UCI Drama Alumnus Alan Mingo Jr. Returns to Campus During The Wiz run at Segerstrom

Broadway and touring veteran speaks with music theatre students about craft, financial sustainability and professional practice

While performing as The Wizard in The Wiz at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, UCI Drama alumnus Alan Mingo Jr., a Broadway and national touring performer whose credits include Rent, The Lion King, Kinky Boots and The Little Mermaid, returned to the UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts (UCI Arts) to speak with students in Professor Myrona DeLaney’s Music Theatre Workshop Level II course.

The visit offered music theatre and drama students the opportunity to engage directly with a working professional currently performing on a major national tour, connecting classroom training with the realities of professional practice.

Part of UCI Arts’ music theatre training sequence, Music Theatre Workshop Level II is the second course in the series and focuses on song and text development through applied study. Mingo’s candid discussion emphasized not only craft, but also the financial, personal and professional decisions required to sustain a life in the theater.

For many students, the conversation stood out for its honesty.

“Getting to hear from Alan was like a breath of fresh air, no overdone ‘Chase your dream!’ speeches, just the honest truth about the industry and the realities of being an actor,” said drama major Gus Dietz ’28.

Jessica Lopez ’26, B.F.A. in music theatre, said seeing a UCI alumnus working at a high level made a difference. “Seeing a UCI alum thriving in the industry gave me so much hope and encouragement to continue pursuing my dreams,” said Lopez. “One of my biggest takeaways was his emphasis on how being a good person and maintaining a strong work ethic can take you far in your career.”

During the talkback, Mingo spoke at length about financial sustainability, encouraging students to view money as part of their professional responsibility rather than a source of shame.

“For artists, sometimes we feel ashamed to think about having more money, because we sort of sacrifice,” said Mingo. He described the early years of balancing training, auditions and survival jobs, and urged students to ask questions about pay, contracts and long-term planning. “Be curious. Ask those questions. Once I figured out what I needed to survive, I started thinking about what my talent was worth.”

Mingo shared how building stability over time allowed him to approach auditions and career decisions with greater confidence and calm. 

“When I walked into auditions, it wasn’t like I needed the role to survive,” said Mingo. “If you take me, you take me. If you don’t, I’m not devastated.”

He encouraged students to explore supportive work outside of performance that allows flexibility and security, noting that financial stability can empower artists to take creative risks rather than limiting them.

Image: Alan Mingo Jr. with Myrona DeLaney and Professor Daniel Keeling with students in Music Theatre Workshop Level II.

The conversation also addressed professional conduct and reputation. When asked about contracts and non-negotiables, Mingo spoke about learning how to advocate for himself with context and experience, and about the importance of treating colleagues with respect.

“This industry is very connected. Being a kind, professional person with a strong work ethic goes a long way,” said Mingo.

That message resonated with students across disciplines.

“My main takeaway from his talkback was not being afraid to advocate for yourself and to always be a kind person who earns respect from your peers,” said drama major Nene Makinoda ’26.

Music theatre student Nicole Warkentien ’26 described the visit as both motivating and affirming. “It was so inspiring to attend the talkback with Alan Mingo Jr. because he gave such encouragement through his words of wisdom and his exciting stories about being on Broadway and in national tours,” she said.

Mingo’s career spans Broadway, touring productions and television. His stage credits include Rent, The Little Mermaid, Kinky Boots and The Wiz, as well as national tours of The Lion King, Hairspray and Shrek the Musical. His television work includes recurring roles on Doom Patrol and Tales of the City, with appearances on Frasier and Law & Order. In 2016, he received the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance as Lola in Kinky Boots.

For students in the room, Mingo’s visit emphasized that artistic training and practical knowledge go hand in hand and that sustainability is part of the craft.

To learn more about the UC Irvine Department of Drama, visit drama.arts.uci.edu.