Alumni News

UCI Drama Alumni Talk Post-Grad Success

UC Irvine drama alumni Garrett Deagon (BFA 2011) and Madisen Johnson (BFA 2015) recently returned to their alma mater to discuss their experience on the road with the national tour of “Annie,” which had local runs at OC’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts and LA’s Pantages Theatre... New University...

Cindy Lin Released New CD Album, French Character Pieces, by Centaur Records

UCI Alumna Cindy Lin (BM, 2003) released a new CD album, French Character Pieces, by Centaur Records Dr. Cindy Lin is a concert pianist and recording artist. While specializing in French music and American contemporary music, her repertoire also includes composers from the baroque period through...

Michael Moshe Dahan in Solo Exhibition at the John Sloan Art Gallery at Lock Haven University

Michael Moshe Dahan (MFA 2015) has a solo exhibition "Two Points of Failure" at the John Sloan Art Gallery at Lock Haven University, which opened October 26, 2015.

Jaymi Smith, Noelle Hoffman (MFA '11), and Karyn Lawrence (MFA '12) Nominated for Ovation Awards

Congratulations to our outstanding faculty and CTSA alumna for their 2015 Ovation Award nominations.  The Ovation Awards are the only peer-judged theatre awards in Los Angeles, created to recognize excellence in theatrical performance, production and design in the Greater Los Angeles area...

Kevin Jellison Hired as Professor of Guitar at Irvine Valley College

Kevin Jellison (BM 2015) has been hired as a part-time Professor of Guitar at Irvine Valley College, beginning this fall.

Johnathan Minei Appointed Guitar Program Director at El Camino College

Jonathan Minei (BM 2000) has been appointed as a full-time Professor and Director of the Guitar Program at El Camino College in Torrance, California.

Laura D'Andre Stars in 'Hair'

Laura D’Andre (BA Drama ’07) stars as Sheila in Hair at the Sacramento Music Circus. The production is musically directed by Senior Lecturer and Head of Music Theater, Dennis Castellano.

Allison Case Returning to Broadway

Allison Case (Drama ’05) is returning to Broadway and starring as Miss Honey in the hit musical, Matilda.   Broadway.com - Click to read article...  

Ryan Fransworth Appearing in National Tour of 'Beautiful – The Carol King Musical'

Ryan Farnsworth (BFA/Music Theatre ’09) will be appearing in the national tour of Beautiful - The Carol King Musical.  

Greg Louganis Film 'Back on Board' Exposes Pride of UCI and OC High Schools

A documentary on the pride of UC Irvine – and before that Santa Ana and Mission Viejo high schools – premieres on HBO. The four-time Olympic gold medal-winning diver at the center of director Cheryl Furjanic's Back on Board: Greg Louganis describes the documentary as "a raw look at my life."… OC...

Andrew Samonsky playing Cinderella’s Prince in ‘Into the Woods’

Andrew Samonsky (MFA/Acting ’03) is playing Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods at The Muny in St. Louis MO.    

Kari Yancy stars as Belle in ‘Beauty and the Beast’

Kari Yancy (BA/Drama ’11) stars as Belle in Beauty & the Beast at Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah.  

GRADUATE ALUMNUS MATT LIPPS, COMMISSIONED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE

Matt Lipps (MFA 2004) was commissioned by The New York Times Magazine to make the cover artwork for its current issue.

Ben Gibson Appearing in the Musical "Dogfight"

Ben Gibson (Drama ’13) is appearing in Dogfight at the Cygnet Theatre in San Diego, California.

Sharon Rietkirk and Laura D’Andre Star in the New Musical “Triangle”

Sharon Rietkirk (Drama/Honors in Music Theatre ’06) and Laura D’Andre (Drama ’07) star in the new musical, Triangle, at Theatreworks in Palo Alto, California.

Jenn Colella Playing the Title Role in "Peter Pan"

Jenn Colella (MFA/Acting ’02) is playing the title role in Peter Pan at the Sacramento Music Circus.

Graduate Alumnus Noritaka Minami, Appointed Assistant Professor of Photography at Loyola University Chicago

GRADUATE ALUMNUS NORITAKA MINAMI, APPOINTED ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO Noritaka Minami (MFA 2011) has been appointed Assistant Professor of Photography at Loyola University Chicago's Department of Fine and Performing Arts, effective August 2015. Since...

Graduate Alumnus Brett Doar Named As One of 10 Visual Artists Who Are Changing the Way We See Advertising, And the World

Graduate alumnus Brett Doar (MFA 2009 in ACE) named by Adweek as one of "10 Visual Artists Who Are Changing the Way We See Advertising, and the World," alongside Annie Leibovitz, Chris Milk, and Rama Allen.