Guest Artists

The objectives and goals for the guest-artist program include providing opportunities for cultural enrichment, professional experience, and access to a larger artistic community. The program benefits the students, faculty, as well as the university and local communities. The majority of the guest-artists brought in by the department participate in public presentations, classes and seminars, talkbacks, master classes, and theatre productions that extend to the UAB and Birmingham communities.

A

  • Chip Abbott, Broadway assistant choreographer – led dance workshop, 2008.
  • Krystina Alabado, Actor, singer, voice actor – led masterclass in performance and auditioning, 2008.
  • Kurt Alger, professional wig designer and stylist – led wig-styling workshop and designed wigs for Hairspray, 2018.
  • Annaleigh Ashford, Broadway and TV actor – led acting workshop, 2018.

B

  • Melissa Bailey, choreographer – choreographed Bat Boy, 2013.
  • Frank Bradley, director, visiting professor – guest director for Don't Trifle with Love, 2012.
  • Rachel Burttram Powers, stage and screen actor – led acting masterclass, 2011.

C

  • Steve Carmichael, lighting designer – designed lighting for Cabaret in 2008, The Miser in 2010.
  • Michael Cassara, NY casting director – held three workshops on getting cast, 2016.
  • Bill Castellino, director – guest director for The Rocky Horror Show, 2010.
  • Adam Cates, director, choreographer, and author of “The Business of Show.” Led dance audition workshop.
  • Audrey Cefaly, Pulitzer-nominated playwright – worked with cast for the premiere of her play Tell Me Something Good in conjunction with the Dramatist Guild Foundation's Roe Green Traveling Masters program, 2016. Taught masterclass in playwriting, 2020.
  • Ken Cerniglia, dramaturg for Disney Theatrical Group, NYC – gave open lecture on dramaturgy, 2008.

D

  • Patti D'Beck, Broadway choreographer – led musical theatre masterclass, 2015.
  • Lexie Dorsett Sharp, actor and singer – led musical theatre masterclass, 2012.

E

  • Eden Espinosa, Broadway and National Tour “Elphaba” in Wicked –led musical theatre masterclass, 2015.

F

  • Andrea Frankle, stage and screen actor – led three-day “acting for the camera” workshop, 2018.

G

  • Michael Greyeyes, Indigenous Canadian actor, dancer, choreographer, director, and educator – led acting workshop, 2019.

H

  • Joshua Holden, master puppeteer – taught puppetry masterclass, coached puppeteers for Avenue Q, 2015.

J

K

  • Anne Kanengeiser, Helen-Hayes-Award-winning performer – talked with musical theatre students about touring with Phantom of the Opera, and performed the title song (which she sang on Broadway) from Beauty and the Beast, 2008.
  • Moisés Kaufman, renowned director, filmmaker, and playwright – coached actors and student director for The Laramie Project, 2008.
  • Kevin Kennison, NY casting agent – led audition master class, 2016.

L

  • David Leong, Broadway fight master – led movement masterclass, 2013. 
  • Jaime Lozano, composer – wrote music for world-premiere play Savage, 2019.

M

  • Donnie Mather, physical theatre performer and teacher – led movement masterclass for Women of War, 2014.
  • Kevin McGuire, director, Broadway actor – led acting workshop, 2008.

N

  • Tommy Newman, playwright and lyricist – wrote the book and lyrics for world-premiere play Savage, 2019.

O

  • Desi Oakley, actor, singer, dancer, composer – led acting masterclass, 2008.

P

  • Robert Earl Price, renowned playwright and poet – created and attended the premiere of his play The Butterfly Effect as commissioned by the Department and the Ruby Lloyd Apsey New Play Fund, 2015.

R

  • Abe Reybold, multi-disciplinary theatre artist – led musical theatre masterclass. 2013.

S

  • Julie Sanford, stage and screen actor – led casting workshop, 2013.
  • Paul Shoulberg, playwright and screenwriter – visited for talk-back after premiere of his play We Three, which was chose by the Department as winner of the Ruby Lloyd Apsey New Play Search, 2009.
  • Jose Simbulan, Broadway music director/accompanist – accompanied Anne Kanengeiser as she performed and contributed to discussion in musical theatre workshop, 2008.
  • Judine Somerville, Broadway "triple-threat," honored with the Legacy Robe – led musical theatre masterclass via Zoom, 2021.

W

  • Jones Welsh, movement and choreography specialist – led movement master class and served as movement coach for Big Love, 2013.