Friday, November 16, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
College of the Arts Alumni: Where are They Now?
Four decades as a college! That translates to thousands of individuals who have graduated from our programs since 1968. We thought it would be fun to catch up with some of our alumni from the past 40 years. Where has life taken them? What are they up to these days? Here's a look at a sampling of alums from all areas of the College -- people who have gone on to rich and wide-ranging endeavors. We'd love to know what our other alums are up to, as well. Feel free to tell us by adding a comment at the bottom of this posting.
Esther Kim Lee (PhD, Theatre, 2000)
Lee's book A History Of Asian American Theatre (Cambridge University Press, 2006) was recently selected for the Association for Theatre in Higher Education book award. She carried out extensive research beyond her dissertation, and produced a major study in American theatre history. She is associate professor in the Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Lee graduated from OSU in 2000 and started teaching at UIUC in the same year.
Frank Mohler (Theatre, BA 1965, MA 1969, PhD 1976)
Frank is a Professor, Scenic and Lighting Designer at Appalachian State University. He teaches Theatre History, Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Swordplay, Stage Management, Microcomputers. “Prior to his 21 years at Appalachian, Frank Mohler taught and designed at Denison University, the University of South Carolina and the University of Virginia. At Appalachian he has been active on many university committees, served as Director of Theatre and as Interim Director of Cultural Affairs. Over his career he has created over 250 set or lighting designs; he also provided the conceptual design for the Appalachian’s Valborg Theatre. He has been recognized with several teaching and research awards and has been the recipient of a number research grants. He has published several articles on Renaissance and Baroque Theatre, in addition to giving many guest lectures and conference presentations. Active in professional organizations, he served as president of the Southeastern Theatre Conference and was awarded the Suzanne Davis Award for service to theatre in the south. Recently he has led study abroad trips to study historic theatres in Europe. He created and maintains the Development of Scenic Spectacle web site.
Chris Jones (PhD, Theatre, 1989)
Chris Jones is chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune, reviewing theater, com
edy, improv and other forms of live entertainment for more than a decade. He writes the Tribune's weekly theater column and hosts the popular blog, The Theater Loop. Jones also has been Midwestern theater critic for Variety and Daily Variety. His arts criticism has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, American Theatre magazine and many others. National guest TV appearances include CBS Sunday Morning, E! The True Hollywood Story and Nightline with Ted Koppel. In the 1980s he wrote for WCBE-FM in Columbus, and Columbus Alive. A native of Manchester, England, Jones began his career teaching theater history and dramatic criticism at Northern Illinois University. He continues to teach a graduate seminar in criticism at DePaul University, and recently returned to OSU's Department of Theatre for the Annual TRI lecture.
Toni-Leslie James (BFA 1979)
James has designed costumes for the Broadway productions of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, One Mo' Time,
King Hedley II, The Wild Party, Marie Christine, Footloose, The Tempest, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Twilight Los Angeles 1992, Angels in America, and Jelly's Last Jam. Internationally, she has designed productions for the Royal Court Theater and the Chitchester Theatre Festival in England. Opera and dance designs include productions for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ballet Hispanico. She also spent three years as the head costume designer for the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. Recipient of the American Theater Wing Award, Irene Sharaff Young Masters Award, LA Drama-Logue Award, FANY Award and Connecticut Critics Circle Award. She also has been nominated for a Tony Award, Drama Desk American Theatre Wing Award, Audelco Award, the National American Theatre Award and the NAACP Image Award. James recently accepted a position as head of design at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
Cezanne Charles (BA, Theatre, 1997)
Cézanne Charles is an artist, curator and arts manager, and currently is executive director of New Media Scotland. She has worked as an artist and curator in art and technology since 1998 when she formed rootoftwo with partner John Marshall. In 2003 she co-curated Intersculpt:uk 03 presented by Fast-uk at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. She co-founded artcore - an art organization dedicated to the exhibition, production, education and exploration of art, technology and electronic culture. In 2001 she co-curated Intersculpt:Ohio 01 presented by artcore at Archetype Gallery in Dayton. She has served as a consultant to arts organizations and artists in the areas of technology planning, professional and organizational development, and strategic planning. For more, click here.
