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College of Arts and Humanities
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Name:Joseph and Ben Sasnett  
News:Two current BFA-Musical Theatre candidates Joseph Sasnett and Ben Sasnett have been invited to perform in a Broadway musical revue touring through Europe in summer 2010.
Name:Samantha Armitage  
News:Has been accepted and has accepted a position in the graduate program at Arizona State University where she will continue her studies in the field of Costume Design.
Name:Madeleine Cartwright   
News:“PS – I Love You,” a 10-minute play by Madeleine Cartwright, a senior theatre arts performance major, was chosen for presentation at the 2008 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for Region VII. In a field of nearly 70 scripts submitted to this year's contest, Maddie’s has been chosen as one of six to advance to the finals. The scripts were chosen by a panel of experts in Region II (mid-Atlantic region), who read the scripts "blind" (without any knowledge of the authors or schools who submitted). At this year's festival in Laramie, WY, award-winning student directors will cast and rehearse the plays, which will then be presented as staged readings. The winners of the regional 10-minute Play Contests are eligible to participate in a similar process at the National KCACTF Festival in Washington, DC in April.
Name:Matt Milton  
News:I just wanted to let you know that I was recently hired on as the technical theatre and design instructor at Renton High School and have also been brought on as the Technical Director at the IKEA Performing Arts Center, our performance space which doubles as a very busy rental theater. Right now I am very busy developing a brand-new curriculum and managing the theater. There is no drama program here, but hopefully next year I will be helping to get that started up again as well. Also, as you may know, I got married last August and (big news) now my wife and I are expecting our first child this June! Yeah, life for me is a little bit exciting. I miss everyone at CWU and am so thankful for the knowledge I gained in ALL areas of theatre while I was there, I use it every day! I hope all is well there, I hope to come over sometime before the end of the year so I will have to stop in.
Name:Sarah Peterson  
News:In the fall Sarah E Peterson will be attending the California Institute for the Arts as a Production Management candidate (culminating with MFA in Production Management) in the School of Theatre. They have offered a $13,000 scholarship.
Name:Joseph M Wilbur  
News:Joe Wilbur graduating spring 2007 will attend University of California, Irvine. MFA in Sound Design, Department of Drama in the fall. Teaching Assistantship includes full tuition waiver, health insurance, and generous stipend.
Name:Alicia James  
News:Alicia James recieved the Northwest Drama Conference Undergraduate Scholarly Paper award at the 2007 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for Region VII, which was held on the CWU campus Feb. 20-25. James' paper entitled "Anti-Semitism in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and the Modern Audience" will be published in the annual issue of the Northwest Theatre Review in 2008.
Name:C. David Mackie  
News:C. David Mackie, a junior theatre arts design and technology major, recieved the Northwest Drama Conference Light Design Award of Merit for his lighting design for the Ellensburg Dance Center production of "Swan Lake." Mackie also did a presentation on "Wearable Light," in a non-competitive category, sharing the technology he used to create the flashing codpiece in the CTE production of "Blankity-Blank!" Mackie has been invited to present a workshop on wearable light at the 2008 KCACTF conference in Laramie, WY.
Name:Joseph Wilbur  
News:Joe Wilbur, a senior theatre arts design/technology major was the first-place winner of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival sound design competition for his sound design for the Central Theatre Ensemble production of Hard Times. The 2007 American College Theatre Festival, Region VII was held on the CWU campus Feb. 20-25. Wilbur will represent Central Washington University at the national festival held annually each April at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This marks the sixth consecutive year that a student from the Department of Theatre Arts has been invited to compete at the national level. Wilbur is one of only eight students from the nation who will be invited to D.C. to compete natioanlly in the area of sound design.
Name:Sarah Peterson  
News:Sarah Peterson, junior theatre arts major with a double emphasis in design/technology and theatre management, was the first-place winner of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival sound design competition for her sound design for the Central Theatre Ensemble production of The Foreigner. The 2006 Northwest Drama Conference/American College Theatre Festival, Region VII was held in Pasco, WA Feb. 21-25. Peterson will represent Central Washington University at the national festival held annually each April at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This marks the fifth consecutive year that a student from the Department of Theatre Arts has been invited to compete at the national level. Peterson is one of only eight students from the nation who will be invited to D.C. to compete in the area of sound design.
