in a digital campaign for Subway restaurants. Appeared in an online advertisement for The Sill. Appeared in Sophie School: The Final Days at Medicine Show Theater in NYC. Appears in The Binge on Hulu.
Carly Hodosi, ’15: Wig Supervisor for the Bushnell Theatre in Hartford, CT.
Matt Terzigni, ’14: Production and Operations Manager of Shubert Theatre in Hartford, CT. Former General Manager of ACT of Connecticut. Former production manager for Musical Theater West in Long Beach, CA.
Michael Ricciardone, ’21: Baldwin in Cry-Baby: The Musical at Roxy Regional Theatre.
Rhys Kiernan, ’15: Deck carpenter for national tour of Escape to Margaritaville.
Sean Gorman, ’22: Appearing in Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play at Scranton Fringe in Scranton, PA.
Michelle Shapiro, ’21: Currently working towards a master’s degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson, NY. Currently appearing in Harry Connick Jr.’s The Happy Elf at Argyle Theatre in Babylon, NY.
Julia Rocchio, ’22: The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Maples Repertory Theatre.
Cole Urso, ’19: Currently Ross in Friends The Musical Parody off-Broadway. Appeared on Saturday Night Live, completed contract as a performer with Disney Cruise Line.
Joelle Tshudy, ’19: Margot in Legally Blonde at the Cupcake Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
Manuel Torres III, ’17: National tour of Paw Patrol Live.
Kenneth Galm, ’21: Currently in The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful and Her Dog! at Playhouse on Park.
Kendyl Grace Davis, ’25: Hysterical! New England premiere at Thrown Stone Theatre Company. Supporting role in feature film MIDAS to be released in 2023.
Matt Grasso, ’16: National tour of Paw Patrol Live. Big River at OldCastle Theatre in Bennington, VT. Season at Summer Theatre of New Canaan. The Bridges of Madison County and Sunset Boulevard at Music Theatre of Connecticut. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at ACT of Connecticut
Mike Katz, ’20: Dancer on the Magic Kingdom Stage in Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire at Walt Disney World.
Isiah Bostic, ’20: Performer on Disney Wonder Cruise.
Jason A. Coombs, ’11 and Samantha Tuozzolo ’10: Host the podcast Survival Jobs in collaboration with BroadwayWorld.
Teagan La’Shay, ’23: Pippin at Playhouse on Park.
Alexis Reda, ’22: The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Maples Repertory Theatre, D’Archangelis and Horneff (and Friends!) at The Green Room 42 in NYC.
Melanie Capparelli, ’15: Wig Supervisor for Rock of Ages at New World Stages, Wig Supervisor for By the Way, Meet Vera Stark and Curse of the Starving Class at Signature Theatre, Wig Assistant at Ogunquit Playhouse.
Kayla Conroy, ’10: Co-Star in Crashing on HBO, produced, directed and starred in web series Human Telegraphs, which won Best Web Series at New York International Film Awards and Falcon International Film Festival.
Claire Gaudette, ’18: Head Wardrobe for national and international tours of Legally Blonde, American in Paris and South Pacific.
Zack Federici, ’19: Returning to Disney Fantasy on his second contract with Disney Cruise Line as an actor and voice actor.
Frankie Ann Marcille, ’16: Accessibility Specialist for Elle Jones Casting Company, where she writes accommodation plans for actors with disabilities and enforces ADA compliance on film, television and commercial sets. Script writer, producer, voice actor, and puppeteer for Let’s Write About: Seasons 1 and 2, an accessible children’s television program airing on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network. Starred in and worked as an accessibility specialist for The Runner, a short film by award-winning Mack Productions, premiering in the 2022 film festival circuit.
Logan Farley, ’22: Upcoming: Angie The Ox in Guys and Dolls at Springer Opera House in March, 2023. Currently: Pinocchio in Shrek: The Musical and featured ensemble in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Snapshots at The Quissana Resort in Center Lovell, Maine. Signed with Take 3 Talent Agency for Influencer Marketing.
JP Misciagna, ’18: Operations Manager at Global Scenic Services in Bridgeport, CT since December, 2021, which produces scenery for Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, and television. Their work can be seen in shows such as Moulin Rouge, MJ The Musical, Mr. Saturday Night, Funny Girl, and A Strange Loop. Specialty projects include construction of a 10’ diameter mirror ball for the plaza of Lincoln Center.
Nicole Madar, ’11: Currently working as a project manager for American Christmas, LLC, the main holiday installation company in New York City. Previously worked as Associate Production Manager of Tinc Productions in NYC, as a carpenter for Sleep No More, and as Technical Director of The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute.
Bailey Nickerson, ’21: Completed Master’s degree in Acting at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Currently touring a show in Liverpool, Manchester and London.
Ashia Collins, ’20: Mainstage performer on the Disney Magic with Disney Cruise Line.
Liv Kurtz, ’20: Maria in The Sound of Music at the RTOP Theatre in Pullman, Washington.
Victoria Gentile, ’22: Actor in The Dinner Detective New Haven, a murder mystery dinner show.
Sarah Hooper, ’18: Assistant stage manager for Strings Attached, a new work produced by Pulse Ensemble Theatre and presented at Theatre Row in NYC.
Francesca Saccomagno, ’21: Avenue Q at Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Ocean Township, NJ.
Cali Holt, ’19: Technical Theater Assistant at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA.
Brodey Ott, ’17: Appearing in the upcoming film Call Jane featuring Elizabeth Banks.
Dominick Walch, ’21: Install Technician at BMI Supply, the nation’s leading supplier and installer of technical theatre equipment.
Connor Thompson, ’16: Head Carpenter for the Performing Arts at Emerson College
Alicia Napolitano, ’19: Freelance director and producer. Recently directed a piece that was featured in the New York Times.
Emily Gray, ’18: Full-time certified theatre teacher at Achievement First Bridgeport Middle School.
Vincent McCoy, ’13: Current Production Manager for Spotlight Stage Company. Performed in the World Premiere and First National Tour of Magic Tree House: The Musical. World Premiere and Off-Broadway production fo Liberty – A Monumental New Musical (assistant director, dance captain, male swing). Director: Damn Yankees at the Warner Theatre. Interned at Broadway Records, where he assisted the Broadway producing teams of Big Fish, Matila and Velocity of Autumn.