Alumni Performances 
and Exhibits

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Want to support the activities of our talented Millikin alumni? Check the list below to find out upcoming performances and exhibits of Millikin actors, singers, dancers, artists and musicians in your area. Cities are listed in alphabetical order.

Akron, Ohio

Melissa Harres '02 will be performing in "Singin' in the Rain" at Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, Ohio, from Nov. 8, 2006, to Jan. 6, 2007. For more information, go to carouseldinnertheatre.com.

Arizona

Anthony Majewski '05 will be playing the role of Gaston in Broadway Palm West's production of the classic story, "Beauty and the Beast." Stacey Wince's ('85) son, Connor, is also performing in the production. For more information on the show, please visit: http://www.broadwaypalmwest.com/showdescription-beautyandthebeast.htm

Ian Liberto '05 will be appearing in "A Chorus Line" at the Broadway Palm West.

Bloomington, Illinois

Phil Donelson '88 will host several upcoming artists at his gallery, Studio 222 in Bloomington. the studio is located at 108 E. Market Street in Bloomington. For more information, please call 309-829-8222.

Boston

Andrew Ryker '03 is stage director for Intermezzo: the New England Chamber Opera Series. His production of Benjamin Britten's "Curlew River" opens Nov. 17 in Boston's South End.

Chicago and nearby area

Jennifer Tullock '06 stars as Callie in the upcoming production of "Stop Kiss," a play written by Diana Son, directed by Matthew Singletary and stage managed by Adrienne Callie Guldin. Fear and desire fuel the irresistible pull of "Stop Kiss," a unique love story by award-winning playwright Diana Son. Set in New York City, this is a compelling tale of two young women whose awkward friendship becomes something more- until an obscene act of violence changes their lives forever.

January 16 - March 3, 2007
Opening Night: January 21, 7 pm
Regular Run after January 21:
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 pm
Sundays at 3:30pm

Tickets: $15 (students and seniors: $12)
Previews: January 16-20: 8:30pm; Tickets: $10
Group Discounts Available! Call our box office at 773-338-2177.
For more info, go to http://raventheatre.com/current/current.shtml.

(Posted 11-22-06)

The Lakeside Singers is a 24-voice professional vocal ensemble that performs
music "From Renaissance to Rock" in the Chicago area. Members Bill Balmer
'87 and Melissa Smithson '02 have been joined for the '06-'07 season by
Angel Barrette '94 to form a Millikin Trifecta! The Lakeside Singers 2006
holiday concert schedule is:

Friday, December 8, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Music Institute of Chicago
1490 Chicago Ave
Evanston , IL

Saturday, December 9, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Chicago Temple
77 West Washington Street
Chicago, IL

Monday, December 11, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
111 W Campbell St
Arlington Heights, IL

Concerts will feature a variety of classical and international pieces
matched up with vocal jazz, contemporary pop, and a great sing-along - all
with a winter/Christmas/holiday theme. Tickets and more information can
be found at www.lakesidesingers.com.

Kirsten Leyndyke '06 will be appearing in the premiere of "Toy Soliders," produced by the "Towards a Poor Theatre Company" at the Viaduct Theatre in Chicago. The musical surrounds one man's decision to go off to war. Kirsten will be playing one of the leads, Gracie, a young girl who is viewing the Iraq war through the eyes of the media.

Performances are scheduled for Feb. 1 through March 4. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3:30pm. Doors open a half an hour before performances start.
Tickets are $15 each with general admission and can be bought from www.Theatremania.com.

For More information visit http://poortheatre.com/onstage.aspx.

POSTED 11-14-06

Ian Liberto '05 has been offered his Actor's Equity Card to do the Marriott Lincolnshire production of All Night Strut, an all-dance show being produced this fall.

Dave Saenger '01 and the other members of the band NYCO are performing at the Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $7. The band will be heading on tour to New York, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., Nov. 14-19. For more information, visit http://myspace.com/nycomusic.

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre, a professional Chicago theatre company co-founded by several Millikin alumni, received three Jeff Awards (Chicago's Tony Award) for their work on The Kentucky Cycle. The company received best director awards (Genevieve Thompson '99 & Jason Kae '98), best enemble (featuring Stephen Dunn '96 and Laura Ciresi '99) and best production of a play. The company also received a best supporting actor nomination for The Kentucky Cycle, and Stephen Dunn '96 was nominated for best supporting actor for his role in ICT's production of Cloud 9. The Kentucky Cycle was also honored with three After Dark Awards last fall for Direction, Ensemble and Fight Choreography.

