college news

COLLEGE NEWS
COLL EGE OF FIN E A RTS A ND COM MU N IC AT ION
Nove mber
De ce mber
2015
Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum (San
Antonio) is presenting a two-person exhibition,
Turn Your Face Toward The Sun, with work
by Liz Rodda and Charlie Morris. The show
“explores contemporary assemblage, subculture
iconographies and vernaculars, and themes of
control, desire, anxiety, power, surveillance,
and subversion.” The exhibition will run
from Dec 3, 2015 - Feb 7, 2016. The opening
reception is scheduled for Thursday, Dec 3,
6:00 - 9:00 pm.
Sherry Snowden was recently inducted into the
Executive Council of the Texas Art Education
Association. She will serve as Higher Education
Division Chair for the next two years.
A RT & DE SIG N
Shawn Camp has been commissioned to paint
two back-lit paintings for the downtown office of
Brandywine Realty Trust in Austin. He also has
several pieces on display at Gallery Shoal Creek
during the East Austin Studio Tour.
ICOSA Collective will host its inaugural
exhibition during the East Austin Studio Tour
2015 (November 14/15 & 21/22, 2015, from 11am6pm each day) at Juke’s old Auto Shop, 702-B
Shady Lane, Austin. The group has transformed
the recently vacated auto shop into a whitewalled exhibition space and installed the works
of the 14 founding members, including work by
Erin Cunningham.
Jeff Dell has a solo show called Dreamland
opening at Galleri Urbane in Dallas on November
21. There is also an article/review about his work in
the recent issue of Aether Magazine available here:
http://www.aetherart.com/magazine.html
ComDes student Chelsea Ceasor was selected
to participate in the American Advertising
Federation’s 2016 Most Promising Multicultural
Students Program.
Alumni Accolades
Former Art History students Josh Rios and
Anthony Romero were recently featured in
Glasstire: http://glasstire.com/.
Polly Lanning Sparrow’s work will be featured
in 50 Artists / 250 Works at French and Michigan
Gallery in San Antonio (opening reception
December 5, 2015, 2:00-6:00 p.m.).
Detail of “Cunningham of a Delicate Nature”
Faculty Accolades
Student Accolades
Brian Johnson participated in a two-person show,
“Confluence Then Redaction,” at grayDUCK
Gallery, October 24 – November 22, 2015.
Mark Menjivar gave a talk at The Contemporary
Austin as part of the Texas Book Festival. Mark’s
work was also featured in print and online by
the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad. Mark
led a workshop on Oral History as Sculpture as
part of Borderland Collective’s ongoing project
exploring borders with high school students at the
International School of the Americas.
Burt Pritzker’s two published books, Texas
Rangeland (UT Press, 2002) and Forgotten Planes
(Museum of the Southwest, Midland, 2010) are
currently in over 200 museum and university
libraries, including: The Whitney, Metropolitan
Museum of Art, MOMA, Yale, Harvard, Art
Institute of Chicago, and the Menil Collection.
Randall Reid has a two-person exhibition, with
artist Lisa Beaman, at Davis Gallery in Austin,
January 16 – February 27, 2016. The opening
reception is on Saturday, January 16, 7-9 p.m.
Jennifer Stob published “The Sober Joy of
Thieving,” a review of Judith Rodenbeck’s Radical
Prototypes: Allan Kaprow and the Invention of
Happenings (MIT Press, 2011) in Criticism: A
Quarterly for Literature and the Arts (57:1, 2015),
151-157. Jennifer also co-curated “Bad Resolutions:
Three by Hito Steyerl,” a screening of the video art
of Hito Steyerl for Experimental Response Cinema.
The screening (free; $10 suggested donation) will
take place 8pm on Friday November 20 at Farewell
Books in Austin.
Barry Stone will participate in the Lianzhou
Foto Festival, Expanded Geographies, to be held in
Lianzhou, China curated by Christopher Phillips
with a solo presentation. The festival runs from
November 21 through December 10, 2015. Stone
will also exhibit new works as a part of a twoperson presentation with Eric Zimmerman at The
Untitled Art Fair, Miami, courtesy of Art Palace,
from December 2-6, 2015.
Erin Cunningham’s work displayed at the
ICOSA Collective Inaugural Exhibition during
the East Austin Studio Tour 2015
Gina Tarver is curating a retrospective exhibition
of the Colombian artist Antonio Caro. Titled En
Medellín todo está muy Caro, the exhibition opens
at the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín on
December 2 and runs through March 28, 2015.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog, edited
and with an essay by Gina.
