Alumni

AMDA alumni do. They are artists, professionals in every performance medium. They are creators, inspirers. They’re Broadway’s side-splitting comedians and Hollywood’s up-and-coming action heroes. Watched by the eyes of millions, our alumni take the world’s stages, film sets, and movie screens, changing the way we think about art and its intertwining with human nature. To read about our alumni’s most recent accomplishments, check out AMDA News.

From charities to platinum-selling records, Broadway veterans to rising stars, our alumni have established themselves among the world’s most accomplished artists in their respective fields. Below are just a few highlights of our alumni’s incredible careers and achievements, from philanthropy and social awareness to garnering entertainment’s most prestigious awards and honors.

They started with a dream. With AMDA, those passions became careers to be celebrated.

Alumni Directory

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Featured AMDA Alumni

Emily Padgett Currently in the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Bright Star, Emily Padgett also starred in the Broadway revival of Side Show, where she shared the stage as conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton. Bright Star marks Emily’s fifth Broadway show, with previous Broadway credits including the role of Sherrie in Rock of Ages, Grease (u/s Sandy Dumbrowski) and Legally Blonde (Cece; u/s Brooke Wyndham). Emily has also performed in the national tours for Flashdance the Musical, Grease and Cats. Emily was nominated for an Astaire Award for Best Female Dance (Side Show), and starred as the lead role in the premiere of musical Waterfall, a story of forbidden love in 1930s Thailand. In addition to her many theatrical credits, she has appeared on television in “Louie,” Shall We Dance On Ice? and the television series “Step It Up and Dance.”

Tyne Daly Six-time Emmy winner, Tony Award winner and American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee Tyne Daly recently starred as Evelyn in the romantic comedy Basmati Blues. With a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Tyne’s previous Broadway roles include Mothers and Sons (Katharine Gerard), Master Class (Maria Callas), Rabbit Hole (Nat), Angele Lansbury—A Celebration, The Seagull (Madame Arkadina), Gypsy (Rose), and That Summer—That Fall (1967). She won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Gypsy, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Rabbit Hole. With over 97 film and TV credits to her name, Tyne won four Emmy Awards for her role in the 1980’s series “Cagney & Lacey,” as well as an Emmy Award for her performances in both CBS’ “Christy” (Alice Henderson) and “Judging Amy” (Maxine Gray).

Christopher Jackson Emmy-winning actor/composer Christopher Jackson is currently known for his Tony-nominated starring role as George Washington in Broadway sensation Hamilton. He was nominated for his third Daytime Emmy Award for Best Original Song for co-composing “Queen of Nacho Picchu” for Sesame Street. Chris took home the 2011 Emmy for writing “What I Am”, also for Sesame Street. On Broadway, Chris has featured as Simba in Broadway’s iconic musical The Lion King, originated the lead role of Benny in hip-hop sensation and Tony Award-winning hit In the Heights, and stepped into the role of Delray in Memphis. In 2014, Chris starred as Vertus in the original Broadway production of Holler If Ya Hear Me. Chris released his own R&B solo album In the Name of Love in 2011, and has written music for LL Cool J, Ne-Yo, Mario and Sean Kingston.

Brian Beach Brian Beach is no stranger to national tours and large-scale musical theatre productions. He recently completed a four-year run on Broadway and is currently starring in the First National Tour as Elder McKinley in the nine-time Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon, a comedy sensation that has rapidly garnered a huge fan base all over the United States. His past Broadway and national tour credits include 9 to 5 and Disney’s High School Musical, as well as regional productions of The Drowsy Chaperone, White Christmas, West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Tommy and 42nd Street.

Trai Byers Currently recognized as Andre Lyon, the bi-polar CFO in Fox’s hit drama series “Empire,” Trai Byers completed AMDA’s Studio Conservatory Program and obtained his Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. “Empire” tells the story of hip-hop recording company Empire Enterprises, where Trai plays Andre Lyon, the business-savvy CFO of his father’s company. Trai also appeared in the powerful film Selma, which received four Golden Globe Award nominations as well an Academy Award for Best Original Song (“Glory”). Trai played executive officer of the SNCC James Forman, who worked with the black community in Selma for two years prior to Martin Luther King’s arrival. Trai’s other film credits include Americons and Jayhawkers, with television roles including “All My Children” (Mookie) and “90210” (Alec Martin).