Genevieve (Hurst) Thompson '99 is artistic director and founder of Infamous Commonwealth Theatre. Laura Ciresi '99 is director of development, and Stephen Dunn '96 is development associate. Bill Fortune '00 is President of the Board of Directors. For more info, visit www.infamouscommonwealth.org.

56 HOPE ROAD 
The band features MU alums Greg Fundis '99, Steve Goveia '99, Dave Hamilton '96, Anne 
Hamilton Katzfey '94, Matt Katzfey '96 and Chad Sanders '99.  They are currently playing 
various cites in the Midwest. For info, click here.

Alison Logan '04 is affiliated with The Moving Dock Theatre Co. For more information on 
performances, visit www.movingdock.org. Alison is currently appearing in "Tony n' Tina's Wedding"
at Pipers Alley. For info on performances, visit www.tonyntina.com.

Angel Spiccia '03 performs each Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. at Bravo Restaurant, 2600 Navy 
Blvd., in Glenview, Ill., 847-724-8400.

Steve Ewing '05 performs the role of Chistery in "Wicked" at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago.
The musical has eight performances a week. For more information, click here.

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Erik Floor '06 is currently appearing in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Porthouse Theatre.

Decatur

The Micah Walk Band have recently recorded a full-length album at Pogo Studios in Champaign, Ill., and will be playing at various locations throughout Illinois to promote it. The four-member band includes alums John Cardoni and Dan Hartman, both '04, and Darin Holthaus '05.

Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin

Tyler Albright '05 is performing in Fireside Theatre's production of "42nd Street" on Aug. 3-Oct. 15 in Ft. Atkinson, WI. He is in the ensemble and the understudy for Billy Lawlor.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Bryan Lefeber '05 will perform in the new Las Vegas production of the Tony Award-winning musical, "Spamalot." The show will be a permanent sit-down production at the Wynn Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bryan will be understudying the roles of Historian, Not Dead Fred, French Guard, Minstrel, and Prince Herbert, plus performing nightly in the ensemble. Previews start March 9, 2007. Get more info at montypythonsspamalot.com.
(Posted 12-5-06)

Sierra Boggess '04 performs the role of Christine in the Las Vegas production of "Phantom of the Opera" directed by Hal Prince.

Los Angeles

Annie Wersching '99 stars November 5th in an episode of "Cold Case," as a young woman whose murder remains a mystery after thirty years. Tune in this Sunday on CBS.
Posted 10-31-06

Luke Frydenger '04 recently performed in a leading role in a teen slasher movie with Omarion and Marques Huston of B2K. The movie, "Somebody Help Me!" was directed by Chris Stokes whose last film "You Got Served" grossed over $40 million. The film is in its final negotiations with Sony Pictures and is rumored to open in theatres this fall.

Jamey Schrick '99 is in his 16th month starring as Chester in "Bark! The Musical" one of the longest running shows in Los Angeles stage history. Tickets and info available at www.barkthemusical.com.

EUGENE EDWARDS BAND
Darice Bailey '01 is performing as a keyboard player and backing vocalist for this Flagship Records artist. The new album, "My Favorite Revolution," hit stores last fall. For more info, visit www.eugeneedwards.com.

Minneapolis

Jen Usellis '99, performs the role of Ellie in "My Thing of Love" by Alexandra Gersten. The show is produced by In The Basement Productions and performed in the new Lowery Lab Theatre in downtown St. Paul, Minn. Performance dates are Nov. 3,4,9,10,11,12*,13,17 & 18 at 8:00pm (*The Nov. 12 performance is a matinee with a start time of 2 p.m.).
(Posted 10-17-06)

Mark Sweeney '03 performs the role of Jerry Lukowski in the area premiere of "The Full Monty" at the Bloomington Civic Theatre from Oct. 27 through Nov. 19, 2006. Tickets are selling fast. For more info, visit www.bloomingtoncivctheatre.com.

The Perpetual Motion Theatre Company was founded in 2005 by Jess Holman '04, Derek Miller '02, Eric Sharp '03 and Mark Sweeney '03.

