SMTD Faculty, Student and Alumni News

Professor Kerro Knox and Distinguished Professor Karen Sheridan teamed up to give a very informal "Last Lecture" on April 15. Both are retiring after decades of service and teaching in Oakland University's School of Music, Theatre and Dance. You can read more here.

Sheridan is also directing The Tempest this summer in Fenton's Rackham Park. Chair of Theatre Jeremy Barnett designed the scenery, Professor of Theatre Kerro Knox will design lights and alum Liv Kunkle will design costumes. A number of alums and students are in the cast: Kennedy Vernengo, Mason Gaida, Mark Le Mire, Caylee Morgan, Aurora Ave-Lallemant, Olivia Keifer, Emily Nichter and Katherine Lengyel. The Tempest plays Aug. 30, 31, and Sept. 1, 6, 7 and 8 in Fenton, Mich.

An Incident At The Border, directed by OU student Phillip Christiansen, ran April 20 and 21 in the Varner Lab Theatre.

“The Taming,” directed by OU student Rachel Sales, was performed April 18 and 20 in Varner Lab Theatre. 

Blake Whyte, visiting assistant professor of theatre, guest starred on “FBI” on CBS as Eric Webb on episode six of season 10, “A Family Affair,” which aired April 23. “I am so grateful for all the support and love I have received,” Whyte said. Whyte also performed in “So Many Melodies,” featuring Curtis Stewart, on April 26 at University Presbyterian Church in Rochester Hills.

OU SMTD faculty Jeremy Barnett, David Gram, and Melissa Hoag were recognized at the Faculty Recognition Luncheon.

Theatre students took classes with Greek master teachers and Oakland professors as they prepared their production of The Burial at Thebes for performance on the island of Hydra in Greece. One of the master classes was Mask-making with Kenny McLellan, designer from the National Theatre of Greece. They will be performing The Burial at Thebes on campus September 6, 7, 8, 2024. 

Congratulations to Aidan Laidlaw who won second place at the Elizabeth Gardner Voice Award auditions at University Presbyterian Church.

Oakland University’s Department of Theatre presented Caribbean Dreamin’ as its annual children’s theatre production on May 17 and 19. Based on Caribbean folk tales from Cuba, Haiti and Puerto Rico, the production traces the development of the steel band from its origins in Africa drumming through colonial repression to the modern day steel drum of Trinidad and Tobago. The production was conceived and directed by Kerro Knox III, professor of theatre and associate director of the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, and follows in the traditions of his previous shows, Anansi and Serengeti, which were both based on African folklore, and Just So Stories, after the work of Rudyard Kipling.

Kelli Crump, visiting assistant professor of theatre, stole the show as the utterly irredeemable Clyde in a production of Clyde’s at Detroit Public Theatre. The production ran April 24 through June 2.

Several OU Theatre students and alumni attended the Flint Repertory Theatre’s New Works Festival.

Oscar Quiroz, a Honduran actor, educator and director, recently joined the OU SMTD faculty. Quiroz has a BA in Theatre from the University of Guadalajara and recently concluded his MFA in acting at Michigan State University. Before coming to the United States, Quiroz taught voice, movement and acting at the National School of Dramatic Art of Honduras for seven years. The last decade he collaborated as an actor with renowned Honduran theatre company, Teatro Memorias, acting in several productions as well as national tours through Honduras, and in El Salvador and Nicaragua. His professional credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The One-Act Play that Goes Wrong, Distracted, Pippin and also Spanish spoken productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Trap for a Lonely Man, The Good Person of Tsé Zuan, Lucky Peter´s Journey, Dinner for Schmucks, Te Juro Juana, Que Tengo Ganas among many others. He recently directed the world premiere production of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz´s Love is the Greater Labyrinth at Michigan State University, which earned him the Varg Sullivan Distinguished Graduate Award. Quiroz is a proud member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers as well as the Voice and Speech Trainers Association.

Quiroz was recently cast as Tommy in Grand Horizons at Tipping Point Theatre in Northville, Mich. Distinguished Professor of Theatre Karen Sheridan is directing and performances run Sept. 25 – Oct. 20. Quiroz will also be directing The Thanksgiving Play at OU this fall.

Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance presented Hansel and Gretel, an opera by Engelbert Humperdinck based on the Grimm brothers’ dark fairy tale, from May 2 – May 5 in Varner Recital Hall on the OU campus. Set in three acts, the work took audiences from Hansel and Gretel's house, through the enchanted forest, and to the Witch's home. The show featured professional sets and costumes, as well as a professional orchestra.

OU SMTD faculty Alta Dantzler gave a concert on May 15 at the Steinway Gallery in Detroit called “By Her Hand” which featured 400 years of music by women composers. “Women have always been prominent members of musical society, although the scope of their roles was at times limited,” Dantzler said. “We will use tonight’s music, which sets texts by authors from Goethe to Langston Hughes, to highlight, amplify, and contextualize the work of these women over the course of four centuries.”

OU Theatre student DeNetria Gibson landed the role of Ember in Obsidian Theatre Festival’s The Golden Loc. Performances were held on June 28 and June 30.

OU Acting graduates in Chicago met and received feedback from Sam Samuelson of Stewart Talent, Bob Schroeder of Grossman Jack Talent & Laura Alexander of Talent X Alexander.

Three OU students/alumni — Cali Eugene Hill, Chanelle Beach, Austin McCoy — were featured in Flint Repertory Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening this summer. Performances ran June 7 – 23.

Alum Jalen Wilson-Nelem is featured in a play in Ann Arbor, Death of a Driver, at Theatre Nova from May 17 – June 19. SMTD faculty Lynnae Lehfeldt was the dialect coach. 

OU SMTD Alum Mariah Colby will be in Michigan Stage’s production of Guys and Dolls from July 25 – Aug. 3, and was in Flint Repertory Theatre’s production of Spring Awakening, which ran from June 7 – 23.

Alumna Princess Beyoncé Jones played Ayanna/Little Golden Fairy/Bow in Obsidian Theatre Festival’s The Golden Loc. Performances were held on June 28 and June 30. For more information, visit https://www.obsidianfest.org/2024-season.

Whitney Locher, assistant professor of theatre, designed the costumes for Steel Magnolias, which ran from June 17 – 19 at Theatre Aspen in Aspen, Col.

Melissa Maloney, applied instructor of voice, was the soprano soloist in a sold-out performance of Carmina Burana with the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra on May 3 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. On June 24, she was the soprano soloist in a performance of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, in collaboration with the University Musical Society Choral Union's Summer Sing Program.

Danny Gurwin recently joined the OU SMTD faculty. Gurwin is an MAC, Elly, and ARTy award-winning director and a BroadwayWorld, Barrymore, and Eddon award-winning actor and singer. On Broadway, Gurwin has starred in Little Women, Urinetown, The Scarlet Pimpernel, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Little Night Music (NYCO revival, LA Opera, and The Kennedy Center), Kismet, and over 500 performances stark naked in The Full Monty. Off-Broadway credits include Forbidden Broadway, Shakespeare’s R & J, A New Brain, The Thing About Men, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, and many others. Gurwin also has countless regional appearances, traversing the country in works varying from the Delaware Theatre Company’s Twelfth Night to California’s Musical Theatre West premiere of Cats. In addition, symphony and concert appearances include Chicago’s Grant Park Symphony, New Haven Symphony, South Coast Symphony, Avery Fisher Hall, the Library of Congress, and making his Disney Concert Hall debut with the California Philharmonic. Gurwin’s TV credits include: The Young and the Restless, Desperate Housewives, and Law & Order. As a renowned director, teacher and guest artist Gurwin has taught and directed at The University of Michigan, UCLA, Western Michigan University, Youngstown University, Clark College, both the prestigious Las Vegas and Orange County High Schools of the Arts, the Professional School for the Arts, the Showchoir Camps of America, the Segrestrom Center for the Performing Arts, and AMDA-Los Angeles. Gurwin holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. He comes to Oakland from the University of Arizona where he served as head of the acting/musical theatre program and artistic director of the Arizona Repertory Theatre.

Music technology major Aniya Gray has released her new single, “To This Melody,” on all streaming platforms.

OU Acting Alums Kori Fay and Mason Giada performed in Hoosier Shakespeare Festival’s performances of Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream from June 8 - 28 in Indiana.

