Alumni Bios

Jason Bagneschi, Actor Training Program Class of 1998.  Submitted 3/21/07

I am currently living in Northern California and work in the restaurant business. I was married in July, 2006.

Kurt Howard Bernhardt, BFA Class of 1987.  Submitted 11/26/06

I've been in Ashland, Oregon off and on since 1991 after having received my MFA from the UW/Seattle. I did spend the 1990 summer season at Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder. From there, I became an Equity actor at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (in both Ashland and Portland) from 1991-1994...splitting my time between Seattle, Portland and Ashland. I broke up with my first spouse of 13 years, Jerry Paton, who still lives in Seattle and who came with me to Salt Lake City from Memphis, TN. I met Sam Whitford shortly thereafter and have been with him 13 years this past August. We also have two loving, beautiful Whippet dog-daughters, Zoe and Zara. After leaving the OSF acting company in 2004, I went to work with an OSF colleague for two seasons at a small, experimental theatre in Port Townsend, Washington. I finally settled down in Medford (next to Ashland) at the end of 1995 with Sam. For the next 6 1/2 or so years, I 'played' receptionist, loan processor, loan document drawer/funder, Escrow assistant/closer and accounting assistant. On a whim, I reapplied to OSF in April 2002 and to my utter surprise, I was rehired...this time as a Development Assistant and have been there ever since. I recently received a nice raise and title change to Development Associate as I start my 10th season. I can't tell you how lucky I am to be working in professional theatre, even if it isn't as an actor!! I'm still able to act in shows (cited as having given one of the top 3 male performances in Ashland for Amadeus in 2005) and sing for benefits locally, but have a day job 'in the biz' as well. Sam is covered by my insurance which is a huge benefit. I also have a nice matching 401K in place with OSF, As you may have heard, Libby Appel, our current AD is retiring in 2007 and will be replaced by the very wonderful and capable, Bill Rauch. Check out American Theatre's October 2006 issue for a nice, in-depth interview with Bill.

Michael Truman Cavanaugh, Honors BFA in Stage Management, Class of 2006.  Submitted 11/25/07

Michael Truman Cavanaugh, Spring 2006, Honors BFA in Stage Management, now i'm an Equity Stage Manager preparing for grad school in puppetry

Martin Christoffel, MFA, Class of 1993.  Submitted June 4, 2007

Terese Coe, MA, Dramatic Literature, Class of 1967.  Submitted August 30, 2007

I saw your call for alumni to give you some current info. I rec'd my MA in dramatic literature from U. Utah in 1967 and am currently publishing both original poems and translations from the French, German, and Spanish in both the US and UK. My work has appeared in
 
Threepenny Review, Smartish Pace, Poetry, Nimrod, New American Writing, The Cincinnati Review, Agenda (UK), Orbis (UK), Poetry Nottingham/ (UK), 32 Poems, and Blue Unicorn, among numerous others, and my first collection of poems, The Everyday Uncommon, won a Word Press publication prize and was published in 2005.
 
I was awarded a 2006 residence at Vermont Studio Center and was a finalist in the 2004 Willis Barnstone Translation Prize, a semifinalist in the 2004-5 Nimrod/Hardman Prize, a finalist in a 2005 Orbis Readers’ Poll, and have received three Pushcart nominations and two grants from Giorno Poetry Systems.
 
I have led poetry workshops in places as far afield as Kathmandu, Nepal (for the American Library there) and Sun Valley, ID; have also given readings in Europe, Australia, Kathmandu, and various cities in the US; have also written several plays and have worked as a professional journalist.
 
I live in Greenwich Village, New York City and have two adult children.

Thomas Glen Cook, B.F.A. Actor Training Program, Class of 1997.  Submitted July 2, 2007

Currently living in Vienna, Austria teaching Tai Chi, Yoga, Alexander Technique, Stage Combat and Movement for Actors.  Contact info at www.ruecken-dynamik.at

Rebecca Dutton, BFA in Acting, Class of 2000.  Submitted July 15, 2005

Here's what's been goin' on in the life of Miss Rebar:

I've been living in Atlanta for 4 years doing theatre and starting to do film.