Nashville, Tennessee

Matthew West '99 is currently on the "Don't Conform Tour" with artists Barlow Girl and Down Here. Upcoming stops include Alabama, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri and Iowa. For more info, visit www.matthewwest.com.

New York

Brian Collier '00 is a swing for the new Broadway production of "Mary Poppins." This is his second Broadway show.

Karen Hyland '00 and Ian Liberto '05 are both currently performing in the Gateway Playhouse production of "Sweet Charity."

Artie J. Brown '95 continues as a dresser/dayworker on the Broadway production of "Wicked." Most recently he has been involved in daywork and prep for "Three Days of Rain on Broadway," starring Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd, and Bradley Cooper. Artie continues his career as a freelance costume designer having recently designed costumes for Westminster Choir Colleges production of "Anything Goes" (Princeton, NJ).

Ruth Conrad '01 is the associate technical director for the Studio Arena Theatre in downtown 
Buffalo. 

MAMMA MIA!
Carey Anderson '01 stars as Sophie Sheridan in the Broadway production of this hit musical. For more info, visit www.mamma-mia.com.

Matthew Kilgore '00 is touring with 'Beauty and the Beast' this fall.

Jessica Wright '96 is understudy for the roles of Amy, Jenny and Susan in the Broadway's production of of Stephen Sondheim's "Company." In previews now at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, the show is slated to open Nov. 29.

Maurice Murphy '05 is understudy for the roles of Mitch Mahoney, Chip Tolentino, Douglas Panch, and Leaf Coneybear in the Broadway musical "The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee" at Circle in the Square. Click here for the performance scheudle and ticket info.

Springfield, Illinois

Rick Dunham '84 has been working as one of the actors at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Recently he performed each day of the Illinois State Fair doing his Elvis Himselvis show. He has performed in over 30 states & Canada the last 21 years, including tours in Florida & Colorado this year. Rick is currently playing Byck in a production "Assassins" for the Springfield Theatre Centre at the Hoogaland Center of Fine Arts in October 2006.

St. Louis

Mary Ongjoco Chapman '89 sings in the soprano section of the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, a small a capella group. The chorus released their first internationally distributed CD in 2005.

Regional and National

BOSTON LEGAL
Annie Wersching '99, who recently appeared on an episode of CBS-TV's "Cold Case," will appear in the Tuesday, Dec. 5 episode of Boston Legal on ABC-TV. (Posted 12-04-06)

Ben Bullock '05 is a trombonist with Celebrity Cruise Lines of Miami, Florida. During winter of 05-06 he was performing along the "Mexican Riviera" and has recently finished a tour of the Hawaii-Panama Canal-Carribean region and is now performing along the ports of South America.
(Posted 11-22-06)

Andy Bero '04 is currently in rehearsals for the national tour of "Wonderful Town." The choreographer is Joyce Chittick, the dance assistant to Kathleen Marshall in the recent Broadway version of this production. The director is Jen Bender, who was assistant director to "Avenue Q" and "Steel Magnolias" on Broadway.
(Posted 10-31-06)

Joe Jencks '94 has many upcoming performances. These are solo concerts, except where noted:

Friday, 15 December 2006 - 8:00 p.m.
Front Porch Music - 505 E. Lincoln Way, Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 464-4700 www.frontporchmusic.com
Tickets $10.00

Saturday, 16 December 2006 - 6:30 p.m.
Terry Gonda and Joe Jencks
St. John Fisher Chapel - 3665 E. Walton Blvd., Auburn Hills, MI 48326
(248) 373-6457 www.stjohnfisherparish.org

Sunday, 17 December 2006 - 7:00 p.m. concert
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church
23925 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 354-4488 www.northwestuu.org

Sunday, 7 January 2007 - afternoon
Altes House Concert
Pittsburgh, PA
(412) 361-6051
altes@potomacnet.com
Suggested donation: $10.00

Sunday, 21 January 2007 - 7:30 p.m.
Woods Hole Folk Music Society
Woods Hole Community Center, Water Street, Woods Hole, MA
(505) 540-0320
$12 general, $10 members, discounts for Senior Citizens and Children

Saturday, 27 January 2007 - 8:00 p.m.
Raging Grannies open for Joe Jencks
Heartland Concerts
Harmony House
58 E. Main St., Webster, NY
585 328-3103
www.heartlandconcerts.org
$15 advance, $18 at the door

For more information on Joe, visit www.joejencks.com.
(Posted: 12-11-06)

Brian Marshall '05 is the Head Electrician for the national tour of "The Producers". Heidi Suhr '03 is also performing various roles in the national tour of "The Producers," including the role of "Kiss Me Feel Me." For more information, please visit www.producersontour.com.