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GRADUATE STUDENTS
Name:David Gay  
News:David Gay, a third-year Master of Arts in Theatre Production candidate, reports that his recent production of "Guys and Dolls" at Alpharetta High School in Alpharetta, GA garnered group and individual awards. "We entered an affiliate of the Jimmy awards - Shuler Hensley Awards," says Gay. "'Guys and Dolls' was nominated for eight awards. We won for Orchestra and our Miss Aidelaide moves to the Jimmy awards this spring. Keep your fingers crossed - the winner gets $100,000 to attend the New York school of her choice."
Name:Ellicia Mertens  
News:Ellicia Mertens, MA third year candidate and director at Richland High, received five nominations for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, including Outstanding Set Design, Outstanding Hair and Make-up Design, Outstanding Costume Design (honorable mention,) Outstanding Program Design, and Outstanding Performance for an Actress in a Lead Role (Lauren Smith as the Narrator). Eighty productions entered this year, making this is a huge honor for all those nominated. More info can be found at the 5th Avenue web page, http://www.5thavenue.org/education/highschoolawards-2007.aspx
Name:Greg Pschirrer  
News:Greg Pschirrer, third year MA candidate and instructor at Lewis and Clark HS, Spokane, WA received five nominations in his first year entering the 5th Avenue awards for Grease, including acting nominations, a nomination for lighting design, orchestra, and an honorable mention for Outstanding Overall Production. Eighty productions entered this year, making this is a huge honor for all those nominated. More info can be found at the 5th Avenue web page, http://www.5thavenue.org/education/highschoolawards-2007.aspx
Name:Amber Peoples  
News:Amber Peoples, Theatre Production masters candidate and graduate teaching assistant, earned Central Washington Universitys $700 Masters Research Grant for her proposal entitled Mexico Immersion to Produce and Direct Bocn!. Earning one of four grants given each year, Peoples will travel to Mexico during August to research Mexican culture and communication as well as acquire authentic costumes and props. This experience will increase her ability to connect with middle school Bridges Project students, who are integral to the production of Bocn!, and more accurately infuse Latino life and themes into her direction of the play which constitutes the Theatre Arts Departments inaugural studio project.
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FACULTY MEMBERS
Name:Scott Robinon  
News:Scott Robinson, chair, is the 2009 recipient of the Selfless Service Above and Beyond Award by the Washington State Thespian Society.
Name:Nadine Pederson  
News:Dr. Nadine Pederson spent the past summer in Paris pursuing her groundbreaking study on French theatre history. Through the examination of primary documents, specifically French law books and financial records, Dr. Pederson has unearthed evidence of a previously undiscovered Master of the Revels system in Renaissance France paralleling the English system. The continued support of her study is not merely impressive for CWU, but imperative for the discipline and our expanding knowledge of world theatre history.
Name:George Bellah and Elise Forier  
News:George Bellah and Elise Forier completed an international workshop and culminating performance in Noh Theatre at the Noh Theatre Project in Bloomsburg, PA. Bellah and Forier will be collaborating over the next 18 months on mounting a classic Greek work in the traditional Noh Theatre style. This project will serve to further not only their own scholarship and research interests, but also support the CWU Asia/Pacific Studies program.
Name:Terri Brown  
News:Dr, Terri Brown, director of the musical theatre BFA, and David Brown, musical theatre director for the Department of Theatre Arts, have been invited to return to Edgewater Records in Atlanta, GA, for three recording projects in summer 2010. Dr. Brown will be singing on the projects and Mr. Brown will be arranging the material.
Name:Elise Forier  
News:Elise Forier will be honored at Homecoming 2009 as the CAH teacher of the year.
Name:Elise Forier  
News:Elise Forier has been chosen by the Teacher Professional Education Advisory Board (Teacher PEAB ) to receive the Crystal Apple Award for a faculty member in the College of Arts and Humanities who has a positive impact on the field of teacher preparation and CWU pre-service candidates. The award will be presented at the Teacher PEAB-sponsored Top Ten Student Teacher reception at 4:00 pm on Friday, June 12th, 2009 in Sue Lombard.
Name:Christina Barrigan  
News:Christina Barrigan, CTE resident lighting designer, will offer her considerable talent to three Idaho Repertory productions in summer 2009: "Unnecessary Farce," "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Chaps!"
Name:Scott Robinson  
News:Robinson has teamed up with 2007 alum Debra Susi as costume designer for the US premiere of FAME FOREVER: Reunion and Rebirth. Robinson will join creator David De Silva September 21, 2007 at the U.S. premiere with the New York based creative team Ben Winter, who wrote the books and lyrics, and Steve Margoshes, who wrote the music for "Fame Forever." Susi's musical director will be Michael Peterson of Oakland.