Detail of Randal Reid’s work displayed at the Davis
Gallery in Austin
Retention Management and Planning at the end of
the semester.
Sean Horan was recently named one of the Top 25
(e.g., 1%) most prolific and influential contributors
to the Communication discipline based his record
of peer-reviewed scholarship. He is only one of
three scholars from the state of Texas on this
prestigious list. Sean is currently working on a
research team funded by the National Institute
of Child Health and Human Development to
understand the role of communication within the
context of coping following disastrous flooding.
C OM M U N IC AT ION S T U DI E S
Texas State Forensics and Debate teams. celebrating their
huge win at the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association
(TIFA) state championship
Faculty Accolades
Steven Beebe published the third edition of
Business and Professional Communication: Principles
and Skills for Leadership with co-author Timothy
P. Mottet. He contributed a book chapter entitled
“Building an Effective and Supportive Peer
Tutoring Team” to Communicating Advice: Peer
Tutoring and Communication Practice, as well as
“Forward,” a chapter in The Surprising Imagination
of C. S. Lewis. Steve also delivered a presentation
focused on listening skills in leadership to the
Governor of Texas Executive Development
Program in Dallas.
Michael Burns hosted a “Speakeasy Speech Prep”
workshop with ten graduate students for Retama
and Tower Halls on campus. Fifty undergraduate
students enrolled in COMM 1310 attended,
and grades on their informative presentations
were enhanced significantly. He was also a guest
lecturer for the Student Issues in Higher Education
(SAHE 4178) course and spoke about “Power and
Influence for Student Leaders.” Michael was an
invited guest speaker for the Omega Phi Alpha
Service Sorority, focusing on how to create a more
positive perception of the sorority’s leadership team
using relational leadership skills. He also served as
Guest Football Coach at the Homecoming football
game on November 7, honoring him for his work
with student athletes outside the classroom.
Michael was the Guest Director for the University
production of Evita for the support he provides
many Musical Theatre students.
Stephanie Dailey and her co-author recently had
their article, “Communicating Health at Work:
Organizational Wellness Programs as Identity
Bridges” accepted for publication in the journal
Health Communication. Graduate students in
Stephanie’s Qualitative Inquiry in Communication
class are collecting data to identify messages given
by professors that positively impacted at-risk
students decisions to remain at the University.
Students will present their findings to the Vice
President for Student Affairs, and Director of
Philip Salem published a book chapter entitled
“New science” in the International Encyclopedia of
Organizational Communication, his second entry in
this prestigious series. In addition, Phil is directing
a conference, “Organizational Communication
Traditions, Transitions, and Transformations” that
will take place in Austin, February 11-16, 2016.
The Speech Communication Association and
the International Communication Association
will also participate. He anticipates the
publication of a book of edited papers from the
conference afterward.
Student Accolades
M.A. student Ben Clancy received the Graduate
College Thesis Award Fellowship, which provides
financial assistance to students completing
graduate thesis work. His thesis discusses
the relationship between the role of public
intellectuals in the Prague Spring reforms in
1968 Czechoslovakia. The fellowship finances
field research that he will conduct in Prague
this January.
The LBJ Debate Society and Elton Abernathy
Forensics Society competed in the Fall
Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association
Championships (TIFA) – the collegiate speech and
debate championships for Texas. The team took
First Place Overall, Second Place Individual Events
Sweepstakes, and First Place Debate Sweepstakes.
This marks the 15th TIFA Championship out of
the last 16 tournaments. In addition, Texas State
came away with 31 individual awards.
Alumni Accolades
Abby Bland (M.A. 2013): Abby currently serves
as Associate Enrollment Counselor Supervisor
at Western Governors University in Salt Lake
City, Utah.
Kelly Clancy (B.A., 2002 & M.A. 2004): Kelly
is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at
Nebraska Wesleyan University. This spring, she
defended her dissertation entitled “Grains of
Doubt: A Comparison of the Politically Contested
Visual Landscapes of Genetically Modified
Organisms in the United States and Europe,” and
earned a Ph.D. from Rutgers University.
Dana Dinsmore (M.A., 2015): Dana is a Ph.D.
student at the University of Arizona.
Pamela Farley (B.A., 2012): Pamela works in the
“Guide By Your Side” program for Texas Hands
& Voices, which offers support, information
and resources in an unbiased manner to families
with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
She recently began work on a Master of Science
degree in Deaf Education through Texas Woman’s
University and expects to graduate next year.