Rodrigo Ignacio Cruz '03 and Angie Smith '04 are in the national tour of CATS. Rodrigo will be the vocal swing convering 3 cats (Gus-the theatre cat, Growltiger-the opera cat, and Old Deuteronomy.) Angie will be playing Grizabella. The tour started in July 2006 and runs through July 2007. Stops on the tour include Brazil, Canada, and Champaign, Ill. For more info, visit www.broadwayworld.com or click here for the direct link to the show.

Flint Hawes '99 is the associate conducter and keyboard player for the central/west coast national tour of Disney's "The Lion King." For info, visit The Lion King Website.

Greg Schreiner '70 is touring with "Hollywood Revisited." He is the pianist, narrator, and producer of the show. "Hollywood Revisited" touring the East coast next year and it has been selected as the entertainment for the Republican Women's National Convention 2007 in Palm Springs as well as the Orange County Performing Arts Center in March 2007. For info, visit  www.hollywoodrevisited.com.

Liz Brady '02, is touring as head wardrobe through May with the U.S. company of Matthew Bourne's "Swan Lake." She was recently head wardrobe for the national tour of "The Full Monty."

Melissa Smithson '02 performs the alto voice on an entirely a capella version of the Pink Floyd classic "Dark Side of the Moon," including a vocal interpretation of the dirty sax solo on "Money." The album was mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Doug Sax, who has mastered many of Pink Floyd's albums, including "The Wall." Pink Floyd fans will be happy to know that the album is "Wizard of Oz" compatible, just like the original. Visit www.darksidevoices.com, where you can hear audio clips, buy merchandise and order a copy of the CD.

Kari Morris '01, of New York City, plays the role of Iris in the national tour of 
Children's Letters to God. The Theatre for Young Audiences production runs through 
mid-December. Kari joins Equity with her role.

CHAPTER 6  
Chapter 6 is touring the Northeast and Midwest. For more information, click here.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
On tour now, various cities and times.
Scott Leiendecker '98 performs as one of the apostles.

ANNIE
Julia Cardia '94 of Sarasota, Fla., is performing in the 30th anniversary national tour of "Annie" directed by Martin Charnin. At some performances, she performs the role of Lily St. Regis.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
Emir Yonzon '98 performs the role of Bun Foo in the national tour of the musical production. For info, click here.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Randy Handley '02 is assistant wardrobe artist for this North American touring production 
beginning Feb. 7. Randy has also started a lingerie line in New York; the lingerie is called 
Bra'dway Understructures and it specializes in corsets, '30s and '40s lingerie, and dancewear. 
Learn more at www.randyhandley.com.

CANTUS
Aaron Humble '00 performs with Cantus, a professional male vocal ensemble based out of Minneapolis.  For more information on Cantus and tour dates, click here.

International

Megan Crain '06 is currently appearing as a featured singer on Holland America Cruise Line.

Sarah Bauer and Alex Jorth '06 will be appearing together as featured singers on Holland America Cruise line.

HERCULES, SLEEPING BEAUTY
Karen Shriner '01 and Karl Wahl '95 perform in two productions aboard the cruise ship, Disney Wonder. In "Hercules," Karl plays the title role and Karen plays Meg. In "Sleeping Beauty," Karen plays the title role and Karl plays Prince Phillip.

CABARET
Eric Abbott '02 is  assistant electrician for the international tour of "Cabaret," which performs in Korea and Japan. For more info, click here.

Kris Stone '90 is set designer for the following productions:
--"The Opera Brundibar" with Maurice Sendak and Tony Kushner, touring East and West coasts

--"Dublin By Lamplight," Project Arts Centre Ireland, Edinburgh, London, and The Abbey Theatre, 
Dublin.

