| Dear Iowa Theatre Alumni and Friends: | The spring semester is off to a fantastic start, and we are thrilled to share some exciting updates from the Department of Theatre Arts.
We recently had the honor of hosting 2011 BA alumnus Brian Quijada, an award-winning actor, playwright, and composer, whose visit brought incredible energy to our students and faculty—as well as to the stage at Club Hancher. His workshops and discussions on storytelling, hip-hop theatre, and performance were truly inspiring. In case you missed it, we put together a video with our friends at Hancher highlighting his visit! WATCH VIDEO
Looking ahead, we have an exciting lineup of productions this semester. We are heading into the second week of Iowa Director's Festival, which will showcase four productions directed by our talented MFA directing candidates. Far Away by Caryl Churchill, directed by Meredith G. Healy, Dutchman by LeRoi Jones and Amiri Baraka, directed by Josh Turner, Tom & Eliza by Celine Song, directed by Kayla Adams, and And Tell Sad Stories of the Death of Queens by Tennessee Williams, directed by Michael C. Flores In March, we present Side Show (Mar. 7-15) directed by Paul Kalina and Music Direction by Mark Bruckner, a powerful musical about conjoined twins navigating fame and acceptance. Our April mainstage production, An Enemy of the People (Apr. 18-26) directed by Johanna Kasimow, will explore themes of truth and collective responsibility in a new adaptation. Additionally, don’t miss our student-led productions, including Grown Backwards, The Indoctrination of Bananas, Death Surrogates, and the annual Ten-Minute Play Festival, which will bring new voices to the stage.
As always, we genuinely love staying connected with our alumni and we are eager to hear your updates. If you have news to share about your accomplishments or the work of a fellow Iowa Theatre grad, please let us know.
Warmly,
Mary Beth Easley
Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts
Associate Professor, Head of Directing | | 
Performing Arts at Iowa is seeking a full-time scenic and lighting designer to join as a resident designer. This role supports the Department of Dance, School of Music Opera, and Department of Theatre Arts, fostering student engagement and collaboration. Ideal candidates will prioritize mentoring and create a welcoming, respectful environment.
Click above for details and application, and please share the opportunity with talented designers you know! | | | Departmental News |
- MFA Stage Management candidate Savanha Moore has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Cody Renard Richard Scholarship, which supports emerging theatrical leaders of color working behind the scenes. Founded by Broadway stage manager and producer Cody Renard Richard in partnership with BTC, the program provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and financial support to students pursuing careers in theatrical production. Savanha joins a distinguished cohort of scholars from top institutions nationwide, including Yale, Columbia, and CalArts.
Find Department of Theatre Arts news and updates any time HERE. | | | Alumni News |
- Ann Kreitman (MFA ’23) has been selected to join The New Georges Jam, an artist-led, collaboration-based “performance gym” for early- to mid-career women and theater makers. The Jam combines institutional support with the spirit of a creative collective, fostering innovative new work. Learn more here!
- Samuel D. Hunter (MFA ’07) debuts his new play, Grangeville, off-Broadway at Signature Theatre, starring Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser. Best known for The Whale, Hunter continues to deliver powerful storytelling, now with fellow Hawkeye John M. Baker (MFA ’08) as dramaturg. Don’t miss this exciting collaboration from Iowa Playwrights Workshop alumni! Learn more.
- 2020 MFA Directing grad Bo Frazier, who is artist-in-Residence at Baltimore Center Stage, has been awarded a National Theatre Company Grant from the American Theatre Wing. The grant recognizes and supports work of regional theatre companies that have demonstrated innovative new strategies to successfully present the work of American playwrights. Learn more about their work, “The Trans History Project.”
- Micah Ariel James (MFA '14) has been appointed director of UMass Downtown, which is managed by the Office of Community Relations and University Events in partnership with UMass Auxiliary Enterprises. Responsible for the location’s day-to-day management, James will work collaboratively with campus and community partners to provide a dynamic UMass experience in the heart of Amherst.
| | | Faculty News |
- Associate Professor of Instruction Megan Gogerty’s (BA '97) play, FEAST., will have its West Coast premiere at Leonix Movement Theatre in Los Angeles this April. A bold and provocative solo play, FEAST. reimagines the tale of Grendel’s mother from Beowulf, exploring themes of rage, power, and the hunger for justice.
- Assistant Professor Caroline Clay has been cast as Retta in the Alliance Theatre and Goodman Theatre’s co-production of Bust, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Zora Howard. Directed by Tony nominee Lileana Blain-Cruz, the production will run from February 13–March 16, 2025, at Alliance Theatre and April 19–May 18 at the Goodman Theatre. Read more here.
- Assistant Professor and Composer Mark Bruckner and MFA Design Program alum Kaelen Novak (MFA ’22) will present a workshop at USITT 2025 titled Devising Theatrical Shows with Emerging Technologies and Software. The session will explore the production process of ARatorio for the Mis-Remembered, a live theatrical show that integrated motion capture, projections, AR, and VR. Featuring stories from UI students, staff, and faculty veterans, the prototype production was directed by Mary Beth Easley and written by 1985 MFA Playwriting alum Sandy Dietrick. This innovative work will also be highlighted in the Summer 2025 edition of Theatre Design and Technology in a lead article co-authored by Easley, Bruckner, and Novak.
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