Pamela has traveled around the country giving
workshops and presentations on deaf-related
topics, Cochlear Implants, motivational speaking,
and education. She is currently working on
securing a grant for a new non-profit public
service organization.
Michael Burns, Marsha Burney, and John Fleming with
Boko at the Homecoming game
Communication Association conference in Las
Vegas, Nevada. “Performing Life Itself: Towards a
Performative Turn in Fame” and “ “Shining Stars:
A Call for the Incorporation of Celebrity Studies
in Rhetorical Scholarship.”
Mass Communication Master student Rebecca
Silvas presented “Strategic Tweets for Hunger
Relief ” at the Southwest Education Council for
Journalism and Mass Communication Symposium.
JOU R N A L I SM & M A S S C OM M U N IC AT ION
Harry Bowers and students at
Fox 29 in San Antonio
Bobcat Promotions is taking its second Professional
Development Tour in New York Jan. 11-16. The
twelve students participating in the week-long trip
will visit public relations executives and officials
with Edelman, Cohn & Wolfe, Weber Shandwick,
the United Nations, the 911 Museum and the
Whitney Museum of American Art. The group will
also meet with SJMC alumni working in New York
for networking. The dates of the trip coincide with
the Ad Club’s trip to New York. The student-run
firm also recently won a new client, Bobcat Nation
Sports Bar. For more information visit www.
bobcatpromotions.com.
KTSW 89.9 staff attended the Associated
College Press/College Media Association Student
video commemorating the 50th anniversary of the
signing of the Higher Education Act.
Faculty Accolades
Kate Peirce-Burleson completed the Advanced
Online Teaching Certificate Program through the
Online Learning Consortium. She was reappointed
editor of the Southwestern Mass Communication
Journal and secretary of the Board of Directors
at the 2015 meeting of the Southwest Education
Council for Journalism and Mass Communication.
Eight members of the KTSW 89.9 Executive
Committee and KTSW general manager Dan
Schumacher attended the College Broadcasters
Inc. National Student Electronic Media
Convention in Minneapolis, on October 2124, 2015, sitting in on a multitude of panels
and sessions, networking with professionals,
and walking away with recognition as finalists
in the awards categories of Best Audio
Sports Play-by-Play and Best Audio Promo
(Promotional Announcement). In addition,
Dan Schumacher, served as the narrator for the
Dr. Vanessa de Macedo Higgins Joyce was
named a 2015 Alpha Chi Favorite Professor, a
student-nominated award.
Student Accolades
Sergio Carvajal has won The Graduate College’s
Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in Digital
Scholarship. His thesis, “The Texan Italian
Stories Documentary Series: Fostering Social
Connections Among Members Of A Geo-Ethnic
Community Through The Process Of Media
Creation” was directed by Dr. Sandy Rao. Sergio
will receive $500 and will be recognized at The
Graduate College’s Awards Ceremony next April.
He is also entered into the Southern Conference
of Graduate School’s competition for best master’s
theses in his category.
Mass Communication Master student Joshua
Morrison presented two top papers at the National
Media Convention in Austin, on October 29-31,
2015, and the Texas Association of Broadcasters
Southwest Broadcast Newsroom Workshop in
Austin, on November 7, 2015. The KTSW 89.9
staff produced 24 hours of special programming on
Friday, October 2nd as part of College Radio Day,
a national event organized to draw attention to the
important contributions of college radio.
College Magazine ranked KTSW the #9 college
radio station in the country: http://www.
collegemagazine.com/cms-top-16-college-radiostations/
Mass Communication Master student, Joshua Morrison
C3
We are very excited to have Ruthi Caldwell as part
of the C3 team! As a research coordinator, Ruthi
provides services to faculty related to proposal
development for grants and contracts while Lisa
Westerbeck assists with helping faculty manage
their funded awards.
With a MA in Communication and BA in Theatre,
Ruthi brings skills and experience in grant writing,
coordinating, and project management. In her last
position with the Texas Hospital Association in
Austin, she helped set up the planning and project
management side of a $2M federal Medicaid
project. Prior to that, she worked as a Grant
Coordinator and State Lead for workforce related
healthcare and disability grants for the State of
Hawaii, and as a Disability Navigator for the Texas
Workforce Commission in Austin. If you have an
idea for research and need help getting started,
email: [email protected].
C3 Research Coordinator, Ruthi Caldwell
taught lessons for students at the Yong Siew
Toh Conservatory of Music. He also performed
with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and
presented a masterclass for University of South
Carolina trombone students. Martin also recently
completed two University residencies. November
2-4, he presented a masterclass and recital at
Louisiana State University in addition to teaching
lessons and coaching the LSU Trombone Choir.
