AMDA Alumni in the News - March 19, 2021

March 19, 2021 - Alumni

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Yanzi Ding ’18 starred in The Zeiders American Dream Theater and Mirage Theatre Company’s virtual screening of Broken Dolls on March 11. The virtual production featured actors from all over the world, presenting true stories of women trafficking.

IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

TV / FILM

Anthony Ramos ’11 and Christopher Jackson ’94:
Two new trailers were released for the musical film adaptation of In the Heights, starring Anthony as “Usnavi” and featuring Christopher in a cameo role. The film arrives in theatres and on HBO Max on June 18. Anthony and Christopher will be featured in the book In the Heights: Finding Home arriving June 22.

Jasmine Bracey ’07:
Was a guest performer on Season 3, Episode 10 of New Amsterdam on FOX. Jasmine performs in The Comedy of Errors Reading presented by Ten Thousand Things through March 20.

Asia Kate Dillon ’03:
Plays “Inez” in the indie drama The Outside Story, available April 30. Watch the trailer here. Last summer, Asia and Anthony Ramos ’11 shared their stories for Drama Club’s social media campaign #WhatTheaterMeansToMe to raise awareness about the impact theater can make in young lives. 

REGIONAL

Darius de Haas '91:
Will bring his solo show A Song for You: An Evening with Darius de Haas to Bucks County Playhouse’s socially-distanced spring concert series on April 9 - 10. Darius guest hosted a special episode of Stars in the House titled Black Male Excellence in the Arts on February 23. 

Desiree Davar ‘04:
Plays “Miss Adelaide” in Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale’s Guys and Dolls livestream and staged production from March 20 - 21. Desiree and her husband Nicholas Dromard created the Superheroes in Love virtual concert series, and recently performed a special installment in January presented by Music Theatre of Connecticut. 

INTERNATIONAL THEATRE

Maggie McKenna ‘16:
Performs in Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Fun Home from April 27 - May 29. Maggie previously starred as “Zoe Murphy” in the US national tour of Dear Evan Hansen.

WEB

J. Elaine Marcos ’96, Anastacia McCleskey ’03 and Stephanie Torns ’07:
J. Elaine hosts Broadway Game Network’s X Me Out with guests Anastacia and Stephanie, premiering on YouTube March 19 at 7 PM ET.

Alexa De Barr ’11:
Performs in the “Still Standing” video with over 75 Broadway performers and creatives to mark one year of the Broadway shutdown. Alexa performed Jerome Robbins’ original choreography for “Cool” from West Side Story in a recent video supporting American Dance Machine for the 21st Century.

Kelley Knight ’08:
Performs in Westport Country Playhouse’s virtual event Phenomenal Women Inspire on March 30 at 7 PM ET in honor of Women’s History Month. Kelley graduated from AMDA NY’s Studio Conservatory.

Sean Phillips ’04:
Plays “Rob” in New Light Theater Project’s The Jackson C. Frank Listening Party w/ Special Guests. Sean performed in Riots of Spring - The Audition as part of Rising Sun Performance Company’s The Rites of Spring: A Virtual Play Festival from March 13 - 14. 

Emily Brady ’16:
Performed as “Edith” in Be Bold Productions’ Don't Flip Your Snood livestream on March 12 and 13. Emily will perform as “Marianna Wheelan” in Spring Awakening and is a founding member of CollabXartists.

Erika Cruz ‘18 and Bryanna Navarro ’19:
Produced Cabaret Corner’s two-part Icons tribute to Black History Month. Watch Part 1 and Part 2. Lila Perkins ‘18 and Charles Johnson ‘20 served as Guest Producers and Editors. Lila also performed, alongside a huge cast including alumni Xavier Pace ’20, Emmillienne Bellaire ’17, Shania Mundy ’19, Demetri Mack ’19, Ahkei "KeiRock" Togun ’19, Xavier R. Lewis ’19, Ty Freely ’20, Malik A. Chunn ’18, Sia Michal Arvinger ’19, Imani Underwood ’18, Fadeke Oparinde ’18, Glory Yepassis-Zembrou ’19, Delvin Harrington ’19, Jason Biyo ’16, Trey Gibson ’19, David Hardy ’13, Azeem Vecchio ’18, Melissa Barrow ’18, Monazia Smith ’17, Emahn Sade (Johnson) ’18, Zainab Okeowo ’19, Tyree Bey ’20, Parish Walker (Taylor Brown) ’19, Shay Moni (Shayla Marshall) ’19, Nia Sondaya (Washington) ‘17 and Kayln Litwin ’19. Current students Marissa Caryn Nunez, Hosea Mundi and Nigel James Sudarkasa also performed.

Sky Lakota-Lynch ‘12:
Stars as “Murelles/Lucius” in Shakespeare@ Home's free radio play adaptation of Julius Caesar, which premiered its fourth and final installment on March 15.

Tyne Daly ‘69:
Performed in Gingold Theatrical Group’s Irish Poetry Slam on March 17. Tyne guest starred on an episode of Mom, which aired on CBS on February 25.

MUSIC / CONCERT

Taylor Symone Jackson ’13:
Performs in the title song and music video for The Wiggles’ new greatest hits album, “We’re All Fruit Salad!” Taylor and J. Harrison Ghee ’09 are among featured Broadway stars to pose as astrology signs for Broadway Zodiac Trading Cards. 

Kenita Miller-Hicks ’00:

Will perform in Maestra Music’s first annual concert Amplify 2021 on March 29 at 8 PM ET with a pre-show beginning at 7 PM ET. Kenita is featured on the Once on This Island limited edition orange vinyl being released on March 26.

Peppermint ’99:
Performed in a live event presented by Broadway Inspirational Voices in Times Square earlier this week. Peppermint also reunited with former Head Over Heels Broadway co-stars on the March 17 episode of Stars in the House.

PODCAST / RADIO

Rizwan Manji ’94:
Co-stars in Season 1 of Audioboom’s new original podcast Dark Air with Terry Carnation premiering April 1. Episodes will be released on a weekly basis. Rizwan plays “Ray Butani” in Schitt’s Creek which took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. 

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Zhailon Levingston ’15:
Featured in BroadwayWorld’s photo shoot The Men of Tina. Zhailon was recently promoted to Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s new director of industry. 

Ellie Anderson ’19:
Dance instructor at Center Stage Dance Studio’s Bellville location. Ellie recently performed in the mystery dinner, “Southern Belle Gold” with the Texas Theatre Company. 

Christopher Sieber ’89:
Spoke with Deadline for a multi-part series with his Company on Broadway co-stars about the production’s year long hiatus. Christopher and Marissa Rosen ’03 will be faculty members at Kristin Chenoweth's Broadway Bootcamp, taking place virtually from June 6 - 13.

Rickie 'Caso' Tice ’14:
Won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance for Beyonce’s “Black Parade,” which is one of the hits she co-wrote for Beyoncé’s esteemed album Black Is King. Rickie has previously worked with artists including Timbaland and Kelly Rowland. 

Amanda Kloots ‘02:
Featured in the Women’s Health article “Meet The 10 Visionaries Behind Women's Health's Vision21 Initiative.” Amanda’s new app Amanda Kloots Fitness was recently featured in the article “The 10 Best Dance Workouts Even Non-Dancers Can Appreciate.”