AMDA alumni create. 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.
AMDA 360Alumni
Featured AMDA Alumni
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson received five Emmy nominations starring as Mitchell Pritchett in ABC’s celebrated sitcom Modern Family. In 2016, Jesse won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance in the one-man show Fully Committed on Broadway, where he played 40 different characters. His other Broadway credits include On the Town as Chip, On the Twentieth Century as Max Jacobs and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as Leaf Coneybear. Off-Broadway, Jesse starred in On the Town as Chip, Kean as Christie/Narrator, Hair, Little Fish as Marco, Where Do We Live? and Log Cabin as Ezra. Jesse has also performed in several Shakespearean comedies including The Tempest, Winter’s Tale, The Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He executive produced and hosts the Localish digital series highlighting inspiring LGBTQ individuals, OUTstanding with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and hosts the reboot of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on HGTV. Jesse and his husband Justin Mikita founded their organization Pronoun, formerly known as Tie the Knot, continuing to support LGBTQIA+ equality. He released his debut cookbook with Julie Tanous called Food Between Friends in March 2021. Jesse will star in upcoming Broadway revival of Take Me Out, and upcoming film projects include Netflix’s film series adaptation of Ivy & Bean and Elizabeth Banks’ thriller Cocaine Bear.
Schele Williams
Director, performer and activist Schele Williams made her Broadway debut in Aida in 2000 originating the role of Nehebka, and will direct the show's revival production premiering in Germany in spring 2022. She recently signed on to bring the feature film Hidden Figures to the stage in a musical adaptation for Broadway. In addition to theatrical productions, Schele notably directs events that push social justice forward, including People’s State of the Union, Uprising of Love, Defying Inequality, and From Broadway to Bourbon Street. She is the director for the NYU Center of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and is Chairperson of the Board of Broadway Inspirational Voices. Schele is one of the founding members of Black Theatre United. Most recently, Schele joined Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ Board of Trustees and is the new Artistic Ambassador for TheatreWorks USA. Schele's new children's book Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History was released in September 2021.
Madeline Brewer
Best known for her roles as Janine Lindo in Hulu's Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning The Handmaid's Tale, and as prison inmate Tricia Miller in Netflix’s mega-series Orange Is the New Black, Madeline Brewer started her career immediately after graduating from AMDA with the lead role in the musical Liberty under director Igor Goldin. Since then, she’s acquired a penchant for playing dark roles on some of television’s hottest shows: Madeline’s played a junkie prison inmate on Orange is the New Black, a paranoid schizophrenic on Stalker, a conflicted runaway nursing someone else’s child on Hemlock Grove and a reptilian gang member hell-bent on dominance on Grimm. Critics and fans praised Brewer’s performance throughout the entire Orange Is the New Black series, expressing devastation at Tricia’s tragic death. She has appeared in several feature films, starring as Ali in Hedgehog, Alice/Lola in the Netflix thriller Cam, Dawn in the 2019 summer blockbuster Hustlers, and Wendy in Hulu’s The Ultimate Playlist of Noise. In 2020, Madeline performed in Williamstown Theater Festival’s world premiere of Animals, presented on Audible. She is set to star as Liz in the upcoming film Space Oddity. Madeline has been featured in digital and print publications worldwide including Cosmopolitan, InStyle, and Elle, and graced the cover of Marie Claire as a fresh face making a mark in Hollywood.
Nina Arianda
Known for her Tony Award-winning performance as Vanda (Best Actress in a Leading Role) in the 2012 Broadway production of Venus in Fur, Nina Arianda also received a Tony nomination in 2011 for her portrayal of Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday. Nina received rave reviews as May in the Broadway production of Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love, after which she starred in numerous films including You Were Never Here and Florence Foster Jenkins. Additionally, she landed roles in The Humbling featuring Al Pacino, Lucky Them, and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him, Her, and Them. Her other film credits include Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, Tower Heist starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy, Win Win, and the upcoming animated comedy The Adventures of Drunky. Her television credits include Billions as Rebecca Cantu, NBC’s Hannibal as Molly Graham, ABC’s hit TV series The Good Wife, 30 Rock, and Hostages. Nina plays Patty Solis-Papagian in Amazon Studios’ highly-regarded series Goliath, and will star as Vivian Vance in Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos.
Continuing Education for AMDA Alumni
Looking to continue your education at AMDA Los Angeles? Do you need to access your unofficial transcript / grades
or order an official transcript? See options below:
Graduate Programs
AMDA Bachelor’s Degree Graduates have the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts in Theatre or Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Theatre and Media
degree.
Apply for Graduate
Degree
Bachelor of Fine Arts Programs
AMDA Associate of Occupational Studies Degree and Certificate Graduates are eligible to earn a Bachelor of Fine
Arts degree in Acting, Music Theatre, Dance Theatre or Performing Arts by transferring in 60 performance credits
and completing 30 performance and 30 general education credits.
Note: Additional coursework may be required if you are applying for a BFA Program outside of
your AOS or Conservatory discipline.
Apply for BFA Degree
Associate of Occupational Studies Programs
AMDA Certificate Graduates are eligible to earn an Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Acting, Musical
Theatre or Dance Theatre by transferring in 60 performance credits and completing the general education
requirements.
Note: Additional coursework may be required as per current degree completion requirements and/or
if applying for an AOS Program outside of the original discipline.
Apply for AOS Degree
OBTAINING A TRANSCRIPT
Your Student Portal can be used to print unofficial transcripts of your coursework and grades. Official
transcripts may be ordered through Parchment and received by mail or electronically.
AMDA Legacy Scholarship Program
AMDA is so pleased to announce the AMDA Legacy Scholarship Program which will offer special tuition scholarships
for the children and grandchildren of AMDA Alumni.
For further information, contact AMDA's Legacy Scholarship Advisor, MaryAnn Saenz, at 323-603-5941 or mwillett@amda.edu.
Note: the amount of the AMDA Legacy Scholarship award will vary based upon a number of
factors including the student’s audition, application, letters of recommendation, and financial need.
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 an AMDA 360Alumni Account, 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 AND CLASSES
Through these intensive workshops sponsored by the Alumni department, you can return to AMDA virtually and
in-person (when applicable) to refresh your skills and take classes in additional specialty areas, increasing
your versatility as a performer. Workshop opportunities will be released via email throughout the year.
AMDA ON-DEMAND
Access a newly expanded library of video content created exclusively for AMDA students and alumni. The AMDA On-Demand library
includes content regarding athletic performance, mental health, open fitness, open dance, and vocal heath. New
videos will be uploaded weekly, so check back regularly.
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.
Alumni ID Request
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.
AMDA NY Performance Request
You may request a digital link to your desired performance video.
Performance Request
AMDA NY Library
The AMDA NY Library has been relocated to the 9th floor of AMDA’s 54th Street building (250 West 54th Street). Walk-ins are welcome. Alumni may visit the library during the following days/times.
Library Hours: Mon - Fri (9:00am to 5:00pm ET)
*The library is subject to close during school breaks and holidays. You can call the library at 212-957-3315 to check current times.
AMDA LA Library
Alumni may visit the library during the following days/times by appointment only. Visit the library website to make an appointment.
Library Hours: Mon - Fri (9:00am to 7:00pm PT) and Sat - Sun (1:00pm to 6:00pm PT)
*The library is subject to close during school breaks and holidays. You can call the library at 323-603-5924 to check current times. to check current times.
Please note, only current AMDA students are eligible for circulation privileges.
Library Website