McCain then traveled to Boston November 9-12
where he presented a series of masterclasses to
the trombone studios of Boston University,
Boston Conservatory and the New England
Conservatory. He also coached the Boston
University Trombone Choir and Octet.
M USIC
H.M.S. Pinafore
Images,” which premiered there.
Faculty Accolades
In a faculty chamber music concert given at the
Performing Arts Center on October 21, Faith
DeBow performed Bach on our beautiful historic
replica Flemish harpsichord . . . using an iPad to
read her music! Other performers included flutist
Adah Toland Jones, violinist Paula Bird, and
cellist Karla Hamelin.
The Khasma Duo released their debut album
“Switchback” featuring Michael Ippolito’s work
pianoduo (2007) along with music by Marti Epstein,
Symeon Waseen, Lawrence Moss, Cosimo Colazzo
and Jean Ahn. The Khasma Duo was formed in
2012 by Ashlee Mack and Katherine Palumbo. The
duo has dedicated themselves to the performance
of works from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Michael also served as a guest artist at Truman
State University for their New Horizons Music
Festival. The festival commissioned him to write
a new wind ensemble work, called “Wayward
Theory professor Cynthia I. Gonzales traveled to
St. Louis to participate in the annual meeting of the
Society of Music Theory, at which she chaired
the session “Delight in Diversity” and delivered
a paper titled “SMT Meetings 1978-2013:
Which Composers and What Topics?” She also
met up with Texas State alums Jose Garza and
Amy Dixon Hatch.
Dr. Joey M. Martin served as guest lecturer
and conductor for the Kuesta Collegiate Choral
Festival of South Africa in September. Choirs
from Stellenbosch University, the University of
Pretoria, the University of Johannesburg, and
the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
participated in the festival.
Dr. Martin McCain was recently invited to
perform a week of concerts as principal bass
trombone with the Malaysian Philharmonic
Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. While
in Asia, McCain also gave a masterclass and
Todd Oxford is a new Artist/Endorser for the
Andreas Eastman 52nd Street Saxophone Line. He
performed as a featured soloist on the Texas State
University International Concert Series Faculty
Showcase in early September. On September
24, he gave a Texas All-State Saxophone Etudes
Performance and Master Class for the Roma,
Texas Independent School District. SoM Alumnus
Eden Gonzalez was the host. On October 11, he
was a featured soloist for the National Association
of Wind and Percussion Instructors National
Conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On
October 13, he and percussionist colleague Bobby
Lopez gave a recital and master class at the
University of Nebraska at Omaha. On October
28, they presented a concert for the Feed Your
Soul Music Series at Dell Children’s Medical
Center in Austin.
TxState’s Aurora String Quartet, consisting of
graduate students Ryan Coppin and Shijun Chen
(violins), Xavier Garcia (viola), and Belinsol
Martinez-Muñoz (‘cello), and the Andrea
String Quartet, consisting of undergrads Joseph
Waukechon and Kailey Johnson (violins),
James Ximenez (viola), and George McQuade
(‘cello), performed recently at Klein High School
and Tomball Memorial High School. Their final
concert combined both quartets for an outstanding
performance of the Mendelssohn Octet. String
faculty Dr. Lynn F. Ledbetter, Dr. Ames Asbell,
and Dr. Karla Hamelin gave master classes on
All-State and All-Region high school and middle
school audition material for over 150 students, and
performed a Beethoven Serenade. Dr. Rebecca Tast
also met with students to explain and promote the
career option to become a music educator.
Texas State Director of Orchestral Studies, Dr.
Carolyn Watson, is a finalist in two categories
of The American Prize for Conducting. The
Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, conducted
by Watson, has also been selected as a finalist in
the high school orchestra division of The American
Prize for Orchestral Performance. The American
Prize is a national, peer-reviewed non-profit
competition in the performing arts. The American
Prize winners will be announced next month.
Dr. Joey M. Martin conducting for the Kuesta Collegiate
Choral Festival of South Africa
Student Accolades
Andrew McNair, a senior in the Bachelor of Music
in Music Studies program, has been named an
Academic Achievement Scholar. In addition to his
involvement in the School of Music, Andrew is also
involved with the Honors College and just returned
from Luzerne Music Center in New York, where he
worked over the summer as a voice counselor.
First-year MM-Performance student Michael
Martinez recently appeared as a guest soloist with
the Southwestern University Wind Ensemble.
Martinez performed Lars-Erik Larsson’s
Concertino for Trombone. He is a student of Dr.
