We invite all of our alums (whether or not you majored in Theatre) to contact us to be included on this page. We'll be happy to link to your own website or simply include a line or two telling what you are currently doing. You may also wish to correct or update any information already listed. If you played a role on our stage or had a part in the production of any of our shows over the years, please contact us at mutheatreupdate@missouri.edu to submit your information.
Alums are listed alphabetically by their names when they were at MU along with their dates of degree.
Dewey Caddell (BA '03) Stage Actor/Commercial TV. Irish Repertory Theatre/NY. Music Theatre Louisville . Stage One/Theatre Memphis. Member AEA. Caddell on Facebook >>
Santana (Brandy) Dempsey (BA '04) Actress/Dancer. Feature Film/SONY/NYC. Off Broadway/Wreckio Ensemble. Workshop/Target,Margin Theatre. Freelance Commercial Work. Dempsey on Facebook >>
Brock Fisher (MA '01, PhD '04) Professor/Actor/Director. Chair of Fine Arts/Assistant Professor, Stillman College/Tuscaloosa AL. Former Interim Chair/Assistant Professor Fine Arts/Bethel College/Indiana. Interim Chair/Assistant Professor Georgia College & State University
Mike Hall (BJ '05) Winner of ESPN Dream Job 2004. Sports Anchor/ESPN "Sports Center" 2004-05. Signature Anchor/SCPNU 2005-07. Sports Anchor/Big Ten Network 2007. Sideline Reporter/NFL/FOX 2007s
Angela Howard (BA '02) Actress/Singer/Dancer/Teacher/Director. Melange Dance Ensemble/Denver CO. Columbia Entertainment Company. Premiere Cast of Mizzou On Broadway. Co-Artistic Director of PACE
Lauren Kiesling (Lauren Palmer) (BA '05) Alumni Events Manager for Marymount University, living in the Washington, DC, area. Involved in community theatre, most recently with The Arlington Players.
Ben Kennedy (BJ '07) Reporter for WPLG, the ABC affilliate in Miami, Florida
Natalie Pinkston (BA '04) Improv comedy with The Groundlings, Los Angeles;
appeared on Comedy Central’s Distraction and The Oxygen Network’s Girls Behaving Badly;
Improv comedy with The Upright Citizens Brigade and The People’s Improv Theatre, New York City;
The Circle In The Square Theatre School’s Professional Acting Program;
Currently Ms. Pinkston's first play, “Bumps In The Night” is being produced by Discovery Hill Productions off-Broadway in February 2010.
W. Douglas Powers (PhD '01): theatre professor, actor, director, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA
Tom Prater (MA '83, PhD '03) Teacher/Actor/Playwright. Gifted Program/Columbia Public School System. Boone County/MU Theatre Historian. Premiere Cast of Mizzou on Broadway
Brandon Schraml (BA '03) Off Broadway/Film Actor. National Tours
Heather Shisler (BA '07) Actress/Broadcast Journalist. Regional Theatre/NYC. Improv Troup/Broadway Comedy Club. Small Film/Feature Film Work/NYC. Post-Graduate Work/NYU/Tisch School
Todd Sklar (attended MU 2002-2005) Film Director. Sundance/Tribeca Film Festivals. Fox Network
Claire Syler (BA '02) Actress/Director/Academic. Adjunct Faculty/Belmont University/TN. Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Nashville Children's Theatre. Nashville Shakespeare Festival. Tennessee Repertory Theatre. MFA/University of Memphis/2005.
Afton Thomas (Afton Sanders) (BA '03) Director of Arts Education and Box Office Manager, The Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts; theatre class instructor and Encore Cast Director for TheatreReaching Young People and Schools (TRYPS), Columbia, MO. MA/California State, Sacramento/2009
Charlene Widener (PhD '06) Professor/Director of Theatre. Hutchinson Community College/KS. President/HCC Faculty Senate. Member KS National Education Association. Board of Hutchinson Theatre Guild
David M. White (PhD '05) Playwright/Director/Artistic Director/Assistant Professor
Artistic Director of WordBRIDGE Playwrights Laboratory and Assistant Professor at Towson University.
Charles E. Willis, III (BA ‘05): MU Computer Engineering student; co-founder Independent Actors Theatre
Lindsey Alley (BA,'00): Actress/Singer/Comedienne. Off Broadway/"Look Ma No Ears."Broadway/"Hollywood Arms." Disney New Mickey Mouse Club. SAG/AFTRA/AEA
Antoinette Broderick (attended MU 1992-1994) Storyteller/Actress/Writer/NYC. Founder of Cinderella Factory. Productions/A Storyteller Workshop. Performed with Goodman Theatre, Hartford Stage, Steppenwolf, Footsteps & Thirteenth Tribe Theatre. Member AEA
Candy Coburn (BA '98) Singer/Songwriter. Country/Rock Stylist. Nashville/Texas Charts
Jennifer Davis Gray (BA '93) Singer/Actress. "Always …Patsy Cline" Tour & New York Production 1995-99. Commendation from Kennedy Center for "Assassins"/ACTF/1993. Member AEA
Kurt Edwards (BA '95): theatre professor, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
Chris Faith (BA '93): Off Broadway Actor. Professor/Boston Conservatory. MFA/Brandeis University
Cyndy Gendrich (PhD '97): Associate Professor, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Jon Hamm (BA English '93): Film/TV/Stage Actor. Golden Globe Award Winner 2008. Screen Actors Guild Nominee 2008 for Best Actor in a TV Drama Series. Mad Men/AMC/Golden Globe for Best TV Drama Series. Featured Guest Actor/Thirty Rock (NBC). Two Emmy nominations 2009 for Mad Men and Thirty Rock.