Name:Elise Forier  
News:Forier has been named as one of 50 dramatists to watch in Amcerican theatre by the Dramatist Guild's July 2007 publication The Dramatist
Name:Michael J. Smith  
News:Smith will star in the world premiere of "Kosher Lutherans" written and directed by William Missouri Downs, at the University of Wyoming Summer Theatre. The play is about an infertile Jewish couple who find a young pregnant girl from Iowa who is willing to let them adopt her out-of-wedlock baby. The only problem is the girl doesn't know that they're Jewish. All she knows about Jews is what her farmer father told her, "They control Hollywood and killed Jesus." In an attempt not to blow the deal, the couple pretends that they're Lutherans and discovers how far they are willing to go to have a family. The production runs July 10-14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Studio Theatre. For tickets and information visit: www.uwyo.edu/finearts
Name:Wesley Van Tassel  
News:Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland will host a reading of the new play "Hot Dish" by Wesley Van Tassel on June 24 at 6 p.m.
Name:Brenda Hubard  
News:Hubbard will be starring as Lucille Cadeau in the Artists Repertory Theatre production of "House and Garden" by Alan Ayckbourn, Spet. 4 through Oct. 14 in Portland. In it, two interlocking plays are performed simultaneously on two separate stages with a single cast that dashes madly back and forth (and up and down stairs) to make their entrances and exits. In House, a luncheon is being prepared. In Garden a midsummer maypole fete is in the works. Shuttling between the two are a highly comic series of catastrophes and intertwined relationships that will leave you literally gasping to know what might be happening just out of sight in the other theater. For tickets and information visit: www.artistsrep.org
Name:Christina Barrigan  
News:Christina Barrigan has been awarded one of the three College of Arts and Humanities Summer Scholarship/Creativity Grants and will be travleing to Cota Rica to participate in "Flauta Revisada," a three-nation digital re-imagining of Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Under the direction of the Institute for Digital-Performing Arts (IDPA) the production team will use new technology and developing new visual language for the performing arts by using new media servers called Axon and new video visual elements found in digital lighting (DL2). This new technology will allow all scenery and many of the characters to be video projected. The production will premiere in San Jose, Costa Rica in mid-July 2007 and travel in early August to Mazatlan, Mexico for additional performances. After performances in Mazatlan, it will travel to Austin, Texas in September for the United States premiere.
Name:Scott Robinson  
News:Scott Robinson was the recipient of the College of Arts and Humanities 2007 Distinguished Chair Award at the CAH Banquet held on May 15, 2007.
Name:Scott Robinson  
News:Scott Robinson was awarded the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion of Excellence, at the American College Theatre Festival, held on the CWU campus Feb. 20-25, 2007. Robinson has served as the Region VII Chief Financial Officer for the past five years. According to the Kennedy Center, "The medallion is presented to outstanding teachers and artists who have made significant contributions to the life of the Region. Most importantly, recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to the values and goals of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and to excellence in educational theatre."
Name:Elise Forier  
News:Elise Forier has been chosen to as one of eight people to participate in the national Playwrights in our Schools 2007 Mentorship Program. As a mentor, Forier will be assigned a high school student playwright and, over the course of a year, will work with that student on their original play. The committee that chose Forier said We were most impressed by your experience with young writers, the quality of your writing samples, and the endorsement of your peers. Her colleagues on this project are among the most esteemed and influential authors of plays for young people in America today.
Name:Christina Barrigan  
News:Christina Barrigan recently donated her time and expertise to Masquers Theatre in Soap Lake, conducting a training session on the operation of a new light board in that facility. Randy Johnstad, facilties director and CWU theatre arts alumni, says, "Christina Barrigan came to our theater for a light board training session that was wonderful. Her calm and expertise made all in attendance able to shed their fear and apprehension of just touching it. Her training has greatly expanded our use of the board and will add greatly to the enjoyment of our audience.
Name:George Bellah  
News:George Bellah recently traveled with a contingency of 30 American professors to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The trip, coordinated by the United Institute for Theatre Technology, focused on the theatre, dance, costumes, and puppetry of those regions. What was most striking to me was the vast cultural difference between those nations and the U.S., says Bellah. The juxtaposition of abject poverty and lavish wealth was staggering. But in all three nations we witnessed an incredible level of discipline and commitment that all of the artists bring to their art. Bellah will be giving several presentations on his travels both on campus and at local grade schools. He will also incorporate his experiences into a new Asian Drama course, and has begun writing an extensive account of his experiences.
