ALUMNI NEWS!

Laurel Shae Beard teaches Voice at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Ruby Carlson completed her MFA in Musical Theatre at University of Minnesota Mankato and is Director of Dance Education at Northern Stars Creative Dance Center.

Christina Docter music directed TUCK EVERLASTING, PETER PAN Jr., FINDING NEMO Jr., SPAMALOT, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS over this last season and directed FROZEN Jr. She wrote a parody musical called JUST A BAD THRILLER and is the Staff Operations Manager at YAAL in Lincoln, NE. She has a studio with 86 active students, two of whom won the Nebraska High School Theatre Awards and went to the Jimmy Awards in NYC!

Eliza Foster sings with Knoxville Opera where recent productions have included LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

Michael Gedden released 3 new singles, streaming on all platforms under the name ISRAFEL.

Savannah Gordon made her Metropolitan Opera debut last season in FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES and ORFEO ED EURIDICE and will return in 2025 for FIDELIO. She recently performed SIMON BOCCANEGRA with Opera Philadelphia.

Madeline Jones is in the MFA program at The Old Globe where she recently performed in TWELTH NIGHT.

Jeffrey Laughrun made his Off-Broadway debut in STRANGER SINGS and performs all over the Americas on The Ruby Princess.

Stevie LeWarne stars in JERSEY BOYS on Norwegian and was recently on the national tour of HAIRSPRAY.

Alec Lloyd recently finished several years on the Broadway national tour of ANASTASIA, opened the first cruise production of BEETLEJUICE, and recently performed in DER ZWERG and LA TRAVIATA at LA Opera.

Miranda Luze stars in the national tour of COME FROM AWAY and recently performed KINKY BOOTS on Norwegian.

Taylor Mayne teaches voice at Drake University and Grinnell College and recently completed his doctoral work at the University of Iowa.

Chloe McCartney is the choir director at Valley Southwoods in West Des Moines.

Kenna McWilliams sings with Indianapolis Opera where she’ll perform in CARMEN this season.

Jason Millsap performed roles in CABARET and TITANIC with Revival Theatre Company.

Kara Morgan spent the summer in the Merola program at San Francisco Opera and will perform lead roles in ROMEO ET JULIETTE and IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA as a member of Minnesota Opera’s apprentice artist program this season. She was 1st Place winner of Opera Tampa’s 26th Annual D’Angelo Competition, won her district of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and won the Encouragement Award at the regional finals.

Travis Ness played Lola in KINKY BOOTS at the Des Moines Playhouse and won the Cloris Award for Best Leading Role for the role!

Lindsey Norine is owner and instructor of her own busy voice studio in Des Moines, IA.

Sean Pierce is an audio engineer who runs his own post-production company in St. Louis.

Ben Raanan is the Artistic Director of Phamaly Theatre Company, a disability-affirmative theatre company in Denver, Colorado.

Kent Reynolds performed the lead role in ELF with City Circle Theatre Company.

Henry Seifried won 3rd Place in the national finals of the NATS National Student Auditions competition.

Nathan Smith is on the national tour of COME FROM AWAY and recently finished a long run as Chandler in the off-Broadway spoof of FRIENDS.

Paige Strasel won 3rd place in the advanced division of NATS and sang in masterclasses with Eric Owens, Christine Brewer, and Kathleen Kelly. She is pursuing her master’s at University of Louisville.

Kris Thornton starred in the Candlelight Processional at Disney World and will sing in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR at Orlando Opera this season.

Ellie Waddell released several singles in 2023, streaming on all platforms under the name ELLIE WINN.

Sierra White is one of the busiest cabaret singers in Chicago and recently played The Witch in BIG FISH with Hope Repertory Theatre.

Lera Zamaraeva sang in the 10th Anniversary concert of 35MM at 54 Below.

Miranda Luze & Nathan Smith got married! My very 1st studio wedding!

Apologies if I forgot any big news - miss you all!!