Shooting wrapped 2 months ago on an independent film I am in called The Breadsqueezer. It's a short dark romantic comedy. The director and producer knew me and my work and had me in mind when they wrote it, which is pretty cool. Hopefully it will be edited in time to submit to festivals next year. I'll keep you posted on that. Their website is: www.tal-kasia.com

I'm in rehearsals for Jean Claude van Itallie's adaptation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Jack in the Black Box is the company that's producing it. Their website is: www.jackintheblackbox.org. There are not any pictures yet, but I think there will be some really cool photos once the show is up, Aug 3-Aug 27th.

I've always wanted to have a patio garden and I finally did it this spring. (I'm so geeked about it. I'm such a nerd.) I grew basil and lavender from scratch. I started some heliotrope and lemon balm a few weeks ago, and both take roughly 7 million years to germinate so I look forward to my ancestors enjoying them. I also bought parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme (ha, ha, like the song) oregano, and spearmint which are doing well in their respective pots.

I'll be in a horror film, The Secret Evil, which will be shooting in the winter. I have a great death, though I may develop a lifelong fear of coal shoots.

Michael Ensign Evans, BFA Theatre, Class of 1968.  Submitted September 9, 2007

(known professionally as Michael Ensign)

I have been a professional actor now for 37 years, both in the US and Britain.
Please refer to imdb website for my complete resume and biography.

My most recent work has been a film for the Hallmark channel and additional episodes of BOSTON LEGAL.

My time at the U was most profitable and set me on my course as a professional actor.
All best wishes,
Michael Ensign Evans

Molly Fowler, B.U.S., Class of 1979.  Submitted 7/19/2006

Molly Fowler is an award-winning producer, director and writer for television, film and theatre, specializing in documentary (long and short form) scripted serial drama and international production.

Ms. Fowler has divided her professional work between drama and journalism. She began her career at The Yale School of Drama, has directed and produced on and Off-Broadway and in the West End in London, worked in feature film developing material for 3 major studios as well as for Dustin Hoffman’s Punch Productions. She acquired plays for Warner Brothers for Claire Nichtern. After transitioning to TV she studio produced for Phil Donahue and was a booker for Diane Sawyer, as an off-air reporter for ABC News PrimeTime Live.

For 7 years, was a development executive for ABC Entertainment/Daytime. She left ABC to become Senior/Series Producer for three two-hour documentary specials for the Discovery Networks International which were the first co-productions made as a joint venture between Granada TV and The New York Times: World Birth Day, World Birth Day: Delivering Hope and World Wedding Day. Shot in DV on five continents, Ms. Fowler coordinated teams of video journalists and produced in Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

As a freelancer, she has field produced and directed throughout South Africa for various documentaries including Two American Boys for A&E and her own Soweto is Burning: a gay wedding in Jo-burg. She directed, produced and wrote Ultra-Eye Rio, a film shot in HD in Rio de Janeiro for Voom followed by a one-hour HD documentary for National Geographic on the NY Subway system for their MegaCities series. She has been a story consultant to Procter & Gamble for one of their long-running soaps. She is also Consulting Story Editor and Producer for SABC’s prime time hit drama series Zero Tolerance. She directed Broad Channel Off-Broadway, and that production was shot for TV by Sopranos producer Scott Hornbacher. She is a writer and consultant on Planet B-Boy, a feature doc shot in 5 countries, which was accepted into the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival all access program. She is a freelance producer for Nightline.

Jessica (Christensen) Graeber, Class of 2005.  Submitted 10/23/06

Hi!  My name is Jessica Graeber, however it was Jessica Christensen when I was attending the University of Utah.  I graduated May of 2005 in Theatre Education.  Currently, I reside in Phoenix Arizona and work as an Education Associate for Valley Youth Theatre.  At Valley Youth Theatre, my responsibilities include developing the performing arts class curriculum, instructing classes/workshops/residencies, directing shows, and providing educational outreach to schools around the valley.  I’m also a director/performer with the Jesterz Improv Comedy Troupe. 