Name:Elise Forier  
News:Forier was recently selected for the Playwright's Development Workshop at the Orcas Theatre and Community Center, on Orcas Island, January 23-29, 2006. This invitation will allow Forier the opportunity to workshop one of her many new plays in progress, while spending a week of serenity and splendor on the Island while enjoying an environment of mentoring and growth with playwrights from throughout the region. She is one of four Washington playwrights selected for the honor, and as she puts it "it looks like a pretty dang cool opportunity."
Name:Michael J. Smith  
News:Michael J. Smith has recently been appointed to the regional selection committee for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. As a selection team member, Smith will travel to colleges throughout a seven-state region reviewing some of the best theatrical productions in the Northwest and then will participate in the annual process of choosing which plays will be invited to perform at the regional conference held each February. These regional participants are then considered for advancement to the national conference in Washington, D.C, held each year in April.
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STAFF MEMBERS
Name:Laura Reinstatler  
News:Has been hired to work as the Costume Shop Manager for Idaho Repertory Theatre's summer season.
Name:Dave Barnett  
News:David Barnett recently attended two sound conferences in Dallas, Texas. The first was called "Sound Reinforcement for Operators," where Barnett learned to operate, adjust and troubleshoot sound systems in order to achieve the best sound quality possible. The second conference, "Sound Reinforcement for Technicians," focused on the assembly and installation of sound systems based on venue space and production requirements.
Name:Leslee Caul  
News:This years recipient of the CAH Staff Recognition Award, Leslee Caul, has established a thriving marketing department to support the Theatre Arts' degree programs and the productions of Central Theatre Ensemble, and launched a national ad campaign and marketing plan in 2005 that is causing quite a buzz both regionally and nationally. Caul was presented the award at a gathering of the college faculty and staff, hosted by CAH Dean Dr. Marji Morgan. Caul is a 1994 graduate of CWU's Department of English and has worked in the Department of Theatre Arts for 11 years.
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ALUMNI
Name:Joanna Horowitz  
News:Joanna will be performing her one-woman country musical “100 Heartbreaks” for a six-night, fully staged, run at the Capitol Hill Arts Center in Seattle, Feb. 15,16, 22, 23, 29, March 1. The play, is a tongue-in-cheek story about an aspiring country singer trying to accumulate songwriting inspiration by suffering through 100 heartbreaks. It is directed by Jennifer Zeyl (a former Stranger Genius Award winner and Artistic Director of Washington Ensemble Theatre), with musical direction by John Osebold of the band “Awesome.” Joanna is also producing the show, funding the project, and serving as marketing director. For ticket information visit the production website at www.100heartbreaks.com.
Name:Autumn Brown  
News:"The Deadly Game" opened this past weekend [Jan 4, 2008] at the Long Beach Playhouse directed by CWU alum Autumn Brown.
Name:Debra Susi  
News:WATERVILLE — Waterville again finds itself in the national performing arts spotlight, having been chosen to host the U.S. premiere of the theatrical production of "Fame Forever," the sequel to "Fame, the Musical." The Waterville Opera House will be the venue for the Sept. 21 show, which had its international premiere May 3 in Glasgow, Scotland. "We will be the first place in the United States that will do this show -- it's just amazing," Opera House Executive Director Diane Bryan said. Debra Susi, who directed "Fame" at the Opera House last year, will direct "Fame Forever." After the premiere, performances will continue at the Opera House on Sept. 22 and 23 and Sept. 28-30. Susi will be joined by CWU designer Scott R. Robinson who will design costumes for the US premiere.
Name:Dominica Myers  
News:Dominica Myers wrote a one-act play called "How's Your Love Life," which was produced in May 2007 by Robey Theatre Company and Against Type Theatre in their Medley of One Acts at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. An executive from ABC/Disney's Talent Development Department saw the play and has arranged to commission a special performance of it at Disney's national leadership conference in Anaheim in September to be viewed by ABC/Disney executives from all around the country.
Name:Misty Carson  
News:Misty Carson, new drama teacher at Redmond High School, received nominations for Outstanding Scenic Design, Outstanding Lighting Design, Outstanding Stage Crew and Honorable Mention for a Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role from the work on recent production of Oklahoma! Eighty productions entered this year, making this is a huge honor for all those nominated. More info can be found at the 5th Avenue web page, http://www.5thavenue.org/education/highschoolawards-2007.aspx
Name:Jeannie Brzovic  
News:Jeannie Brzovic, recent graduate and teacher at Mount Lake Terrace, received honorable mentions for Outstanding Overall Production and Outstanding Direction for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, her Masters thesis project. Eighty productions entered this year, making this is a huge honor for all those nominated. More info can be found at the 5th Avenue web page, http://www.5thavenue.org/education/highschoolawards-2007.aspx
Name:Autumn Brown  
News:ARTICLE ON AUTUMN BROWN, CWU GRADUATE MASTERS

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1346327.php
Saturday, December 2, 2006

Brookhurst Junior High Teacher Honored with County Award
By CELESTE NAVEJAS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM On stage, a girl pretends to be driving.