Elizabeth Homan (PhD '97): Assistant Professor, Catawba College, Salisbury, NC
Woodrow Hood (PhD '97): Chair, Department of Theatre Arts, Catawba College, Salisbury, NC
Shirley Huston-Findley (PhD '98): Chair, Department of Theatre, College of Wooster, OH
Clista Jarrett (BA '99) Professional Stage Manager. Props Master/Technician. Blue Man Group/Cats/Fosse. National/International Tours. Houston/Utah Shakespeare Festival. IATS Journeyman Local 415 (AZ)
Mark Kelty (PhD '98): Director of Theatre Arts, assistant professor, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO
Melanie Moore Paxson (BA '94): Actress/Comedienne/Singer. Second City/ Steppenwolf/ Chicago. National TV Commercial for Glad. TV Movie of Three's Company. NBC Sitcom Happy Family. ABC/Notes from the Underbelly. MU Distinguished Alum 2005
Genia Morgan (MU BA '94) Actress/Dancer/Choreographer. Independent & Feature Films. Television/Commercials/Industrials. Theatre/Off-Broadway/Regional. National & International Tours. 2007 National Black Theatre Festival. 2007 Audelco Award Nominee. Choreographer/ "Strands"/ ACTF Kennedy Center Winner 1991. MA/Howard University/1996
Ken Pogin (BA '97): ProductionTour manager for the Minnesota Ballet
Bill Register (BA '94) Associate Manager/Shubert Theatre/Chicago. Assistant Manager/ Riverdance. Associate Manager Gershwin Theatre/NY. House Manager/Neil Simon Theatre/NY. Director of Operations/Nederlander Organization/NY. Associate Company Manager/Wicked/LA. MA/MSU/2006
Robin Stone (PhD, '99): assistant theatre professor, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
Craig Taggart (BA '96) Actor/Costume Designer/LA. Southern Baptist Sissies (Stage). Pageant: The Musical (Stage). Sordid Lives: The Series/TV (Co-star and Designer). NAACP Award Nominee/Best Costume Design for Trials & Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife
Arthur Alvis
(ABD, 1982) President CommTech Communication Technologies in Wichita, KS
arthura@commtech-fastcom.com
Carolyn Anthony (1978-1983) Personal talent manager in NYC
Reginald Ballard (MU 1987-1988) TV/Film/Commercials. Stage Actor/Stand-Up. SAG/AFTRA
Debra Bruch (PhD, '83): theatre professor, Michigan Technological University
Brent Briscoe (BA '84): Film/Stage Actor. Film/Television Screenwriter Sling Blade/A Simple Plan
Brooke Browne (Brooke Dillman) (BA '88): actress, Los Angeles
Sean Clark (BA '82): Playwright/Screen Writer/Producer. Associate Professor/Department of Film University of Nevada/Las Vegas. Writing & Production of Coach (ABC)/ Northern Exposure (CBS)/ Evening Shade (CBS). MFA/University of Iowa/1988
Billy Clow (BA '85) Interim Associate Dean/College of Liberal Studies & Director of the School of Arts & Communication, University of Wisconsin/La Crosse. Head of Production & Design/Stephens College 1989-1996. MFA/Illinois State University/1989
Jill Cordle Mont (BA '82): Broadway Stage Manager 1977-Present. National Tours Off-Broadway, Regional & Children's Theatre. Member AEA & AGVA. MU University Scholar/Phi Beta Kappa. MFA/Illinois State University/2002
Jerry Eisenhour (PhD '82) Theatre Professor/Director/Actor, Eastern Illinois University
Mark Fauser (BA '84): Film/Stage Actor. Film/TV Screenwriter. Waking Up In Reno/The Right To Remain Silent/Evening Shade (CBS). Scholar In Residence/MU/2004
Joe Gately (BA '88): Off Broadway/Film/TV Actor. ABC/All My Children. Burt Reynolds Jupiter Theatre
Tom Hellie (PhD '85): theatre professor, Executive Director, James S. Kemper Foundation. President/Linfield College Oregon. Professor/Hiram College, Ohio
Amy Hunt Mayer (BA '84) Actress/Comedienne/Singer. Stage/TV/Film – Los Angeles CA. Member of duo for "The Filmz" CD Released in 2007/San Diego CA. AEA//SAG/AFTRA
Trent Armand Kendall (BA '90): Stage Actor/Comedian/Singer. National Commercials/ TV/ Films. Broadway/Off Broadway Musicals. First National Tours/Broadway. Original Cast Album Recordings. London's West End & Europe. Member AEA
Harriet Cleo King (MU 1980-1984): Actress/Singer/Comedienne. Film/TV/Off Broadway. Broadway/National Tours. Los Angeles CA/New York NY. SMS Talent Inc./Los Angeles. AEA/SAG/AFTRA