Rebel (Luckau) Hoffman, BFA class of 1995.  Submitted June 13, 2006

In 1995, I received my B.F.A. from the U in Lighting Design and Technical Theatre. Since then, I went on to earn my M.F.A. in Lighting Design from University of California-Irvine (1998). After working for a short time as a freelance designer and electrician in Orange County, I joined the staff at GAMPRODUCTS, Inc. While at GAM, I created instructional seminars on how to use special effect lighting products, which I performed for schools and Universities around the country. I was one of the chief designers for the very popular GAM Recipe Book. I also worked directly with designers to create effects and solve design problems. After eight years at GAM, I was ready to move on. My husband, who was the Sales Manager at GAM, and I created our own business, GoboMan. We are a manufacturer of gobos, black foil, and color. Our company is only a few months old right now, so we expect to add more product as we move along.

Beckee (Enderton) Johnson, BFA class of 2001.  Submitted May 25, 2007

My name is Beckee (Enderton) Johnson, and I graduated in 2001 with a BFA in Theatre Education. Two weeks after graduating I got married to Wes Johnson. The following school year, I did my student teaching at East High School. After that, I was hired at Skyline High school as their drama teacher (also teaching English, stage crew, and film studies).  Had my first child, a girl, during that school year. At the end of the school year, we moved to Omaha, Nebraska where my husband attended medical school, and I have been lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom. While living here in Omaha, we had two more kids, both boys. One week from today we will be moving to Spokane, Washington where my husband will be an intern at Deaconess hospital for a year, after which we will move back here to Omaha for his Radiology residency.   

John Lambie, B.A. in Theatre and English, class of 1971.  Submitted October 5, 2005

I'm John Lambie. I graduated in 1971 with a B.A. double major in Theatre and English. I am currently teaching Drama at Paso Robles High School. During the summer I work at PCPA, The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts acting in repertory theatre in Santa Maria and Solvang, California.

Rebecca Olson, BFA Actor Training Program, class of 1998.  Submitted October 17, 2005

I live in Seattle, working as an actor.  My website is www.rebeccaolson.com, and has information about current productions, my production archive (currently under construction), how to contact me, etc.  After graduation I moved around quite a bit, living in Kansas City, L.A., and Boise, before returning to Seattle, where I grew up.

Renae Pedersen, class of 2003.  September 2, 2005

I just wanted to take a second and tell everyone at PAB, I have graduated from Ohio University with my Masters in Costume Technology and am now working at the University of Delaware, in the Professional Theatre Training program.

Jeremy Rishe, BFA Actor Training Program, class of 2002.  Submitted February 21, 2008. 

Ryan J Sales, BFA Actor Training Program, class of 1993.  Submitted January 20, 2008.

Currently I am an Assistant Manager for a strong national bank headquarted in Seattle, Washington, my home.  The bank is Washington Federal, which has a few locations in Utah.  I have been a Supernumerary for the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet for 10 years.  All small walk-ons, but helps keep performance passion alive.

Merlin James Alexandre Salisbury, BFA PADP, class of 2006.  Submitted November 4, 2006

My name is Merlin James Alexandre Salisbury and I recieved my Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Performing Arts Design Program with an emphasis in the Spring of 2006.

I spent the summer working at Stages St. Louis (can you guess where) working as the Sound Designer/Engineer for three shows: Cabaret, Grease and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. I am currently the Sound Board Operator for Kansas City Repertory Theatre which is on the Missouri side of Kansas City. KC Rep is associated with University of Missouri-Kansas City, in much the same way that the Pioneer is associated with the U, and UMKC has a great MFA program in Sound Design that I am looking into going to next fall. We'll see how that goes.

I've posted my portfolio online at http://SwordInTheSound.com for all to check out and see what I am and have been working on.

