AMDA Alumni Newsletter - May 5, 2023

May 05, 2023 - Alumni

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
April 28, 2023

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Amanda Kloots ’02:
Recently held a book signing at the Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, TX for her new children’s book, Tell Me Your Dreams. Amanda is also a cover star of Travel+Leisure.

Joy Woods ’19:
Honoree of this year’s Black Women on Broadway Awards, receiving the Florence Mills Shining Star Award. Joy has returned to Off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors to star as “Audrey.”

Jason Derulo ’06:
Earned multiple nods as the host and creator of Project Icon at the 12th annual National Reality TV Awards, including nominations for Best Reality TV Judge 2023, Celebrity Personality of the Year 2023, and Project Icon nominated for Best New Show 2023. Jason recently released the new single “Glad U Came.”

TV/FILM

J. Harrison Ghee ’09 and Jarvis B. Manning Jr. ’06:
Performed “What are You Thirsty For” from Broadway’s Some Like It Hot on TODAY, moments after discovering they have been nominated for Tony Awards. J. Harrison is also featured in the New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter for their history-making nomination as a nonbinary performer.

Laura Thies ’03:
Director for various German television shows and independent films. Laura’s directing credits span over 60 projects, including full length prime time, crime series, doctor series, children series and daily soap.

Ashley De La Rosa ’17:
Will appear in Season 3 of The Other Two, premiering on HBO Max on May 4. Watch a trailer for the new season here. Ashley will emcee the opening ceremony for the 2023 International Thespian Festival in June, and performs as "Sienna" in Dear Edward on Apple TV+.

Christopher Jackson ’94: 
Stars as "Herbert Wexley" in Season 2 of And Just Like That. Watch a teaser for the season here, premiering on HBO Max this June. Christopher will serve on The Host Committee of Ars Nova's Nova Ball on May 8.

Anthony Ramos ’11:
Will star in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which released a new official trailer. The film premieres in theatres on June 9. Anthony has been announced as a presenter for this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards, and is on The Centennial Honorary Committee for "This Is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture" exhibit at Museum of the City of New York.

BROADWAY

Geena Quintos ’12 and Roy Flores ‘07:
Have joined the cast of the Broadway premiere of Here Lies Love, charting Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos’ rise to power and her subsequent fall to the People’s Power Revolution. Performances begin June 17 with Opening Night set for July 20 at the Broadway Theatre.

Jon Hoche ’99:
Performs in the Ensemble of the Broadway premiere of Life of Pi at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Life of Pi has launched 'The Power of Pi' Initiative for South Asian and AAPI Communities.

OFF-BROADWAY

Tiffany Engen ’06 and Jessie Alagna ’01:
Cast members of the Off-Broadway developmental production of Millennials Are Killing Musicals, with Tiffany as "Jake's Mom" and Jessie as an understudy. Performances run May 7 - 28 at Theatre 71 at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, with Opening Night set for May 15. Take a first look at rehearsals here.

REGIONAL THEATRE

Morgan McGhee ’15:
Has joined the cast of Goodman Theatre's upcoming 30th anniversary revival of The Who's Tommy. Performances will take place at the Albert Theatre in Chicago from June 13 - July 23, with Opening Night set for June 26.

Tyrick Wiltez Jones '00 and Brittney Mack '10:
Star in Great Lakes Theater's production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ through May 21 at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH. Take a first look at the production here.

Mamie Parris ’97:
Will star as “Mother Superior” in Muny’s production of Sister Act, running from August 14 - 20. Mamie also performs in Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best, which released a first look ahead of the broadcast’s premiere on May 12 at 9 PM ET on PBS and the PBS app.

Sy Chounchaisit ’15, Rina Maejima ‘15, Patima Watcharintrawut ’21, and Flynn Byun ’22:
Have joined the cast of Miss Saigon, running at White Plains Performing Arts Center through May 7. Sy performs as "Gigi" (and serves as the Dance Captain), Rina as “Fifi,” Patima as “Yvonne,” and Flynn as “Mimi."

Maria Briggs ’11:
Will perform in the Kennedy Center's production of Monty Python's Spamalot, which recently held a Meet the Press event. Performances run at the Eisenhower Theater at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in D.C. from May 12 - 21. 

INTERNATIONAL THEATRE

Sam Underwood ‘07:
Will perform in the premiere of The Third Man at Menier Chocolate Factory in London from June 10 - September 9 with an Opening Night set for June 19. Sam previously performed in Symphony Space's Wall to Wall Selected Shorts in March.

MUSIC / CONCERT

Anastacia McCleskey ’03:
Will star in Disney Princess – The Concert spring and summer performances. Anastacia recently performed in Disney’s Hercules at Paper Mill Playhouse, and will star with Stephanie Torns ’07 and Charity Angel Dawson ’05 in Waitress: the Musical - Live on Broadway! premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival this summer. 

Stacy Gabel ’94:
Released the the music video for her new single "Great Escape." Stacy’s previously released singles include “Sunny Days,” “High Heeled Shoes” and “Straight to Voicemail.”