{"id":212,"date":"2017-10-10T18:24:47","date_gmt":"2017-10-10T18:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/?page_id=212"},"modified":"2026-03-19T15:23:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:23:45","slug":"spotlight-on-alums","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/alumni-and-friends\/spotlight-on-alums\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight on Alums"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students graduating from the Department of Theatre & Dance go on to pursue successful careers as actors, dancers, directors, choreographers, technicians, teachers and arts administrators, among others. Some 精品成人福利在线 Theatre & Dance alumni perform with prestigious theater and dance companies, while others have pursued graduate work with the goal of teaching in a college or university. Numerous alumni have opened their own studios or serve as teachers\/administrators in the private sector. The 精品成人福利在线 University Theatre & Dance curriculum provides excellent preparation for a range of careers.<\/p>\n

Alumni Profiles<\/h2>\n

Kevin Allen \u2013 Production Designer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1981: BA Speech and Theatre<\/p>\n

Credits: TV – Money Line<\/em> on CNN, CNBC New York<\/em>, Larry King Live<\/em>, Nick U-Pick Live!<\/em>. Other – Amazon.com, Geico, Founder of KLAD Design Company<\/a>. Awards \u2013 Emmy Award.<\/p>\n

Erick Avari \u2013 Actor<\/h3>\n

Credits: Broadway – Tis Pity She’s a Whore<\/em> and The King and I<\/em>. Regional – King Lear<\/em> and The Norman Project<\/em>. Film –\u00a0Planet of the Apes<\/a><\/em>, Stargate<\/em>, Independence Day<\/em>,\u00a0The Mummy<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0Mr. Deeds<\/a><\/em>, and\u00a0For Love or Money<\/a><\/em>. TV – Stargate SG-1<\/em>, Cybill<\/em>, Cheers<\/em>, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine<\/em>, Murder, She Wrote<\/em>, and NYPD Blue<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Stephen Bienskie \u2013 Actor, Singer, Dancer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1989: BFA Acting\/Directing\/Tech Theatre Major<\/p>\n

Credits: Broadway \u2013 Cats<\/em> and Chess<\/em> (revival). Tours – International Tour of Tommy<\/em>, and understudy for national tour of Tommy<\/em>. Off-Broadway – The Last Session<\/em>, ZombieProm<\/em>, and Slut<\/em>. Regional – Avenue X<\/em>, Balm in Gilead<\/em>, A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/em> and The Pirates of Penzance<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Kevin Carolan \u2013 Actor<\/h3>\n

Class of 1990: BA Theater Studies<\/p>\n

Credits: Broadway – Dirty Blond<\/em>. TV – Curb Your Enthusiasm<\/em>, Law <\/em>and Order: Special Victims Unit<\/em>, Law and Order: Criminal Intent<\/em>, and Trinity<\/em>. Other – Over 30 Commercials and a Stand-up Comedian.<\/p>\n

Tom Leonardis \u2013 Producer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1986: BA Speech and Theatre<\/p>\n

Credits: Broadway – Produced Whoop: Back to Broadway-The 20th Anniversary<\/em>. TV – Co-executive produced Ruby\u2019s Bucket of Blood<\/em>, Sketch Off<\/em>, Strong Medicine<\/em>. Film – Claus<\/em>. Other – Personal assistant to Whoopi Goldberg and President of One Ho Productions. Awards – Nominated for a Tony for Best Special Theatrical Event.<\/p>\n

Gaspard Louis \u2013 Dancer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1993: BFA Dance<\/p>\n

Credits: Dancer with Pilobolus Dance Theater<\/p>\n

Karen Love \u2013 Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1993: BFA Dance<\/p>\n

Credits: Founder of Umoja and Usaama Dance Theater<\/p>\n

Gerard McIntyre \u2013 Actor, Singer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1984: BFA Acting\/Directing\/Tech Theatre Major<\/p>\n