Megan Schutt, BFA Actor Training Program, class of 2003.  submitted November 2005

I will be receiving an MFA in Acting with an emphasis in the creation of new work in early June. My specialization within that degree has been in movement theatre, both as a practitioner and educator. My master's project is a ensemble created new work called Hidden Voices, which is being created in collaboration with a local domestic violence shelter. We will be presenting a fully supported production in February, after which I will be completing a written examination and oral defense. In graduate school, I have performed in The Rimers of Eldritch (Evelyn), Pentecost (Gabriella Pecs), The Fate of a Cockroach (Samia), Measure for Measure (Pompey), Another Part of the House (Amelia), Vaudeville- new work (Collaborator/Ensemble), Held Together with Glue and Tape-new work with puppets (Ensemble), and Hidden Voices-new work (Mary/Collaborator). As a GTA, I have served as a recitation leader for Introduction to Theatre (one of the largest classes of its kind in the country), Acting Fundamentals, and Movement Fundamentals. I have assisted in Movement Fundamentals, Viewpoints, Advanced Viewpoints, and Suzuki (Winter 2006). As a student at OSU, I have participated in extended creative residencies with Goat Island Performance Group, SITI, The Royal Court, Lizbeth Goodman and SMARTLAB, and The Builder's Association. I was in the ensemble of Shakespeare on Love-new work using text from Shakespeare's plays at Actor's Theatre of Columbus in June 2004. This last summer, I participated in the SITI Summer Intensive with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company. I also participated in a 5 week study abroad program in London where I studied London theater and served as a research assistant (videographer). The footage I took of Mahogany Arts and the Notting Hill Carnival will be incorporated into an interactive museum exhibit about the the theater of Carnival. I am also developing a solo performance piece that is slowly coming to fruition.

Kevin Stanfa, Honors BFA in Acting, Class of 2006.  Submitted July 26, 2007

I hit the ground running out of undergrad. The summer after I graduated I spent in Lenox, MA performing at Shakespeare and Co. After I went home for a brief two weeks, I made THE move to the Big Apple. Moved to Brooklyn, got the day job and did some acting around town, mostly university related (i.e. Columbia MFA Director Candidates). After having spent the last ten months living and surviving in New York City, I will be moving to Florida to attend Florida State University's ASOLO Conservatory for Actor Training (as I like to say the Asolo Cat) to pursue my MFA in acting. I am in the Class of 2010.

Noe (Mckenna) Tallen, BFA Actor Training Program, class of 1997.  submitted May 15, 2008

Recieved my MFA in acting from the University of Minnesota in 2000. I have stayed in the Twin Cities. Married a fellow actor. I am a company member with Theatre Unbound www.theatreunbound.com. I also perform with other companies within the Twin Cities. I am very happy in Minnesota.

Angela Kearns VanDijk, BA class of 1997.  Submitted September 9, 2007

Angela Kearns VanDijk  (B.A. 1997 , M.Ed., 2001) is the new Associate Director of Admission at the New School for Drama in New York City. The New School for Drama is a three-year intensive program dedicated to training artists in the fields of Playwriting, Acting, and Directing.  With a BA in Theatre Studies and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy, Angela was delighted to find a position that married her interests in education and the performing arts. Prior to her position at the New School for Drama, Angela worked for five years in the Division of Student Affairs at Columbia University; most recently as an Assistant Dean for Communications within the Center for Student Advising.  Angela is an avid yoga practitioner and studies dance and movement with Aisling Arts and the Broadway Dance Center.

Christopher T. VanDijk, BA class of 1999.  Submitted September 9, 2007

Angela is married to actor/playwright, Christopher T. VanDijk (B.A., 1999). Chris began his professional career at the University of Utah where he was a student in the University's Actor training Program, received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and spent two seasons at Pioneer Theatre Company. Regional credits include: A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, and RICHARD III. Since moving to New York, Chris has worked with Flying Fig, Aisling Arts, and Project: Theatre - among others. He's participated in the Wonderland Festival, The New York International Fringe Festival, Susan Lori Parks' 365 days/365 plays project, and a number of small independent films. Chris first began writing while serving as an apprentice at LAByrinth Theatre's 2005 Summer Intensive. His plays SIX and JANE were work-shopped at Partial Comfort's 2007 summer retreat. Chris is a graduate of William Esper Studio and a member of Partial Comfort Productions.