Carol W. Krause (PhD '90): playwright
Paul Lartonoix (BA '81) Technician/Designer/Academic. Assistant Dean/College of Arts & Humanities/University of Central Florida/Orlando FL. Executive Director (Producer) of Orlando Repertory Theatre 2002-07. Manager/Anheuser Busch Creative Services. Southern Illinois University @ Edwardsville Technician/Teacher/Administrator. BA/MU/1997. MFA/1981/Lindenwood University MO
Gary Mickelson (BA '89) Professional Stage Manager. Broadway Productions of Gypsy/2008, Company/2007, Chita Rivera:The Dancer's Life, The Lion In Winter, Triumph of Love, Victor/Victoria. Broadway National Tours of The Producers, Hairspray, Grease. Member AEA
Barbara Molette (PhD '89): playwright (Professor Emerita, Eastern Connecticut State University), world premiere of Prudence at Connecticut. Repertory Theatre (Febuary 2006)
Dennita Sewell (BA '88) Curator of Fashion Design Phoenix Art Museum. Former Collections Manager of Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute/New York City. MFA/Yale/1992
Johanna Schukai Schloss (BA & BS Ed ’ 8) Associate Director of Education at Delaware Theatre Company (LORT) 2005-present. Taught theatre in Rockwood School District in Missouri. Musical director/pianist/educator at Stages St. Louis. Actress/director/musical director/teacher. Member SAG-AFTRA.
Walter Smith (BA, 198x) President of Whole Brain Films in Phoenix, AZ www.wholebrainfilms.com
Nancy Sommer (BS Fashion Design '85) Creative Director Juicy Couture Baby/NYC. Adjunct Professor Fashion Institute of Technology/NYC. Garment Industry Veteran. Designer for All Major Retailers
Kenn Stilson (MA '87, PhD '91) Director/Actor/Writer. Professor/Former Chair/Department of Theatre & Dance Southeast MO State University. Co-Author of Acting Is Believing. Feature Film/"Fire Lily"/2008
Rhonda Weller-Stilson (MA '90) Costume/Scenic Designer. Associate Professor of Theatre. Chair/Department of Theatre & Dance Southeast MO State University. MFA/Tulane University/1992
Kelly Wiegant Mangan (BA '87): properties designer for Stage One in Louisville, KY
Jill Womack (BA '84) Kennedy Center Scholarship. Member ACTF Eleven Zulu Cast. FSU/Asolo Graduate Program. Founded TRYPS/Columbia MO. MFA/UNC/Greensboro NC
Pam Bongas (PhD '80): theatre professor, Wheaton College. Member New England Repertory
Chris Cooper (BGS '77): Screen/TV/Stage Actor/Broadway. Academy Award Winner/2003. Golden Globe Winner/2003. Best Supporting Actor/Adaptation. SAG Award Nominee 2003/ 2004/ 2006. Emmy Award Nominee/Best Supporting Actor/2003. Screen Actors Guild Award/1999. MU Distinguished Alumni Award 1997
Rob Crouse (BA '69, MA '75) Director of College Relations/Westminster College/Fulton MO. Director of Communications for Governors of Missouri 1995-2004. Founded Capital City Players and Cameron Community Players/MO
Ed Gallagher (1977): university professor and stage designer. Tony Award nominee & 2003 Emmy Award for Faust design
Tom Moore (Tom Berenger) (BA '71): Screen/TV/Stage Actor/Off Broadway. Oscar Nominee/1987/Platoon/Best Supporting Actor. Golden Globe Winner/1987/Platoon/Best Supporting Actor. Emmy Award Nominee/1993/Cheers. MU Distinguished Alumni Award/1988
Larry D. Clark (MA '61) National Chair/American Theatre Association. Former Dean of College of Arts & Science/Associate Provost/Chairman of Theatre Department/University of Missouri-Columbia. Past President/American Theatre Association. Past President/University & College Theatre Association. American Theatre Fellow. Theatre Journal Author & Co-Author of Acting is Believing. PhD/University of Illinois/1963
Robert Thurston (BM '68 and MA '74): retired president and CEO Stage Decoration & Supplies
Robert Loggia (BJ, '51): Film/TV/Stage Actor. Academy Award Nominee/1986. Emmy Award Nominee/1990/2001. Saturn Award Winner/Big/1990
George C. Scott (1927-1999; attended MU 1950): Screen/TV/Stage Actor/Broadway. Academy Award/Patton/1970. Golden Globe/Best Actor/Patton 1971. Tony Award Nominee/ '59, '60', '74, '76, '96. Emmy Award/Best Actor/1971. Emmy Award/Best Supporting Actor/1997
Tennessee Williams (1911-1983; attended MU 1929-1931): playwright