Esther Kim Lee (PhD, Theatre, 2000)
Lee's book A History Of Asian American Theatre (Cambridge University Press, 2006) was recently selected for the Association for Theatre in Higher Education book award. She carried out extensive research beyond her dissertation, and produced a major study in American theatre history. She is associate professor in the Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Lee graduated from OSU in 2000 and started teaching at UIUC in the same year.
Frank Mohler (Theatre, BA 1965, MA 1969, PhD 1976)
Frank is a Professor, Scenic and Lighting Designer at Appalachian State University. He teaches Theatre History, Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Swordplay, Stage Management, Microcomputers. “Prior to his 21 years at Appalachian, Frank Mohler taught and designed at Denison University, the University of South Carolina and the University of Virginia. At Appalachian he has been active on many university committees, served as Director of Theatre and as Interim Director of Cultural Affairs. Over his career he has created over 250 set or lighting designs; he also provided the conceptual design for the Appalachian’s Valborg Theatre. He has been recognized with several teaching and research awards and has been the recipient of a number research grants. He has published several articles on Renaissance and Baroque Theatre, in addition to giving many guest lectures and conference presentations. Active in professional organizations, he served as president of the Southeastern Theatre Conference and was awarded the Suzanne Davis Award for service to theatre in the south. Recently he has led study abroad trips to study historic theatres in Europe. He created and maintains the Development of Scenic Spectacle web site.
Chris Jones (PhD, Theatre, 1989)
Chris Jones is chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune, reviewing theater, com
edy, improv and other forms of live entertainment for more than a decade. He writes the Tribune's weekly theater column and hosts the popular blog, The Theater Loop. Jones also has been Midwestern theater critic for Variety and Daily Variety. His arts criticism has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, American Theatre magazine and many others. National guest TV appearances include CBS Sunday Morning, E! The True Hollywood Story and Nightline with Ted Koppel. In the 1980s he wrote for WCBE-FM in Columbus, and Columbus Alive. A native of Manchester, England, Jones began his career teaching theater history and dramatic criticism at Northern Illinois University. He continues to teach a graduate seminar in criticism at DePaul University, and recently returned to OSU's Department of Theatre for the Annual TRI lecture.Toni-Leslie James (BFA 1979)
James has designed costumes for the Broadway productions of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, One Mo' Time,
King Hedley II, The Wild Party, Marie Christine, Footloose, The Tempest, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Twilight Los Angeles 1992, Angels in America, and Jelly's Last Jam. Internationally, she has designed productions for the Royal Court Theater and the Chitchester Theatre Festival in England. Opera and dance designs include productions for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ballet Hispanico. She also spent three years as the head costume designer for the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. Recipient of the American Theater Wing Award, Irene Sharaff Young Masters Award, LA Drama-Logue Award, FANY Award and Connecticut Critics Circle Award. She also has been nominated for a Tony Award, Drama Desk American Theatre Wing Award, Audelco Award, the National American Theatre Award and the NAACP Image Award. James recently accepted a position as head of design at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.Cezanne Charles (BA, Theatre, 1997)
Cézanne Charles is an artist, curator and arts manager, and currently is executive director of New Media Scotland. She has worked as an artist and curator in art and technology since 1998 when she formed rootoftwo with partner John Marshall. In 2003 she co-curated Intersculpt:uk 03 presented by Fast-uk at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. She co-founded artcore - an art organization dedicated to the exhibition, production, education and exploration of art, technology and electronic culture. In 2001 she co-curated Intersculpt:Ohio 01 presented by artcore at Archetype Gallery in Dayton. She has served as a consultant to arts organizations and artists in the areas of technology planning, professional and organizational development, and strategic planning. For more, click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)