Martin McCain.
Our 2015 music teacher graduates were
once again completely successful in gaining
employment or entering the graduate program of
their choice:
Brad Miller - Asst. Band Director, Lamar Jr.
High, Lamar Consolidated ISD, Rosenburg, Texas
Tyler McClendon – Asst. Band Director, Canton
MS/HS, Canton, Texas
Randallyn Kelso - Asst. Band Director,
Cesar Deleon – Music Teacher, Walnut Springs
Beckendorff Jr. High, Katy ISD, Katy, Texas
Elementary, Dripping Springs ISD, Dripping
Lawrence Varela-Halbert - Asst. Band Director,
Springs, Texas
S.C. Lee Jr. High School, Copperas Cove ISD
Austin Baker – Music Teacher, Del Valle
Haley Dougherty Kibodeaux – Music Teacher at
Elementary, Del Valle ISD, Del Valle, Texas
Navarro Elementary School in Lockhart ISD
Inez Rodriguez – Asst. Band Director, Goodnight
Lani Gil – Orchestra Director, Boerne Middle
MS, San Marcos CISD, San Marcos, Texas
Schools, Boerne ISD, Boerne, Texas
Chris Diaz – George I. Sanchez Elementary
Elizabeth O’Connell – Asst. Band Director,
School in Austin ISD, Austin, Texas
Stafford MS & HS, Stafford ISD, Stafford, Texas
Gerald Martinez – Graduate School, DePaul
William Cordova – Music Teacher, Havard
University, Chicago, Illinois
Elementary School, Galena Park ISD, Houston, Texas
Matt Hurtado – Graduate School, Louisiana State
Arminda Velasquez – Asst. Band Director, Cedar
University, Baton Rouge
Ridge HS, Round Rock ISD, Round Rock, Texas
Vocal music education graduates:
Hector Bermea – Mariachi Director, Los Fresnos
Ruben Morgan – Zachry Middle School, NISD,
HS, Los Fresnos ISD, Los Fresnos, Texas
San Antonio, TX
Arabella Stachura – Music Teacher, Hommel
Jason Gallardo – Shoemaker High School,
Elementary, Everman ISD, Everman, Texas
Killeen, TX
Riaz Mohammed – Assistant Band Director,
Ashley Branson –Westwood High School,
Campbell Middle School, Cypress Fairbanks
Austin, T X
ISD, Houston
Bethany Cowan – Harker Heights High School,
David Ortiz – Assistant Band Director, Scobee
Killeen, TX
Middle School, Southwest ISD, San Antonio, Texas
Samara Neto – Wiley Middle School, Leander, TX
Sol Ruppa – Assistant Band Director, Southside
Ashley Haight – Eastern Hills Middle Schools,
High School, Southside ISD, San Antonio, Texas
Killeen, TX
Joseph Menditto - Music Teacher, Hawthorne
Garrett Dibble – Killeen, TX
Academy and Washington Elementary, San
Brittany Garza – Lockhart, ISD, Lockhart, TX
Antonio ISD
Samuel Parrott – Seguin, ISD, Seguin, TX
Nikki Singer- Music Teacher, D.P. Morris
Richard Shehulski – Hays, ISD, Kyle, TX
Elementary School, Mansfield ISD, Arlington,
Texas
M.M. Graduates:
Courtney Edwards – Band Director, Wilder
Intermediate School in Schertz-Cibolo-Universal
Nancy Lott - Asst. Band Director, McNair Middle
City ISD
School, Southwest ISD, Atascosa, Texas
Cesar Gonzalez – Asst. Band Director, MacArthur
Drew Saenz – Asst. Band Director, Westlake High
HS, North East ISD, San Antonio, Texas
School, Eanes ISD, Austin, Texas
T H E AT R E
Britley Bennett and Ches Harvey in Sunset Baby
Faculty Accolades
Linda Nenno Breining performed in Stephen
Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George for
Austin Shakespeare, playing to role of George
Seurat’s Mother.
Michael Costello played Alfieri in A View from
the Bridge in the Department of Theatre and
Dance. The set was designed by faculty member
Michelle Ney with costume designs by alumna
Glenda Barnes. Melissa Utley (MFA – Directing)
directed the production.
John Fleming, with co-writer Andrew Carlson,
recently published the 11th edition of Oscar
Brockett’s The Essential Theatre, an Introduction to
Theatre textbook that has been a leader in its field
for the past fifty years.
