AMDA Alumni In The News - October 30, 2020

October 30, 2020 - Alumni

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Mauricio Martinez ’99, Sarah Stiles ‘00 and Jacob Smith '09 star in the new soap opera-inspired podcast ‘As The Curtain Rises.’ The first two episodes are now available on The Broadway Podcast Network and streaming platforms. The remaining two installments will be released on subsequent Thursdays.

IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

TV / FILM

Amanda Kloots ‘02:

Returned as a guest co-host on Monday’s episode of The Talk. Amanda was featured in a video interview as People’s cover star last week and is currently writing her memoir Live Your Life: Loving And Losing Nick Cordero, set to be released on June 29, 2021. 

Tim Lewis Lanier ’14:

Is a dancer in Selena: The Series, Part 1 premiering on Netflix on December 4. Watch the newly released trailer. During the summer of 2019, Tim played “Pepe” in West Side Story at the Moonlight Amphitheatre, performing alongside alumni Armando Eleazar ’14, Simone Poulain Sassudelli ‘18, Carly Cannata ‘15 and Elise Gonsalves ’18. This production was choreographed by AMDA faculty member, Hector Guerrero.

Lee Tergeson ’80: 

Plays “Agent Don McCorkle” in The Plot Against America mini-series, available on HBO. Lee will reunite with his Oz cast members for a retrospective conversation about the show, now scheduled for the 2021 ATX TV Festival. 

Paul Sorvino: 

Plays “Grandpa” in the upcoming film Most Guys are Losers, starring Mira Sorvino. Watch the trailer here. Paul is featured in REELZ Channel’s new special Goodfellas: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS which premiered in September.

WEB

Destiny Holder ’19:

Launched her YouTube channel “The Destiny Holder.” Destiny plans to create videos on cooking, makeup, modeling, and mental health. Destiny graduated from the BFA Dance Theatre program, and signed with acting, modeling, and dancing agents shortly after graduating.

Chris Sieber ’89:

Reunited with Dracula podcast performers for Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors Broadway Halloween Party on October 28. The event benefitted the Broadway Cares Covid-19 Emergency Assistance Fund. Chris also released a video preview for his solo concert special with RadioFree Birdland, coming up on November 5 at 7PM EST. 

Brandi Chavonne Massey ’98: 

Will star in Bucks County Playhouse’s "Halloween Rock 'n' Roll Concert" streaming at 7PM EST on October 31. Brandi recently starred in Bucks County Playhouse's Virtual Variety Show. Earlier this month, Brandi directed, executive produced, and performed in a live virtual production of Jasper in Deadland. The cast featured fellow alumna Amanda Felicia Foote ’14 and benefitted The Actors Fund. 

Kyle Taylor Parker ’08:

Performed in last Sundays’ Broadway Sings for Biden. Kyle will star alongside Chris Sieber ’89, Mamie Parris ’97, and Mauricio Martinez ’99 in Paper Mill Playhouse’s Sing in a New Year! presented from December 19 through January 1, 2021.

Madeline Brewer ‘12: 

Will star in the world premiere of Williamstown Theatre Festival and Audible Theater’s Animals, scheduled to be available starting December 17. THE WRAP hosted the 2020-21 Virtual Awards Screening Series presentation of The Handmaid’s Tale, starring Madeline as “Janine Lindo.” Season 4’s release date is scheduled for 2021.

Peppermint ’99 and Marissa Jaret Winokur ’92: 

Will perform in the Rocky Horror Show Livestream on October 31 at 9PM CST, benefitting The Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Peppermint and Brita Filter ’09 were featured in the Divas for Democracy: United We Slay variety show raising voter awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. Marissa made a surprise appearance on the Quarantunes Zoom Concert, which raised $1.2 Million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

REGIONAL

Leslie McDonel ’00:

Will perform in ZACH Theatre’s live and socially distanced POP! A Rockin' Holiday Concert running on select dates from November 25, 2020 through January 3, 2021. Leslie recently teamed up with fellow cast members of American Idiot for Swing Left’s final letter writing party.  

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Michael Mindlin ’03:

Is the choreographer on the upcoming Christmas musical, The Nice List. Shot over Zoom, the musical imagines what would happen if Santa supervised the North Pole remotely and left the elves in charge. The release date will be announced soon.

J. Elaine Marcos ‘96 and Dev Janki ’89:

J. Elaine was featured on Live & In Color's Be Our Guest, as part of a series of live conversations with theater industry professionals. The series is led by Dev, Live & In Color's Artistic Director. J. Elaine was recently a contributing artist on the new game show Director vs. Director, where two teams of artists have 3 hours to create art and perform the result live for audience votes. Dev recently moderated a Be Our Guest conversation with Mauricio Martinez ’99.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson ’95:

Spoke at the virtual NYSCF Gala & Science Fair on October 27. Jesse appeared as a guest on The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America virtual dinner party on October 18. The event featured local chefs across America and supported the foundation’s Open for Good campaign, helping restaurants survive during the pandemic and building a sustainable restaurant industry for the future. 

Jason Derulo ’06:

Has been nominated for a 2020 YouTube Streamy Award in the crossover category for his success on Tik Tok and for NRJ Music Awards’ “International Male Artist of the Year.” Jason also spoke for iHeartMedia’s “Why I’m Voting” campaign. Jason will perform on the CD, Diane Warren: The Cave Sessions Vol. 1, coming out in 2021.