Christopher Sieber Two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber has spent the past 21 years performing in 12 Broadway productions, including Matilda the Musical (Miss Trunchbull), Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Chicago (Billy Flynn), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Graydon), Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince), and the recent revival of Pippin (King Charlemagne). Christopher received his first Tony Award nomination for his role in the original Broadway cast of Monty Python’s Spamalot, earning his second Tony nomination for originating the height-challenged monarch Lord Farquaad in Broadway’s Shrek the Musical (alongside Sutton Foster and Brian D’Arcy James). On television, Christopher’s prolific credits include starring alongside Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen in ABC’s “Two of a Kind” (Kevin Burke), “Sex and the City,” “It’s All Relative,” “Ed,” “Elementary,” “The Goodwife,” “Pushing Daisies” and numerous soap operas.

Jason Derulo Multi-platinum selling recording singer, songwriter and dancer Jason Derulo has sold over 50 million singles, having written songs for such international artists as Lil Wayne, Pitbull, Diddy and Sean Kingston. He is a five-time award recipient at the BMI Pop Awards, was crowned Songwriter of the Year in 2011, won three Teen Choice Awards, and was nominated for an iHeart Radio Music Award for his collaboration with 2 Chainz on the song “Talk Dirty.” He released his fourth studio album through Warner Bros. Records, Everything is 4, whose single “Want To Want Me” immediately went platinum. “Want to Want Me” broke the world record for most-added track in Top 40 radio and can be heard on radio stations all over the world. In 2015, Derulo joined Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” as a judge, sharing his knowledge and passion for dance with young talent.

Krystal Joy Brown Krystal Joy Brown recently completed her starring role on Broadway as Diana Ross in Motown the Musical, receiving an Astaire Award nomination for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show. Previous Broadway credits include Big Fish (Josephine Bloom), Leap of Faith (Astaire Award nomination), and Hair (Dionne, Abe Lincoln). She appeared Off-Broadway in Falling for Eve (Eve), the national tour of Rent (Mimi), and regionally in Calvin Berger (Rosanna), Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal), and High School Musical (Taylor at Paper Mill Playhouse). On television, she can be seen in “Law & Order: SVU,” “Deadbeat,” “Storyforia!” (Nickelodeon), “Castle” (ABC) and the 68th Annual Tony Awards. As a songwriter, Krystal released her track “Shuffling and Looking Dumb,” and has had two of her works appear in NBC’s shows “The Neighbors” and “Mistresses.”

Alumni BFA Programs

Do you want to apply your AMDA two-year experience toward a new BFA? An AMDA Bachelor of Fine Arts degree provides you with additional tools to help you master your craft and technique, giving you the artistic foundation to open new doors. It’s easy to get started, and we streamline the acceptance process, ensuring that all of your AMDA credits transfer to your new BFA program.

How To Apply

Distinctive Programs

AMDA offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance Theatre and Performing Arts, all of which are offered at our Los Angeles campus. Get more information on each of these programs.

The Benefits of the AMDA BFA

As a graduate of one of our prestigious Conservatory Programs in New York City or Los Angeles, you’ll enter with 60 out of the 120 credits required for graduation. You’ll begin your BFA curriculum at the Performance Immersion level combined with concentrated Critical Studies courses designed to be immediately relevant to the working performer. You’ll work directly with AMDA’s acclaimed faculty of professional performing artists and experienced educators in an environment that inspires creativity, demands active participation and provides the foundation for lifelong learning and achievement.

Transfer other Credits

Have you completed additional education at another institution since graduating from your AMDA Conservatory Program? If so, you may submit up to 30 Critical Studies credits for consideration toward the AMDA Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Career Services

Since 1964, AMDA’s mission has been to fully educate students in all aspects of the performing arts. To realize this goal, AMDA has opened its doors to the best and the brightest performing arts professionals to train our students in acting, voice and dance.

