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Department of Theatre College of Arts and Sciences

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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.

2025

  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting workshop
  • Hayley Procacci, playwright and director of Don’t Ask
  • Brittany Rappise, wig and makeup designer – led Wig Design/Construction workshop and guest wig designer for The Revolutionists
  • Libby Servais, star of Broadway in Love – led Q&A on Business and Future Planning 
  • Ali Stroker, Tony-winning actress – led Professional Career workshop
  • Stephen Stubbins, star of Broadway in Love – led Q&A on Business and Future

2024

  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting workshop
  • Danny Clifton, actor, agent – led self-recorded-audition workshop
  • Britney Griffin, choreographer, performer - choreographed for Sister Act
  • Eric Jackson, actor – led Professional Career workshop
  • Lance Perl, sound designer – led Sound Design workshop, designed sound for Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
  • James Ridge, professional actor - portrayed The Duke in Two Gentlemen of Verona and conducted multiple workshops and coaching sessions
  • Barry Shapiro, casting director – led On Camera Commercial workshop

2023

2022

  • Aaron Alcarez, actor – led The Life of a Broadway Understudy workshop
  • Billy Bustamante, performer/director/choreographer – led Audition workshop
  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting workshop
  • Dr. Nancy Dome, author and motivational speaker – presented “Finding Your ‘Why’”
  • Rebecca Jones, created and directed Echo(es)
  • Ian Mackenzie, presented the Professional Career workshop 
  • Tuan Malinowski, director and choreographer -- choreographed Spongebob Squarepants 
  • Jen Waldman, acting coach – led Networking in NYC workshop

2021

  • Billy Bustamante, performer/director/choreographer – led Audition workshop
  • Meggie Cansler, actor and singer – led The Business of the Business masterclass 
  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting workshop
  • Tony Gonzalez, director and choreographer - led Dance Audition workshop 
  • Judine Somerville, Broadway "triple-threat," honored with the Legacy Robe – conducted Musical Theatre masterclass via Zoom
  • Jen Waldman, acting coach – led Networking in NYC workshop

2020

  • Billy Bustamante, performer/director/choreographer – led Audition workshop
  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting workshop
  • Audrey Cefaly, Pulitzer-nominated playwright – taught Playwriting masterclass
  • Jeremy Leiner, talent agent – presented “How to Get and Work with Agents” 
  • Dee Tomasetta, dancer and dance teacher – presented “Making a Career in New York”
  • Jen Waldman, acting coach – led Networking in NYC workshop

2019

  • Stephanie Busing, professional projection designer – designed projections for world-premiere play Savage
  • Billy Bustamante, performer/director/choreographer – led Audition workshop
  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting workshop
  • Michael Greyeyes, Indigenous Canadian actor, dancer, choreographer, director, and educator – led Acting workshop
  • Jaime Lozano, composer – composed music for world-premiere play Savage
  • Patrick MacDonald, sound designer and engineer – designed and engineered sound for Hair
  • Tommy Newman, playwright and lyricist – wrote the book and lyrics for world-premiere play Savage
  • Q Smith, Broadway actor – led Performance of Song workshop 
  • Jen Waldman, acting coach – led Networking in NYC workshop
  • Thad Turner Wilson, Broadway performer – led MT Audition Dance workshop  

2018

  • Kurt Alger, Broadway and TV actor – conducted Acting workshop
  • Annaleigh Ashford, Broadway and TV actor – conducted Acting workshop
  • Billy Bustamante, performer/director/choreographer – led Audition workshop
  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting workshop
  • Andrea Frankle, stage and screen actor – conducted three-day Acting for the Camera workshop
  • Jen Waldman, acting coach – led Networking in NYC workshop

2017

  • Kalen Allen, ctor and comedian – led The Power of Social Media Branding workshop
  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting workshop
  • Adam Cates, director/choreographer/playwright – led Musical Theatre audition intensive 

2016

  • Michael Cassara, casting director – led NYC Casting 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
  • Luke Harlan, creative producer and director – directed Vinegar Tom
  • Kevin Kennison, NY casting agent – conducted audition master class

2015

  • Patti D'Beck, veteran Broadway choreographer – led Musical Theatre masterclass
  • Eden Espinosa, Broadway and National Tour “Elphaba” in Wicked – led Musical Theatre masterclass
  • Joshua Holden, master puppeteer – taught Puppetry masterclass, coached puppeteers for Avenue Q
  • 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

2014

  • Dominique Johnson, actor for stage and screen – led Musical Theatre masterclass
  • Donnie Mather, physical theatre performer and teacher – led Movement masterclass for Women of War

2013

  • Abe Reybold, multi-disciplinary theatre artist – led Musical Theatre masterclass
  • David Leong, Broadway fight master – led Movement masterclass
  • Jones Welsh, movement and choreography specialist – led movement master class and served as movement coach for Big Love 
  • Julie Sanford, stage and screen actor – led Casting workshop
  • Melissa Bailey, choreographed Bat Boy

2012

  • Frank Bradley, director, visiting professor – guest director for Don't Trifle with Love 
  • Lexie Dorsett Sharp, actor and singer – led Musical Theatre masterclass

2011

2010

  • Bill Castellino, guest director for The Rocky Horror Show 
  • Steve Carmichael, lighting designer – designed lighting for The Miser

2009

  • Jason King Jones, director – guest director for The Rivals 
  • Paul Shoulberg, playwright and screenwriter – visited for talk-back after premiere of his play We Three, which was chosen by the Department as winner of the Ruby Lloyd Apsey New Play Search

2008

  • 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 
  • Chip Abbott, Broadway assistant choreographer – led Dance workshop
  • Desi Oakley, actor, singer, dancer, composer – led Acting masterclass
  • Jose Simbulan, Broadway music director/accompanist – accompanied Anne Kanengeiser and contributed to discussion in musical theatre workshop
  • Ken Cerniglia, dramaturg for Disney Theatrical Group, NYC – gave open lecture on dramaturgy
  • Kevin McGuire, director, Broadway actor – led Acting workshop
  • Krystina Alabado, actor, singer, voice actor – led Performance and Auditioning masterclass
  • Moisés Kaufman, renowned director, filmmaker, and playwright – coached actors and student director for The Laramie Project 
  • Steve Carmichael, lighting designer – designed lighting for Cabaret

Staff Directory

Our faculty and staff is made up of award-winning theatre professionals with decades of experience, a roster of impressive credits, and personal and professional connections to theatre companies all over the country.

Many of our faculty are members of the Actor's Equity Association (AEA) or the Screen Actor's Guild (SAG), and the rest hold membership in exclusive professional organizations, including

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Faculty

Staff