Sheila Hargett designed costumes for the
Department of Theatre and Dance production of
Evita. Sheila, who will retire at the end of the
spring semester after 45 years at Texas State, has
designed more than 130 theatrical productions for
the department and mentored numerous students
through the design process.
Eugene Lee is a Black Theater Alliance/Ira
Aldridge Award recipient. He won the Sidney
Poitier Award for Best Leading Actor in Regina
Taylor’s Stop.Reset. The production, which played
at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre last May, was called
“one of the most ingeniously funny, inventive and
soul-enriching plays of this season” by NewCity.
Eugene also joined undergraduates Britley
Bennett and Chas Harvey in the departmental
production of Sunset Baby by Dominique
Morissseau. The production was directed by MFA
Directing student, Jessica McMichael, with design
elements by faculty members Cheri Prough DeVol
and Phillip Owen.
Anne McMeeking worked as a painter for the
HBO/Warner Brothers TV show, The Leftovers.
She also designed scenery for a developmental
production of Tender Rough Rough Tender, a
new play created by the theatrical company
Groundswell with the support of the Rude Mechs
of Austin. Anne also designed HMS Pinafore for
the School of Music.
Bryan Poyser directed the pilot production of
Comedy Central’s Overanalyzers. The show features
Echo Kellum (Ben and Kate, Sean Saves the World,
Nothing to Report), John Gemberling (Broad
City), Jessy Hodges (Hindsight), Melana Vayntrub
(CollegeHumor Originals) and Justin Chon (Sin
City Saints).
Neil Patrick Stewart performed Jean Genet’s
Splendid’s at El Teatro Valle-Inclan in Madrid,
Spain. Neil also performed in the production’s
special engagement at the French Embassy in New
York City.
Jeremy Torres directed To Kill a Mockingbird for
the Wimberley Players.
Student Accolades
Four MFA students presented sole-authored papers
at the Seventh International Research Conference
for Graduate Students in November. Sara Brooke
Christian presented “Morning, Midnight, Spring
and Summer: Expressionistic Techniques in
Wedekind’s Spring’s Awakening and Kaiser’s From
Morning to Midnight.” J. Robert Moore presented
“The Bold, The Beautiful, The Bacchae: Camping
up a Classic.” Amelia Bahr presented “The Hidden
and The Given: Names, Authority, and Power in
Susan Glaspell’s Trifles” and T.J. Young presented
“Death of a Salesman and the Mentally Unstable
Willy Loman.”
Jordan Morille’s play Norma’s Rest is being
published in The Best Short Plays of 2014-2015. The
departmental production of it has been invited to
the KCACTF regional festival. Jordan is an MFA
student in the Dramatic Writing program.
Gabriel Bernal (BFA Musical Theatre 2015) will
be doing a six-month Equity tour of Lightning
Thief for Theatreworks after completing a run
of A Christmas Story at the McCarter Theatre in
Princeton, New Jersey.
Landon Zwick (BFA in Musical Theatre 2015)
made his off-Broadway debut in Full House, the
Musical.
BFA Musical Theatre alum Gino Chaviano has
been cast in the national tour of Junie B Jones
for Theatreworks. Gino is a new member of
Actors Equit y.
The Musical Theatre program was recently ranked
#7 in the country by College Magazine: http://
www.collegemagazine.com/top-10-collegesmusical-theatre-majors/
Irving Dyson, Jr., BFA Acting alum, is on the
National Tour of Peter Pan, playing Tootles,
the youngest of the Lost Boys. The production,
which was directed by Thom Southerland and
choreographed by Gypsy Snider (who assisted in
the choreography of Pippin on Broadway), is in
Dallas until the end of December when it moves to
Arizona and then to L.A. More information can
be found at peterpan360.com.
The Department’s production of Evita played
to sold out houses and rave reviews. Faculty
participation in the production included
choreography by Cassie Abate, musical
direction by Greg Bolin, scenic design by
Cheri Prough DeVol, lighting design by Sarah
EC Maines, and costume design by Sheila
Hargett. Evita was directed by MFA directing
student, J. Robert Moore.
BFA Musical Theatre alum (2014), Jennifer Foster,
is starring in the musical Carrie in Los Angeles.
The CTX Live Theatre review is here: https://
ctxlivetheatre.com/reviews/review-evita-by-texasstate-university/.
Regan Goins (BFA Acting 2015) attended the
Austin Premiere of My All American. The movie,
written and directed by Angelo Pizzo (Hoosiers,
Rudy), is based on the true story of UT-Austin’s
Freddie Steinmark. Regan has a featured role in
the film.