What truly sets AMDA graduates apart is that their training goes beyond performance. BFA students spend their senior year immersed in advanced courses educating them in entertainment administration, production, budgeting and entrepreneurship. This specialized curriculum transforms our students into business-savvy professionals, who possess the knowledge, poise and work ethic to confidently face the demands of the entertainment industry.

Career Resource Links

You may have left the AMDA classroom, but we'll still serve as one of your educational resources throughout your performing arts career. By following the links below you can get connected with unions and guilds, find casting resources and explore other resources relevant to the performing artist.

Sampling of Careers within the Performing Arts

Unions And Guilds

Casting Resources

Other Performing Arts Resources

Alumni Benefits

Generations of outstanding alumni have proven that success is the rule at AMDA, so you’re in great company. From the silver screen to the stage and beyond, the possibilities for your future are boundless. As a member of the AMDA alumni community, you are also eligible for a number of specific benefits that will help you as a professional performing artist.

Get More Exposure Through the Alumni Directory

By registering for a free AMDA Alumni Account and having your profile added to our alumni directory database, you will make yourself more visible to casting directors, agents and other industry professionals, giving them one more way to find you.

Network Through Our Social Media Community

Through AMDA’s official Twitter Alumni and Facebook Alumni accounts, you can connect with your fellow alumni across the country and world, and learn about their most recent updates and career moves.

Attend Alumni Workshops

Through these intensive one-day workshops sponsored by the Alumni Relations department, you can return to AMDA for performance instructions to refresh your skills and take classes in additional specialty areas, increasing your versatility as a performer.

Access to Practice Space

Frequently, AMDA is able to provide practice space for alumni to prepare for auditions. Alumni with valid Alumni ID may visit campus on the day-of to find out if space is available. Reserve space and view on-campus policies.

Get Career Guidance When You Need It

As you begin to transform your unique talents into a rewarding career as an AMDA graduate, we'll be there for you every step of the way. On our website, you can find many career resource links to help you make the most of the artistic foundation you worked so hard to build at AMDA.

Young Adult Health Insurance Benefits

Previously, graduation day was the day when millions of young adults lost their health insurance, making them one of the most vulnerable groups of Americans in the health insurance market. The new health reform law allows most young adults to join or remain on their parents' health care plan until their 26th birthday. Learn more at HealthCare.gov.

TheaterMania

Broadway, Off B’way, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, comedy, dance, drama, concerts, and more for only $4.50 a ticket. How? Theaters and producers need to fill up seats with excellent, attentive audiences to help build buzz and word of mouth. Theatermania's Gold Club proudly offers the AMDA community an exclusive 40% discount to join: $59 for an entire year! (regularly $99). For more information, and to join, log on or call 212-352-0255, ext. 105, for more information.

Take advantage of this offer and redeem the special rate.

AMDA NY Library

Alumni may visit the library during the following days/times. Note: The library is subject to close during school breaks and holidays. You can call the library at 212-957-3315 to check current times. The library also underwent a major renovation in Summer 2016 and any new guests or visitors should allow adequate time to familiarize themselves with new policies and procedures.
- Monday - Thursday: 9am - 9:30pm
- Friday: 9am - 7pm
- Saturday & Sunday: 12pm - 7pm

The NY Campus now uses the Papercut ID system for current students and alumni. Alumni must obtain and bring this new ID card to the library in order to print or copy material in the collection. The new pricing for printer and copier services is $0.05/page in B&W and $0.10/page in Color. To request a Papercut ID for use at the NY Campus Library, please email Stephanie Andersen one week in advance of visiting the library. In the email include 1) term and year of graduation, 2) current address, and 3) a recent headshot.

AMDA LA Library

Alumni may visit the library during the following days/times. Note: The library is subject to close during school breaks and holidays:
- Monday - Thursday: 8am - 10pm
- Friday: 8am - 7pm
- Saturday & Sunday: 1pm - 6pm

Transcript Request

Alumni ID Card Request

ID Card Request

New York Campus Performance DVD Request

Performance Request

Audition notice