She picks up one hitchhiker after another, students improvising their roles: One child actor speaks too loudly, one is a killer and another is shy.
Autumn Browne is into her role, too.
"Keep moving ... visualize the scene," she tells her third-period class.
She is a drama teacher at Brookhurst Junior High in Anaheim, and last month received the Outstanding Contributions to Education Award from the Orange County Department of Education. "She deserves it," says seventh-grader Bijan Kazerooni. "She's one in a million, always there to support you." The award is presented six times a year to teachers and organizations.

"I'm thrilled as an actor, it's always nice to be recognized," Browne says. Browne directs students in about 10 productions each year and leads a weekend field trip to Hollywood for a behind-the-scenes look at movie-making. Her career began as a journalist. She then headed for Hollywood and became a television actress, filming numerous commercials.

"She encourages us to speak up, to take that chance 'Jump off the cliff,' as she always says," explains seventh-grader Nicole Islam. Now, of course, Browne is giving children the love of the stage and, perhaps, the groundwork for a career like hers. "In September, the classes are so quiet," Browne says. "But then to see a kid who's quiet start trying and begin to grow is great. I cry at every one of their shows."

Age: 49
Family: Husband, Michael Buss
Residence: Santa Ana
Hobbies: Going to plays and movies; reading mystery novels, traveling
Education:
B.A. in communications, emphasis in Radio/TV, Cal State Fullerton;
Teaching credential Chapman University;
Master's in theater production, Central Washington University
Quote: "I'd rather be on stage."
Name: Kristin Calhoun  
News:Kristin Calhoun, a native of Poulsbo, will begin a stage management internship in August at South Coast Rep. Located in Costa Mesa, CA. South Coast Rep is among the premiere regional theatres in the country. Calhoun, who earned her B.A. with an emphasis in theatre management this spring, staged managed several CWU productions including the intricate musical Working and the Youth Theatre Tour production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Name:Alex Garnett  
News:Alex Garnett is directing a production of "Taking Steps," a farce by Alan Ayckbourn, at the Masquers Theater in Soap Lake July 14-16 and 21-23. Last summer Garnett directed a bill of his original one-act plays at the same venue. Joining Garnett in the ensemble cast are current CWU theatre students Isaiah Crowson, James Frasca, Emily Rose Shotwell, and Daniel Zertuche, as well as 2005 graduate Rose Kinne, who will be pursuing her MFA in playwriting at the University of Idaho this fall. For dates, times and ticket prices, visit the Masquers Theater website at: http://www.masquers.com/
Name:Theresa McLean  
News:Theresa McLean, former student and co-costume designer for Central Theatre Ensemble's production of "West Side Story" has recently accepted a position working as Head Seamstress with one of Barnum and Bailey's tours. Theresa spent many hours as a valued costume shop employee and graduated with a BA in history. Although her degree was in history, her valued contributions for the Theatre Arts Department make her forever part of our Theatre family. Good Luck Theresa!
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OTHER
Name:  
News:O'Neill Center's NATIONAL THEATRE INSTITUTE at CWU October 26 with workshops for students 2:30 and 4:00 pm
Name:New play project  
News:Central Theatre Ensemble’s New Plays for Youth Playwriting Project has found great success. The first commissioned play, “Mama Tomcat’s Flying School,” by Spring Hermann, was the Youth Theatre Tour production in 2009, with a sold-out schedule. Seattle-based teacher and nationally renowned playwright Ramon Esquivel, will be in residence this winter to begin the development process for his new play, “Luna.” Staged readings will be presented for the public and for invited elementary school audiences winter 2010, with the play slated for the 2012 Youth Theatre Tour. “Luna” is the story of a young girl who has trouble making friends because her family is always moving on to the next seasonal job. In an effort to find a lasting bond she befriends the moon in this stirring story of the isolation that often plagues the children of migrant workers.
Name:MA Theatre Studies  
News:CWU is now proud to offer the only academic-focused Master of Arts degree in the State. This first-year program is off to a vibrant start with enrollment at full capacity with a growing interest and enthusiasm from prospective new students. The cohort includes students from Washington, Florida, Texas and Colorado, as well as an international student from Lebanon who is also a Fulbright Scholar.
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