Alumni
Alumni, please keep in contact with us and let us know what you are doing!
Alumni Stories
Barbra Alloy (1990) chose to stay in Green Bay after graduation where she founded a three woman cabaret, Glamarama, which performs for dinner theatre and private events to rave reviews. Barb teaches ballet, tap, jazz, and baton to over 100 students, and directs for local companies. In addition, she has produced two regional television series, won an addy for commercial writing, and appears in commercials and independent films. Barb also owns and operates Alloy Photography for weddings and portraiture, and she is a motivational speaker for ITT-Tech in Green Bay. She now has over 100 musicals that she has either choreographed, directed, or starred in.
Jonathan Armstrong (2006) is currently an independent contractor/designer for Dungeon of Doom in Grayslake Illinois where he makes the sets, props, and sound and lighting design.
Bill Berry (1993) Bill served as The 5th Avenue’s associate producing artistic director and casting director from 2002 through 2009. During that time, he directed productions of
West Side Story (Seattle Times Footlight Award),
Wonderful Town (Seattle Times Footlight Award),
Wizard of Oz and
Smokey Joe’s Café. In 2014, he made his Broadway debut as the director of the hit musical
First Date at the Longacre Theatre. Berry’s directing work has been seen at theaters across the country, most recently at Florida's Asolo Repertory Theatre, where he directed the new musical,
Beatsville. Berry also recently directed a critically acclaimed production of
On the Town at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse. Directing highlights include
Cabaret performed at The 5th Avenue Theatre, St. Paul’s Ordway Center (Ivey Award), San Jose’s American Musical Theatre and Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars, as well as the smash hits
Mamma Mia!,
The Pajama Game, How to Succeed…, Little Shop of Horrors, First Date, RENT, The Music Man and
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel at The 5th. From 2002 to 2009, he served as the producing director for The 5th Avenue’s education and outreach programs. During that time he significantly expanded the scope and impact of these initiatives, including spearheading the creation of Fridays at The 5th and The 5th Avenue Awards, honoring excellence in high school musical theater, as well as substantially increasing the reach of the Adventure Musical Theater Touring Company throughout the Northwest. These programs combined now serve nearly 75,000 students annually. He also initiated the Show Talk series, which seeks to deepen the theater-going experience. Prior to his work at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Berry was a freelance theater artist based in New York City.
Emily (Feld) Branden (1999) left the UWGB stage in 1999 to spend five years in New York City, studying privately with Anna Strasbert at the Lee Strasberg Institute, starring in the independent television pilot Quarter Life and creating and producing the rock drama I Know Why Ophelia Went Mad in Midtown, Manhattan. Her growing interest in film led her to make the move west, to Los Angeles, CA in 2004. It was here where Emily starred in her first independent film Tuesday. Currently Emily is working on her first screenplay The Visiting Room. She has also been teaching yoga for over 7 years now and has integrated her love of actors and artists of all kinds.
Molly (Mix) Cothran (2002) after graduation, Molly worked as a talent scout for John Robert Powers in Atlanta which led her to a job with an online company called citysearch.com. She is currently the director of local media nationwide and is constantly using the skills she received from the Theatre Department at UWGB by opening her own acting and vocal school in the south.
Mike Christman, (Spring 1999), Lighting Designer / Lead Carpenter for American Folklore Theatre, Door County, WI.
Maureen "Mo" (Wilhelm) Christofel (1988) is currently a scenic artist at the prestigious Seattle Repertory Company and she has just been elected the President of her Local I.A.T.S.E. (Stagehands) Union.
Sara Clark (2001) married Aaron in May 2004. Is a stay at home mom to a wonderful daughter named Rowan Elizabeth who was born November 2005.
Josh Conklin (1996) has acted in numerous Off Broadway productions and has earned his Actors Equity Card. Josh was seen in Peninsula Players' The Foreigner and now resides, writes and performs in Chicago.
Kim Cook (2002) completed her MFA in Costume Design at Ohio University in 2005. Kim has worked for the Utah Shakespearean Festival as a stitcher, wardrobe technician and costume shop supervisor, and has recently designed her first New York City off-off Broadway production.