For info, visit www.kristonedesign.com 

Jim Gustafson '69 has recorded the sound track for a new musical comedy, "The Most Beautiful Night of My Life," at Gremlen Studios in Aurora, IL. A much earlier non-musical version of the show debuted in AT Hall back in 1969. Paul Burgess composed the music and Gustafson wrote the lyrics and book.

Mark Roach '97 has created a partnership with Myrrh Records. The first record is slated for release some time in the first half of 2007. His most recent album, "Sevenfold," is now available. Click here to preview the album. To pre-order the cd or for more info, visit www.markroach.com.

"Amazing" on SongDISCovery.com!
Mark's song "Amazing," from the EP Sevenfold, is featured this month on www.songdiscovery.com. The feature includes a free downloadable .mp3 and chord chart of the song as well as a song story by Mark. Also, look for Mark to make more appearances on SongDISCovery.com in the coming months leading up to his debut Myrrh Records release!

Allan Ferguson '66, president of Ferguson Golf, has written the book, "Golf in Scotland: A Travel-Planning Guide." To order a copy and for more details, see Ferguson Golf's website at: www.fergusongolf.com.

Jon C. Mitchell '71 recently released his book "The Braunschweig Scores: Felix Weingartner and Erich Leinsdorf on Beethoven's First Four Symphonies."  It was published by The Edwin Mellen Press. His second commercial CD,"The Youthful Beethoven," featuring him conducting his own realization of Beethoven's early Piano Concerto in E Flat among other things, has also just been released by Centaur Records.

Nathaniel Price '02 released the CD, "All of You." The CD was produced by Price and Dr. David Burdick, associate professor of music. Others performing on the CD include alumni Darin Holthaus '04, Dan Hartman '04, Sarah French '02, Kristi Kjeldsen '97, and faculty members Laura Ledford, Perry Rask and Steve Schepper '76. For info, visit www.NathanielPrice.com

Janelle Worley '72 published the book "There Isn't Always a Tomorrow."  It is about being a survivor of suicide and was published in January 2005 by authorhouse.com.

Jessica Tussey '04 released her senior project album, "These Red Walls." If you would like to purchase a CD for $5, contact her at jessica.tussey@gmail.com.

A single by Victoria Venier '89, "You Remain," is included on a country compilation CD that was released to 2,200 radio stations nationwide. The CD also includes performances by Jimmy Buffett and Lonestar, among others.

Brandon Weber '03 has made his debut as a record producer. Red Rock Productions released "Left of the Double Yellow" by The Morrison Group. Brandon not only produced the album, but also co-wrote several of the tracks as well as performed all of the guitar parts. Red Rock Productions is an independent label based out of Woodstock, IL. The CD is available for preview and purchase at cdfreedom.com.

Corey Blake '96 has completed a new film, "Unsuitable," which he directs and appears in. The film was produced in part by his film production company Elevation 9000 and his studio the LA Film Lab. For info on these projects, visit www.lafilmlab.com and www.unsuitablemovie.com. 

Tom Linden '81 has received the Daler-Rowney USA Award at the Watercolor Society of the Alabama 64th Annual Exhibition for his original watercolor painting, "Copper Pot Blues II." The painting can be viewed on his website: www.tomlindenart.com. Images of the exhibition's award winning paintings can be viewed at the Watercolor Society of Alabama's website at  www.watercolorsocietyofalabama.org/awards.htm 

Michael Wille  '98 has his artwork on display at the Riverside Arts Center in Riverside, Ill. May 20-June 17. The exibition entitled "Jazz" includes art by Wille and two other artists. The exhibit's opening reception is May 20 from 3-6 p.m. Click here for more information on "Jazz." To see some of Wille's work, click here. Also, his artwork is included in the exhibition,"Summertime," from June 2 - July 8, 2006 at the Judy Saslow Gallery, 300 W. Superior. Opening Reception: Friday, June 2 from 5-8 p.m. Gallery open, Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 6. Learn more about Michael's work at www.michaelwille.com.

Mary Ongjoco Chapman '89 has recently had two of her short romance stories published by Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. The first book, which will be released in e-book format, is due out in September. The second, an anthology of short stories, will be available in October. She is currently working on two full-length romance novels.

Don't see a performance, CD, exhibit or book release listed? 
Send the pertinent info to:
alumnews@millikin.edu
or fax it to 217-424-3755. 
Please mark it to the attention of the A&D webmaster. Please note: Performances must be happening now or within the next six months.