Credits: Broadway – Anything Goes<\/em>, Once on This Island<\/em> (revival), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat<\/em> (revival), and Uptown\u2026It\u2019s Hot!<\/em>. Off-Broadway – Forbidden Broadway<\/em>. TV – Law and Order,<\/em> The Nanny<\/em> and The Pretender<\/em>. Gerard McIntyre IMDB Profile<\/a><\/p>\n

Wilson Mendietta \u2013 Actor, Dancer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1997: BFA Acting major\/Dance minor<\/p>\n

Credits: Broadway – Man of La Mancha<\/em> (revival) and Bombay Dreams<\/em>. Regional work – A Chorus Line<\/em>, West Side Story<\/em>, and Camilla<\/em>. Dance \u2013 performer with Shapiro & Smith Dance Co. Teacher – Culture Shock Dance Center, SUNY Purchase, and NYU Tisch. Awards – Nominated for Barrymore Award.<\/p>\n

Krista Miller \u2013 Dancer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1993: BFA Dance<\/p>\n

Credits: Dancer with Kevyn Wynn, Lucinda Childs.<\/p>\n

Grace O\u2019Brien – Stage Manager<\/h3>\n

Class of 2001: BFA Production Design<\/p>\n

Credits: Stage Manager – Cirque de Soleil, Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Donna Scro-Gentile \u2013 Dancer\/Choreographer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1991: BFA Dance<\/p>\n

Credits: Dancer with Nikolais\/Louis Dance Theatre & Sean Curran Dance. Artistic Director of Freespace Dance.<\/p>\n

Sebastian Smeureanu \u2013 Dancer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1991: BFA Dance<\/p>\n

Credits: Dancer with Pilobolus Dance Theater<\/p>\n

Susan Speidel \u2013 Theatre Business\/ Director<\/h3>\n

Class of 1978: BA Theater<\/p>\n

Credits: Director of Education at Paper Mill Playhouse; oversees the Rising Star Award for Excellence in the Production of High School Musical Theatre; vocalist with the Key West Symphonic Pops.<\/p>\n

Joelle Van Sickle \u2013 Dancer\/Choreographer<\/h3>\n

Class of 1991: BFA Dance<\/p>\n

Credits: Dancer with Nikolais\/Louis Dance Theatre<\/p>\n

Michele Tauber \u2013 Actress<\/h3>\n

Class of 1987: BFA Acting\/Directing\/Technical Theatre Major<\/p>\n

Credits: Off-Broadway – Romeo and Juliet<\/em>, The Rivals<\/em>, The Prodigal Cow<\/em> and Dial M for Murder<\/em>. Film – Funny Money<\/em>. TV – The Street<\/em>, Kate & Allie,<\/em> and Law and Order<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Jill Witte – Lighting Designer<\/h3>\n

Class of 2003: BFA Production Design<\/p>\n

Credits: Awards – Emmy Award for 2004 Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n

John Wooten \u2013 Playwright, Director<\/h3>\n

Class of 1990: BA Theatre Studies<\/p>\n

Credits: Published texts – Best scenes of 1998<\/em>, Plays for Actresses<\/em>, and Playing Contemporary Scenes<\/em>. Play scripts – Trophies<\/em>, The Role of Della<\/em>, and The Mission Home<\/em>. Artistic Director – Kean University\u2019s Premiere Stages. Produced\/Directed – over 50 Productions as Artistic Director of Theatrefest at 精品成人福利在线 University. Memberships – Dramatists Guild. Awards – Nominated for American Critics Association New Play Award.<\/p>\n

Stuart Zagnit \u2013 Actor<\/h3>\n

Class of 1974: BA Speech and Theatre<\/p>\n

Credits: Broadway – Seussical<\/em>, The Wild Party<\/em>, and Those Were the Days<\/em>. Off Broadway – Little Shop of Horrors,<\/em> Enter Laughing<\/em>, Lucky Stiff<\/em>, Mr. President<\/em>, Breaking up is Hard To Do<\/em>, What Makes Sammy Run?<\/em>, and The Grand Tour<\/em>. TV – Law and Order<\/em>, Shaman King<\/em>, and Winx Club<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Dance Companies<\/h2>\n

Additional alumni have gone on to perform with such prestigious dance companies as:<\/p>\n