Mary Gallagher (1992) is a stand-up comedian, actor and writer. She made her network stand-up debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and has guest-starred on Terrence Howard’s Fright Club, NCIS, Friends, The West Wing, Grey’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother and is a regular on David Spade’s Fameless on TruTV. She performs all over the country doing stand-up. Comedy festivals include Burbank, Big Pines, LaughFest and The New York Comedy Festival, in which she was a semifinalist for The Andy Kaufman Award. She also competed in Comedy Central’s Laugh Riots. Mary has an improv background, having graduated from Chicago’s prestigious Second City Training Center. She has also hosted in countless comedy clubs and numerous TV shows, including Kelsey Grammer’s World Cup Comedy, Game Show Network’s Faux Pause, and E! Entertainment’s The Short Show. Her film roles include starring with Jodie Foster in the thriller Flightplan, James L. Brooks’ How Do You Know with Reese Witherspoon, and Bernard Rose’s remake of Frankenstein. She’s also been the series lead of television pilots created by Rob Reiner and Jason Alexander. Mary resides in Burbank, California with her daughter. She has written and illustrated two children’s books, and she teaches cartooning to kids.
Lori (Adele) and Shane Denil (1997) Lori has been seen in several recent television episodes of 24, Scrubs, What I Like About You, My Wife and Kids,Angel, Girlfriends,The District, Crossing Jordan and Boston Public. She was also seen in the February 15th airing of American Dreams. Shane has also been keeping extremely busy and connected to the industry since moving to Hollywood in fall 2003.
Nicole Desjarlais-March (1999) is the Assistant Ticket Manager for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.
Todd Dively (2005) Works for WBAY and has started a production company with fellow alum, Donald Shadian. Shady Dive Productions has produced original productions at the Green Bay Community Theatre, The Weidner Center and The Meyer Theatre.
David Duwell (1993) worked for years as a Technical Director in NYC. He and his wife moved to Chicago where David is continuing his work as a professional Theatre Technician and has started a family.
Jennifer (Guerts) Elledge (1997) has worked in numerous off off Broadway shows since moving to NYC.
Sunam Ellis (2004) directed Same Time Next Year at the Green Bay Community Theatre as well as doing some commercial work for Aurora Bay Care and Oneida Nation. She has since moved to State College, PA to pursue her Ph.D. in Human Development and she hopes to continue doing commercial work while there.
Briana Fahey (Fall 2001) Hired as an Assistant Stage Manager by the Utah Shakespeare Festival for the 2003 summer season. Worked with the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre as a Stage Management Intern and she became a professional Equity Stage Manager in Fall 2004 - Now on the Professional Staff of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.
Christine Fanning (2003) has been the Program Services Coordinator for the Schauer Arts and Activities Center in Hartford, WI since November of 2004. Prior to that, she was working as the Operations Manager of the Calumet Theatre in Calumet, MI.
Stephen Fels, (1989) Cruised extensively with Carnival Cruise Lines as shipboard sound and lighting technician ('91-'94), designed and operated the laser light shows at Orlando's SeaWorld ('94-'96) worked for Coherent Laser (''96-'07) first traveling internationally as a service engineer and then and then settling into his position as scientific applications engineer in San Jose. Stephen currently livesin San Jose with wife Natalia and son Matthias and manages the Research Laser Systems Product Support Group. stephen@fels.cc
Rachel (Lehman) Frederick (2004) went to Richmond, VA to work as a scenic artist and has since returned to Wisconsin to work as the theatre director/house manager and assistant director at DeForest High School.
Erica Fuss (2005) after graduation she spent a year teaching Theatre and English at a boarding school in India. She is a company member of The November Ten and production stage manager for their summer stock Festival 56 in Princeton, IL. Currently, she is working for the Chamber Theatre in Boston, MA as company stage manager for one of their national children's theatre tours.