BFA Acting Alum Jacquelin Guillen opened
Judgment of Fools, written by Bernarndo
Cubria (The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, and
Henry Danger) at INTAR Theatre Company in
New York City. INTAR is one of the nation’s
leading Latino theatres.
Danezion Mills (BFA Acting 2015) continues to
work in Los Angeles with numerous auditions with
casting director Meg Lieberman and NCIS.
Alumni Accolades
Phoebe Torres (BFA Acting Alumni) is in the
new television series Flesh and Bone, a dark drama
about a dancer in New York City trying to escape a
dysfunctional family.
Tracy Arnold (MA in Directing 2013) directed
Other Desert Cities for the Wimberley Players and
is scheduled to direct Bus Stop at City Theatre
in Austin.
Julian Verner (MFA 2014) directed a production
of Naomi Wallace’s Trestle at Pope Lick Creek for
the newly-formed Catalyst Theatre in Atlanta.
Julian is a founding member of the company.
Department Accolades
(Mr. Burns – St. Edward)
Bill Peeler – Best Lighting Design
(When the Rain Stops Falling – Different Stages)
Philip Owen – Best Sound Design
(Streetcar – Texas State)
Outstanding Academic Theatre:
Texas State University
The entire list is here: http://
austinentertainmentweekly.com/2015/11/27/
announcing-the-nominees-for-the-2015-centraltexas-excellence-in-theatre-awards/
The University Star review is here: https://star.
txstate.edu/2015/11/19/evita-cast-deliverscommanding-performance/
Congratulations to faculty and students who
are nominated for the 2015 Central Texas
Excellence in Theatre Awards:
Neil Patrick Stewart in Splendid’s
Regan Goins – Best Actress in a Play
(Streetcar - Texas State)
Babs George – Best Actress in a Play
(Steel Magnolias - TexArts)
J. Robert Moore – Best Actor in a Musical
(Peter and the Starcatcher – Zach)
Christa Oliver – Best Choreography
(A Christmas Carol – Zach)
Liz Fisher – Best Original Play
(Deus ex Machina – Whirligig Productions)
Michelle Ney – Best Scenic Design
(A View from the Bridge – Texas State)
Sarah Maines – Best Lighting Design
Michaela Boissoneault as Evita; costumes by Sheila Hergett
along with thirteen Texas State Dance Majors
presented Choreographers’ Showcase November
12th and 13th. Also featured was CIMTEYA
directed by Kaysie Seitz Brown.
of modern dance pioneers Loie Fuller, Isadora
Duncan and Erick Hawkins Dancestry to 1500
Round Rock ISD high school and middle school
dance students on November 11th.
Dance faculty Pat Stone attended the Texas Dance
Improvisation Festival held at Texas Woman’s
University in Denton, Texas. In addition to
attending, Pat chaperoned ten Texas State
dance majors.
Alumni Accolades
Nicole Wesley hosted a residency with Texas
Tech Musicologist, Dr. Chris Smith, as part of
an ongoing transdisciplinary collaboration. Five
musicians from Texas Tech worked with five
dancers from Texas State embarking on a fulllength work to be presented in the spring. Texas
State students will visit Texas Tech in January 2016
to continue artistic collaboration.
DA NC E
Student Accolades
Texas Stare Dancers
Faculty Accolades
Assistant Professor Kaysie Seitz Brown hosted
a successful residency with the award–winning
multimedia dance company, ARCOS Dance,
funded by the University Lecturer Series.
ARCOS taught several master classes, gave two
lectures on the use of technology and dance, and
choreographed a work on Merge Dance Company.
They had an informal showing at the end of their
residency and the dance work created for Merge
will debut in March 2016.
Ana Baer Carrillo presented 15 one-minute video
dances during the event 60×60 at the Rudder
Theatre, College Station, TX. Ana also presented
a video collage for the COCO Dance Festival in
Port of Spain, Trinidad. This video performance
was a collaboration with Nicole Wesley and
Michelle Nance.
Shay Ishii and Kaysie Seitz Brown of the Shay
Ishii Dance Company presented excerpts of
Dancestry to 1500 Round Rock ISD high school
and middle school dance students on November
11th. Texas State University faculty, alumni and
students performed the historic works of modern
dance pioneers Loie Fuller, Isadora Duncan and
Erick Hawkins and engaged with the Round Rock
students in a post performance discussion about
history, dance careers, training and inspirations.
Twenty-five young essay contest winners were
selected to participate in a repertory master class
after the concert.