Theatre students Deagan, Kalen and Sydney attended a two-week musical theatre intensive located in the small Italian town of Monte Santa Maria Tiberina through the program of Broadway al Monte. It was a life changing experience for the students. “This experience was full of new journeys and learning opportunities that helped me fully understand myself as an artist and as a person,” Deagan said. “Forever grateful for my time in Monte Santa Maria Tiberina.” “The best time I’ve ever had in my life,” said Sydney. “So much growth in all aspects — as a human and as an artist. Countless memories and special connections made with new friends. Everyone should have the opportunity to go out of their comfort zone, and to discover beyond what is around them.”

Drake Dantzler, associate professor of music, was named a national finalist for the Charles Nelson Reilly Award for Direction in the University Division from the American Prize for last year’s production of Cosí fan tutte.

Two OU theatre alums, Ash Moran and Alec Diem, were cast in Peregrine Theatre Ensemble’s Hedwig and The Angry. Performances are from July 5 – Aug. 31 in Provincetown, Mass.

OU theatre alum Madeline Jean Daunt made her debut in the Mega Movie Parade at Universal Orlando Resort on July 3.

Karen Sheridan, distinguished professor of theatre, will play “Grandma” in Michigan Stage’s production of Lost in Yonkers, which runs from July 11 – 20. Tickets are available at michiganstage.org.

Theatre minor Grace Ricci released a single, “Fall Out,” on July 12.

Jacob ben Widmar recently joined the OU SMTD faculty. Widmar is obtaining his MFA in directing from Florida State University and earned his BFA in music, dance, and theatre from Brigham Young University. He has been an instructor at Broadway Dance Center in NYC and Florida State University, where he taught dance, theatre, and directing courses. Widmar has been a professional actor for over 25 years On Broadway, he was seen in Xanadu, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Book of Mormon, No, No, Nannette! (Encores!) and Radio City Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall, directed and choreographed by Emmy winner Mia Michaels). He was in the first national tours of Mary Poppins and Book of Mormon, among others. Widmar has had the opportunity to originate roles such as Will Scarlett in Douglas Carter Beane’s Hood and Bobby Sherin in Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing. Other credits include Paper Mill Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus, Goodspeed Opera House, Ogunquit Playhouse, The Old Globe, Signature Theatre D.C., and a Broadway Guest Artist portraying Olaf in Frozen aboard the Disney Wonder. His portrayal of Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street at North Shore earned him an IRNE Nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Directing and choreographic credits include Broadway’s High School Throwback (starring Tony nominee Grey Henson and Tony winner Bonnie Milligan), 9-5 The Musical, Natasha Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812, Dragons Love Tacos, and Romeo and Julian- A Queer Retelling of a Shakespeare Classic. TV/Film credits include Hunters, General Hospital, Dancing With The Stars, Saturday Night Live, and The Terminal. He is a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and AGVA.

Theatre minor Grace Ricci released a single, “Fall Out,” on July 12.

Nicely Theatre Groups’ upcoming production of Guys and Dolls will feature six familiar faces from OU — Faith Green, Matthew Sell, Ever Liedel, Aaliyah Flint, Mirabella Ziegler, and Dave Roy. The production runs July 13 – 21.

Several OU theatre students and alums, including Mariyon Turner, Destiny Booms, Katherine Lengyel, Adam Rivera, Cayla Stus, Kelsey MacDonald, Olivia Wofford, and Kasey Julian — are performing in Opera MODO’s production of The Little Mermaid at The Matrix.

Alumna Ashley Ward’s choir was selected to perform at the 2025 Michigan Music Conference, which will be held Jan. 23 – 25 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Ward earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and vocal performance in 2009, and a master’s degree in choral conducting in 2015.

Josh Rotarius (B.A. Theatre Production ‘08) recently became head of the lighting department and supervisor of the lighting shop for Fox Sports and FS1 Los Angeles Studios in a dedicated facility on the Fox Lot where he has worked for the past 12 years. “As head of the lighting department, I'm responsible for all the maintenance and repairs of all the equipment and inventory and coordinating rentals for special events,” Rotarious said. “I will also be in charge of crew members for any big projects or special events — assigning and delegating tasks and also serve as a point of contact between crew and production management, who I work with closely to get all of this done. This is in addition to working as either a lighting board programmer or lighting director for shows covering sports like NFL, College Football, College Basketball, MLB, Soccer, the new UFL, as well as a slate of talk shows on FS1 like Undisputed, The Herd, and Speak.”