Teresa Gegare (Spring 1997) Teresa began with Blue Man Group in 2001 as Assistant to the Executive Producer for Blue Man Group Productions, New York, and was promoted to Coordinator of International Production for Blue Man Group Worldwide in the spring of 2004. Before joining the Blue Men she worked as a Production Management Assistant on the Broadway production of Rent. Stage Manager for a number of off-off-Broadway shows in NYC. Teresa is now back in Northeast Wisconsin.
Larry Gruber (1987) has been serving as an Associate Scene Designer on Major Broadway Productions for fourteen years now and he has designed some national touring productions as well. In the last calendar year Larry has had three shows on Broadway including the 40 th anniversary revival of Fiddler on the Roof, as well as musical productions of Dracula and Good Vibrations, which opened in February 2005. Other Broadway Credits include The Sweet Smell of Success, Seussical, Annie Get Your Gun with Bernadette Peters, Death and the Maiden, The Sound of Music, Jesus Christ Superstar and others. Larry and Elise Gruber are the proud parents of 2 year old Twin Girls, Morgan and Mikala.
Meg Hanna (Fall 1997) Production Designer for The American Way at the Ventura Court Theatre in LA; wrote and produced independent film Surface 2043; Assistant Prop Designer, Nickelodeon Studios and at Sony Studios in LA.
Dustin “D. J.” Haugen is working toward his MFA in Theatre Technology at Florida State University and worked for Trollwood Performing Arts School in Summer 2005.
Michael Herman (1999) is an established stage director in Madison. Productions include Balm in Gilead, Sum of Us, Glory of Living, The Goat or Who is Sylvia and after a four year hiatus from acting Michael returned to the stage in Bridget Carpenter’s Faculty Room last fall playing the role of Carver. Michael also recently directed Bug by Tracy Letts.
Christopher Hibbard (2001) completed his MFA at Northern Illinois University in May 2004. Chris was Guest Director for UWGB's The Laramie Project in February 2005 and received an ACTF Regional Award of Merit for his work.
Erick Hoffman (1989) formerly the Marketing Manager for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Erick recently joined the Omaha Performing Arts Society as Vice President for Marketing and Communications. Erick's wife Madeline (Gajkowski) was a UWGB Dance minor (1987) and works for the National Fair Housing Council. ehoffman@omahaperformingarts.org
Julie Hopkins (Spring 2002), Graduated from Purdue University's MA stage management program; Stage Manager at the Utah Music Theatre in Ogden, UT (Summer 2002); Stage Manager at Summer Valley Theatre in St. Croix, WI (Summer 2001)
Kelly Ann (Dowe) Huchthausen (1996) after moving to LA in 1997, Kelly was seen on many sitcoms with small walk-on and background roles. She starred in Surface 2043, an independent science fiction hit, and worked in community theatre for a number of years before stepping away to earn some money in retail management. She now is building her career and beginning her life as a mother, but theatre is always on her mind.
Jill Huguet (1993) has been working right in the heart of Broadway (In Cameron Macintosh’s former Office) for Group Sales Box Office in NYC and has assisted us greatly with planning for our "UWGB meets NYC" Theatre trips for four years now.
Erin Hunsader (1998) continues to write plays and is the Education and Community Program Coordinator at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton.
Ivan Jones (2008) is employed at Design Lab of Chicago.
Jamie Kearns (2005) is currently involved in a Chicago Reader “recommended” production entitled FLOSS! at the Conservatory in Chicago, which has now been running for five years.
Josh Koleske (2006) has returned to Green Bay as Staff Stage Manager for the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts.
Dean Kolze and Stacey (Nellen) Kolze (1996 & 1997) worked on the international tour of The Sound of Music, which became the first US Musical Production to tour the People's Republic of China in 2004 and the actual Von Trapp family was there for the opening. Dean also worked as Lighting Designer & Technical Director for Five by Design, tours of Club Swing and Radio Days. Both Dean and Stacey have Journeyman status in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local #470.
