'00 MFA Acting Students

Rep credits: Dick Wilkins, a bobby (‘99 A Christmas Carol)
	     Oliver (As You Like It)
	     Tyler, Cameraman (Merrily We Roll Along)
	     (Les Liaisons Dangereuses)
	       
Other credits: UMKC: Willy Carson (The Sea)
		     (Slab Boys)
		     (The Painter of Dishonour)
		     (Durang/Durang)
	    Coterie: Luke (The Wrestling Season)
		     Klang L. Larson (Pippi Longstocking)

My thoughts: I haven't seen much of his work, but I just wanted to make one comment. Oh, what a voice Josh has!

Rep credits: KT (Merrily We Roll Along)
	     Celia (As You Like It)

Other credits: UMKC: Jessica Tilehouse (The Sea)
		     Mrs. Sarken (Durang/Durang)
		     Clytemnestra (Electra)
	    Coterie: Kori (The Wrestling Season)
        The Unicorn: Aunt Dorothy, Leah (Prelude To a Kiss)
	             Anna Anderson (Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit)

My Thoughts: Melanna gets a good note for being the only one of her class to attend and walk in their graduation ceremony.

Rep credits: Albert Hall, Christmas Future, Poulterer (‘99 A Christmas Carol)
	     Joe Josephson (Merrily We Roll Along)
	     Duke Frederick, Duke Senior (As You Like It)

Other credits: UMKC: Vicar (The Sea)
	    Coterie: Referee (The Wrestling Season)
        The Unicorn: Robbie Ross (The Judas Kiss)
               HASF: Lennox (Macbeth)
	             Conrade (Much Ado About Nothing)
	Kentucky Shakespeare Festival: (Macbeth)

My thoughts: Tony was marvelous as Joe in Merrily We Roll Along and also as the Vicar of The Sea. He is a very animated person, and yet he seems to have a very down-to-earth nature even when his characters don't. Tony is also a wonderful teacher/motivator.

Rep credits: Mrs. Fred's sister, Fezzi Guest (‘99 A Christmas Carol)
	     Gussie (Merrily We Roll Along)
	     Rosalind (As You Like It)

Other credits: UMKC: Louise Rafi (The Sea)
		     Lusielle (Slab Boys)
	    Coterie: Melanie (The Wrestling Season)
    The New Theatre: Irene Molloy (Hello, Dolly)

My thoughts: Beth was my Acting 101 instructor and her enthusiasm and free spirit always impressed me. She just throws herself into the work at hand. I must say, I loved to hate her as Gussie in Merrily We Roll Along–maybe "hate" is too strong...despise her gold-digger ways. I'm sure Beth will go far in her career.

Rep credits: Fezzi Guest, 2nd Young Man (‘99 A Christmas Carol)
	     Jerome (Merrily We Roll Along)
	     Orlando (As You Like It)

Other credits: UMKC: Evens (The Sea)
		     Dr. Antrechau, Scarron (Red Noses)
		     Orestes (Electra)
		     (The Painter of Dishonour)
		     Alan (Slab Boys)
	    Coterie: Matt (The Wrestling Season)
	Utah Shakespearean Festival: Paroclus (Troilus and Cressida)
			             Sohovik (Damn Yankees)

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Rep credits: Clovia, Mrs. Fred's sister understudy (‘99 A Christmas Carol)
	     Mary Flynn (Merrily We Roll Along)
	     Phebe, Lady of the Court (As You Like It)

Other credits: UMKC: Rose Jones (The Sea)
		     Molly (Tom Jones)
		     Flora (Painter)
		     Electra (Electra)
		     (Durang/Durang)
	    Coterie: Heather (The Wrestling Season)

My thoughts: Amanda is ver good at playing cynical types, but I had a hard time believing her as cheery, happy-go-lucky characters. She was fabulous as Mary in Merrily We Roll Along, absolutely fabulous. Her bio says she has performed all over the U.S. and Ireland and she placed 1st regionally and 3rd nationally in the National Society of Arts and Letters Drama Competitions.

Rep credits: Scrooge as a young man, Pallbearer (‘99 A Christmas Carol)
	     Franklin Shepard (Merrily We Roll Along)
	     Touchstone (As You Like It)

Other credits: UMKC: Hatch (The Sea)
		     Rochfort, ensemble (Red Noses)
		     Claire Clairmont (Bloody Poetry)
		     King John (King John)
		     Phil (Slab Boys)
		     Juanette (The Painter of Dishonour)
            Coterie: Willy (The Wrestling Season)
	Utah Shakespeare Festival: Achilles (Troilus and Cressida)
			           Snout (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
		                   (King Lear)

My thoughts: Well, I'll start with Scrooge: He seemed to have a very good personal rapport with Belle, like he was truly flirting and wooing her and then taking her for granted. Next, Frank: It's a tough role, you have to be weak but still think you are strong. It's a fine line between a brilliant portrayal and a lousy performance, but Matt negotiated it very well. He carried a certain naivety throughout the performance that made it very believable. And Hatch: The highlight of the entire play. I didn't much like The Sea, but Matt's character made it all worth while. He was psychotic and it was fascinating to watch him unravel...playing with the large scissors...wow. Oh, and I can't forget Touchstone: That part could easily have been overdone, but it wasn't. He had the right balance of humor and humanity to make his scenes funny, but not overly farcical. I guess I am saying, I have enjoyed seeing Matt's work, he should do well in the world.

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