Michelle Nance, Ana Baer Carrillo (video design)
and Nicole Wesley performed the dance work,
Only Stars are Perfect, at the 2015 COCO Dance
Festival held at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain,
Trinidad. This was the 7th Annual Dance Festival
directed by the Contemporary Choreographers’
Collective (COCO); Nicole Wesley is one of the
artistic directors who produce the COCO festival.
Artistic Director LeAnne Smith and Lighting
Designer/Production Supervisor Scott Vandenberg
Dance students Amber Cantu, Laura Tijerina,
Tiffany Walter and Anne Wharton participated
in the Texas Tech/Texas State residency. The Texas
State and Tech students built a 14–minute work
entitled “Tentette” and had an informal showing
on Saturday, November 7th.
Dance Alumnus, Desiree Kostelink is touring
with RWS and Associates (talent agency out of
New York). She has been performing on cruise
ships around the world since September 2015.
Sarah Sanchez, a Texas State alum and
currently finishing her MFA at Sam Houston
State University, was chosen to be a part of an
experimental, Merce Cunningham–derived
Improvisation score at the 7th Annual Texas Dance
Improvisation Festival’s culminating Performance.
Alum Anna Antoniewicz performed excerpts
of Dancestry to 1500 Round Rock ISD high
school and middle school dance students on
November 11th.
Shuan Davis, Rose Troche, Laurel Krenek,
Kristal Tan, Kolbey Gonzales, Jillian Mason,
Cait Nixon, Arlin Busano, Alexis Lee and Anne
Wharton all attended the 2015 Texas Dance
Improv Festival held at Texas Woman’s University
in Denton, Texas this past October.
Texas State Dance Majors Alexandra Hayes,
Nicole Pina, Michelle Gundersen, Jasmine
Hamilton, Brianne Williams, Laura Tijerina,
Jaqueline Olivares, Melanie Benavides,
Taryn Gregory, Laura Rohloff, Macy Lopez,
Jonahira Cordero and Kolbey Gonzales
presented their original choreographies at the 2015
Choreographers’ Showcase held at Jowers Studio
Theatre.
Lynson Alexander, Andy Ayala, Amber Cantu,
Amanda Flinn, Jasmine Hamilton, Callie
Hardman, Kindra Idunoba, Natasha Martinez,
Sarah Nastoupil, Jacqueline Olivares, Cori
Snyder and Anne Wharton presented excerpts
Dancestry
C ol l e g e L e a de r sh i p
Dr. John Fleming
Ms. Deb Alley
Dea n
P: 512.245.2308 | F: 512.245.8386
jf 18@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 112 OM
Interim Cha ir
Depa r tment of Theatre a nd Da nce
P: 512.245.2147| dra lley@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 101 T HE A
M r . K e v i n D. Gi l l e y
D r . Th o m a s C l a r k
A ssista nt to t he Dea n, Outreach
P: 512.245.9170 | k.gilley@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 112 OM
D r . M a r y E l l e n C av i t t
A ssociate Dea n, Professor Music E ducation
a nd A ssociate Director
School of Music
P: 512.245.8450 | mc58@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 141 MU
Dr. L aur ie Fluk er
A ssociate Dea n a nd A ssociate Professor
School of Journa lism a nd Ma ss Communication
P: 512.245.2529 | lf 04@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 308 OM
Dr. Joey M a rtin
A ssociate Dea n a nd Director of Chora l Activities
School of Music
P: 512.245.3830 | jm59@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 146 MUS
Mr. K a r l Boysen
Director
School of Music
P: 512.245.2651 | tc24@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 101 MUS
Mr. Mich a el Niblett
Director
School of A r t a nd Design
P: 512.245.2611 | mn 25@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 2112 JCM
Dr . Ju dy Osk a m
Director
School of Journa lism a nd Ma ss Communication
P: 512.245.2656 | Osk a m@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 102 OM
Ms. LeAnne Smith
Director
Division of Da nce
P: 512.245.2949 | ls14@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 178 JOW
Director
College Advising Center
P: 512.245.1932 | kb04@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 110 OM
Dr. M elinda Vill agr a n
College of Fine A rts
a nd Communication
Design by:
Jen Stephenson
Texa s State Universit y
601 Universit y Drive
Sa n Ma rcos, Texa s 78666 - 4684
f inea r ts.t x state.edu
Photo Cred it:
Jessica MacFa rla ne
Au st in T. Wel ls
Ga le Wi ley
Cha ir
Depa r tment of Communication Studies
P: 512.245.2165 | mvilla@t x state.edu
Of f ice: 205 CEN T