Jeff Krueger (1985) spent 4 years getting a degree in theatre and making fun of the students selling their souls to get into the world of business, then ended up there himself. After graduation Jeff freelanced in costume design and props for 5 years then got sucked into the world of food and marketing by the arts funding cuts of the Regain era. Currently Account & PR Coordinator for Scott Advertising in Milwaukee, a business-to-business agency specializing in the food service/restaurant industry where he's been for nine years.
Jana Lerlie (2003) is working as a special education assistant with children with autism for the third year. She is pursuing a degree to teach special education at UWO and she continues to choreograph for local theatres and high schools, as well as coaching a high school dance team in Oshkosh.
Jason Lienhard (1998) is currently a member of IATSE with Journeyman status and has worked as an up-rigger and technician for major concerts and theatre productions in the region and in Florida. Jason has worked for both the Weidner Center and the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center as a stage carpenter and lighting technician. Jason and Theresa welcomed a bouncing baby boy in fall 2004.
Eric Lindahl (2003) has been working non-stop since moving to Chicago. Projects include "HMS Pinafore", "Dr. Sex", and "Animal Farm" at the highly acclaimed Bailiwick Theatre in Chicago. Eric was also seen in the Lake Shore Theatre New Children's Musical "Click Clack Moo" based on the well-known children's book and recorded the CD soundtrack for that production, he appeared in "The Baker's Wife," Harry Connick’s “Thou Shalt Not” and "Side Show." Eric has been nominated for a Jeff Citation (non-Equity) for his role in " Side Show" and was in the Jeff Citation Best Musical Nominee " Side By Side By Sondheim." Eric returned to UWGB to perform as a guest artist in the role of the Emcee in Cabaret, produced in the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, April 2012.
Chad Lussier (2005) Worked as Technical Director/Scenic Designer for the inaugural season of Festival 56. Now living in Chicago working as Technical Director Northeastern Illinois University Summer Theatre, Master Electrician at Milwaukee Rep and freelance stagehand. lussier@hotmail.com
Steven Marzolf (2003) completed an Acting Internship with the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre before moving to Chicago. He was featured in the Chicago Shakespeare production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor," with Greg Vinkler. Steve has worked the new and critically successful The Side Project Theatre in "Salome" and …”The Scottish Play.” Steve was an understudy at Steppenwolf Theatre for the premiere of "August: Osage County" and featured in the premiere of "Fair Use" in the Steppenwolf Garage. He has completed his MFA at the prestigious Old Globe in San Diego and is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association.
Peter McMasters (1990) after working, for several years, as a Theatrical Systems Integrator at Barbizon Light in Boston, he moved back to Wisconsin for a life change. He now lives in an old school house with his wife and daughter raising Alpacas. On the side, he has performed as an indoor kite flyer with Guildworks all over the country.
Teresa Mikulski teaches at Seymour High School.
Jeff Miller (1989) after graduating from UWGB, he spent a year at Six Flags Great America managing Prime Time Video which put in the TV/Video/Audio systems in the ride lines. He moved to Virginia Beach, VA in 1991 where he found several jobs in the Graphic Design field and continued to find one better. Works currently as Graphics Coordinator for www.TraderOnline.com in the Marketing/Advertising Department. Avid Swing & Blues Dancer and Professional Instructor/DJ (www.SwingVirginia.com) in the Virginia Beach area. Member of Virginia State/Oceanfront JR Chamber of Commerce since 1997 and JR Olympic volleyball coach since 1995.
David Neuser (1988) has been working for several years for Electronic Theatre Controls (the leading manufacturer of lighting instruments and control systems in the US)
Michelle (Mitz) Nigh-Mogstad (1995) is now a Tour Associate on the home office staff of Missoula Children’s Theatre, along with her husband Don, after touring for four years. Her job entails teaching and directing the local children’s shows and helping train new actors/directors for the International Tour. She and her husband live in Missoula, Montana with their three cats. nighmogstad@earthlink.net
Beth Noonkester (2004) after graduation, she took a job with Chamber Theatre Productions, a national educational theatre company in Boston, MA. She was a master electrician and touring company stage manager for three separate tours. For the past year she has been an assistant event coordinator for the Chamber Theatre. She has been working with a not-for-profit theatre company, 11:11, doing some stage managing and lighting designs.
