ETSU Division of Theatre and Dance

Alumni

 

Amy Tallmadge Currently acting for Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre in Little Rock. Before this, toured with Theatre IV out of Richmond.

Mary Blair ('04) "I am still in New York. As of the first of the year I have taken over a management position at the New Amsterdam theatre with the Broadway show Mary Poppins. It's the theatre that the Lion King was formally in. I oversee all the concessions and bars at the theatre which I never dreamed how huge the job actually is. It's so crazy. I don't think about it and then some days I come in and no one else is in the theatre and I realize I work on Broadway in an amazing theatre. I am the only female on the management staff as well which was somewhat intimidating at first. I attend these Meetings with Disney and the heads of the Unions for the Ushers, etc. and it's real born and raised New York men and me. I have a good handle on it now and love it. I have a staff of around 30 and we have such a wonderful time. I actually never thought I could enjoy a job that wasn't performing but I do."

Meagan McNerney "My job is the Education Director at the California Theatre Center. I coordinate the entire Summer Conservatory program that teaches about 600 kids each year. There are 4 Junior Conservatories (6-8 years), 7 Regular Conservatories, 1 Intermediate (where they do 3 different plays), and 1 Advanced (where they do 3-4 plays). At the end of each Junior and Regular Conservatory they present a play that they have worked on, made the props/costumes/set, and sold their own tickets. And at the end of Intermediate and Advanced they have a mini-play festival. It is really an extraordinary undertaking. During the year we also do Saturday Conservatories for all the students that have done a summer Conservatory and want to continue during the year. It is considerably less students, no more than 100. Then we teach Fun shops, which are workshops in various theatre disciplines that are open to anyone. Right now we have one in Musical Theatre, Improv, Story Theatre, and Movement. Then I am also in charge of our Outreach program, we send people to direct plays in the schools, teach 6 week courses, and spread general theatre happiness throughout the school systems in the Bay Area. I am directing The Wiz right now for a middle school. I think they have a bigger budget than most college productions, so that has been a real treat!

Believe it or not, that is only one aspect of the theatre company, because I occasionally act in shows too. The theatre is mainly a children's theatre; during the year they have shows that stay here in Sunnyvale and then there are also shows that tour all over California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Then over the summer they do more adult friendly shows.

But I love working with the kids, it is also nice to work with kids that are being taught the value of teamwork and collaboration in theatre. It makes for a nice working environment with them.

I am thrilled for James, I knew he would do well. Matt Weedman and I have been speaking occasionally. He sounds like he has been very happy in LA. I would love to see you all when you are out, let me know when you will be here and I will check out my work schedule. Congrats to Amber on the major, she is very deserving of the accomplishment!

Thanks for helping me land this job, hopefully it will lead to more and more things, especially since I do not hope to be in children's theatre for the rest of my life! I miss you and love you too!"

Rebecca Schaffer  ('04)  “I am still with the Children's Theatre--not always out on the road; I often do work at the home office such as building tour sets, making props, and teaching shows.  I LOVE working for this company.  Right now I am extraordinarily fortunate in that I am on tour in Europe with the Children's Theatre--so I'm getting paid to be over here, which is excellent! My residence is now in Montana, I rent a house with 11 chickens, two cats, and a dog; our landlord owns 480 acres and a bunch of horses, nestled in the Montana mountains......it's beautiful!  I hope you are doing well, and it's good to hear form you."

Chris Williams is working at Horn of the West in Boone, N.C.

Glen Williams ('07), C.J. Ferguson, Spencer Oats, and Jordan Straight all performed for the June, 2007, Shakespeare and Friends Renaissance Faire in Rogersville, Tenn.