Angelo O'Dierno (1989) has been teaching and serving as Lighting Designer and Technical Director at Rock Valley College and the Starlight Summer Theatre in Rockford, Illinois since his graduation from UWGB.
Leslie O’Neill moved to Minneapolis after studying dance at UWGB and joined the Black Label Movement, founded by Carl Fink, which had its debut performance at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis. Leslie is also working with choreographer Maggie Bergeron in association with Red Eye Theater’s “New Works” as well as developing her own choreographic portfolio.
Corey Pinchart (Spring 1998) has been hired as the UW-Green Bay Theatre Scene Shop Supervisor! He will continue to work for the Weidner Center Presents. Journeyman status in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local #470. pincharc@uwgb.edu
Sandra (Baker) Renick (1996) is living in metro Milwaukee "sales career by day, theatre by night." Married and the proud parent of 2, Sandy is writing her fourth script and writing her first musical score. She is prominent in the Milwaukee theatre community as a playwright, director, and actor. renick1295@yahoo.com
Andrea Roberts (Robs) (1993) was the wardrobe Supervisor for the 1st National Tour of "The Producers". Andrea worked on the Broadway production for a year before taking the supervising position on the Tour. Andrea also designs original furniture available through her website.
Neil Roehrborn (Spring 2000) Manages Theatrical Lighting and Sound for The Lighthouse in Green Bay and is a very helpful friend of UWGB Theatre.
Al Salm (1993) manages a Theatrical Supply and construction company in Seattle.
Joel Sass (1989) moved to Minneapolis after graduation and worked as an assistant director at Theatre de la Jeune Lune for three years. He is the Artistic Director/Co-Founder of Mary Worth Theatre Company from 1994 to the present. Joel is also a freelance director in the Twin Cities, guest directing as the Guthrie Theatre, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Park Square, and others, and he has also been a guest artist at the University of Minnesota, Macalester College, and UW-River Falls.
Mark Schneider (Spring 1994) House Electrician for the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts.
Robert J Schnettler III (2002) after working for IATSE as a Journeyman stagehand for four years, he took a full time position at Majestic Productions in Summitville, Indiana as a lighting technician. He got married in January of 2005 and he and his wife bought a house in Anderson, Indiana where they currently live.
Terra Schultz (2005) (seen flying- left) moved to Chicago after graduation and began stage managing the show “Crave” as well auditioning with other theatre companies.
Donald Shadian (2005) is a founding member of "Shady Dive Productions" creating original work with fellow alum Todd Dively.
Kelly Shoemaker (2003) graduated from UWGB with a degree in Music, and was involved with the theatre department in 2000, playing the part of April in "Company." Since then, she has moved to New York City, where she currently resides after receiving a performers certificate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in NYC. She is currently on a national tour with National Theater for Arts and Education.
Mark Smith has been working the last couple of years at a small professional theatre in Florida both as an actor and stage manager. He also worked as a production designer for an award-winning feature film called “Saving Sophie."
Shayne Steliga (2003) completed a year as an Acting Intern with the Milwaukee repertory Theatre and appeared in the In-Tandem Theatre Company's production of William Mastrosimone's "The Afghan Women."
Aaron Stinebrink (Spring 2000) Master Electrician for Theatrical Media Services, Omaha NE. Hired as the Programmer of automated lighting fixtures for the Dave Mathews Band. Aaron is also a regular contributor and supporter of the UWGB Theatre Program as a Theatre First Night Director.
Tyra (Olson) Stoehr (1992) has found time to shoot various commercials and independent films while also having two beautiful baby boys.
April Streubing (1993) is now working for Feature Animation at DreamWorks and received her first major film credit with the opening of Shark Tale. April earned her SAG card as a voice actor in DreamWorks "Over the Hedge."
Jen Strosin (Fall 1998) Assistant Company Manager, Arizona Stage Company; Properties Master for the National Tour of The Music Man (2001); Assistant Stage Manager the Utah Shakespeare Festival (Summer 2000, 2001 and 2002), Stage Manager for the Nebraska Theatre Caravan and several Milwaukee area theatres.
Jessica Thiers moved to New York two years ago after being accepted into the Stella Adler Acting Conservatory, where she studied for a month in a Chekhov Intensive program. She then studied at the New York Film Academy for two months.She was in four films, including "Speechless," "Perfection," "Tough Love," and "Forever With You." In 2005 Jessica auditioned for the School for Film and Television and was accepted into their two year acting conservatory, which she will be completing this May. She has done one episode on the TV show "The Sopranos" and has also done a film starring Susan Sarandon, to be released later this year.
Cydnee Totzke (1991) got her UW-La Crosse Master's Degree in Education in 1995. Currently works as a Middle School Math/Computer teacher and is the Cheer and Dance Team Coach at the Northland Pines High School.
Dan VanDellen (Spring 2004) After directing the Wisconsin premiere of "Time Piece" at the Green Bay Community Theatre, Dan moved to Atlanta to work for the A.C. Nielsen Company.
Anne Welch (2000) has worked at Disney World for several years since graduating and recently moved to Ashville, NC and is working as a Faux Painting Artist and Design Assistant for the Susan Nillson Interior Design firm.
Tiffany (Wier) Wells (Spring 2004) Tiffany's play "Regrets" was workshopped on the UWGB campus and picked up for production by several regional school theatres. She has recorded a CD, "Condition of My Heart." www.tiffanywells.com
Darci White (Fall 2003) Received Honorable Mention recognition at the Kennedy Center-American College Theatre Festival, Region III for her scene design for "Flyer." She has worked as a faux artist for an interior design firm in Northeast Wisconsin and returned to UW-Green Bay to complete a second degree in Art.
Kathy Williams (1984) working at Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) in Middleton, WI since 1998. Her current position is Training and Documentation Specialist. For seven years she worked as the Assistant Lighting Director for the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. And previous to that, she spent seven years as Assistant Lighting Director for the General Jackson Showboat/Opryland USA in Nashville.
Ryan Winn (2002) completed his M.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2005. He has since, taken a full-time position teaching English and Theatre at The College of Menominee Nation in Keshena, WI.
Josh Wintersteen (2006) is living in Chicago. Acting credits include "The Heidi Chronicles," (playing opposite Terra Schultz) "All my Life and Then Some" with Buckeye Tree Productions and was a guest artist at Dominican University reprising his role as Garry Lejeune in "Noises Off."
Chris Woller (Spring 2004) After designing this website, Chris went on to pursue an MFA at the University of Illinois with a full Assistantship. Chris has been named Production Manager of Trollwood Performing Arts School and handles this year round position while completing his MFA.
Johnny Yoder (2005) completed his training at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City in the Conservatory Program where he is currently Director of Marketing. He has starred in "The Red Coat, " "Laura Dennis," and "The Time of Your Life" at Stella Adler. He is Artistic Director of Something23 Productions in NYC. Other recent acting credits include "Mismatched.com" at the Manhatten Repertory Theatre, "The Third Step" at the American Theatre for Actors and the feature film "Beerpong: The Musical." johnnyyoder@yahoo.com
Special Alumni Memorial
Susan Kline-Heim (1984) The UWGB Theatre Program would like to recognize the career and life and spirit of Susan Kline-Heim. Sue graduated from UWGB Theatre in May 1984 and proceeded to get her MFA in Costume Design at Michigan State. In 1988 the Costume Design position at UWGB came open and Sue Kline was hired as an Assistant Professor at her Alma Mater. Sue later received tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor and after her retirement in 1998 Sue earned the honorary title of Associate Professor Emeritus at UW-Green Bay. Sue’s successful career was cut short by the ravages of Multiple Sclerosis and she passed away on January 27, 2005. The UW-Green Bay Theatre Program recognizes Sue’s creative spirit and one of the great success stories for UWGB Theatre.