Grads

MEET OUR GRADS!

2009/2010

Zachary Deuerling graduated with a history-pedagogy concentration. Credits include Assistant Sound Design for All My Sons, Asst. Stage Manager/UPS guy for A Grand Night for Singing, and Sound Designer/Asst. Stage Manager for The Miracle Worker. Zachary has served as Stage Manager for Sanders Family Christmas and The Pilgrim's Progress, and for his senior project he was the dramaturg for The Importance of Being Earnest (April 2010) Zachary plans to attend graduate school for advanced degrees in English and theatre and to pursue a career in education.

Karla Neves graduated in History/Pedagogy and wants to attend graduate school to get her M.F.A in directing. Some of her favorite acting roles here at North Greenville include Nathaniel in Taming of the Shrew, Winifred in Impromptu, and Aunt Ev in The Miracle Worker. Her directing experience includes beginning the High School Tour with scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream and Streetcar Named Desire, A Grand Night for Singing (assistant director), and Senseless (director), a new play by graduate Daniel Jordan. For her senior project; she directed an original docudrama entitled Undone. Since graduation she directed Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) for the Walking Shadows Theatre Company in Liberty, SC.

Daniel Reith worked on Gift of the Magi, Murder Well Rehearsed, and Riders to the Sea and directed Impromptu and participated in many technical areas from sound design to scenic art. His senior project was the lighting design for The Miracle Worker. Daniel has a love for stage combat: he has backgrounds in martial arts and professional wrestling, and hopes to obtain his license in pyrotechnics. Daniel has a love for kids and he hopes to teach middle and high school theatre.

Diedre Nikkol Ross was a performance major with background in many areas of theatre. She has been a Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Props Master, and Sound Designer. She has worked on a variety of shows including The Wiz and Wait Until Dark at a community theatre and several productions at North Greenville. She created the sound design for All My Sons and Romeo and Juliet. Her senior project was a one-woman show, Rose Petals in a Windstorm. Since graduation, she has gotten married to Jonathan Ross and intends to support him in his youth ministry. She also plans to attend graduate school at Liberty University in the fall to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching, so that she can one day teach drama in high school.

Lindsay Ross graduated from the History/Pedagogy emphasis after arriving at NGU from Gastonia, North Carolina. Her passion is Theatre Education and since graduation she is pursuing a career as a high school Drama teacher. Lindsay has had many roles on and off the North Greenville stage. Some of her favorite acting roles include Blanche in Murder, Medium Rare and Cathleen in Riders to the Sea and Kate in The Miracle Worker. She also designed the costumes for The Closet Monologues and The Gift of the Magi , she served as the Assistant Director for All My Sons and directed the children’s touring show The Princess and the Pizza, as well as the one-act He Said and She Said.

Bethany Sarazen graduated with a ministry concentration. Recently she has performed “June” for NGU’s Sanders Family Christmas. Her other performances include, “Diana” in He said, She said, and “Alfreda” in Senseless for the One Act Play Festival and has also been privileged to be able to serve on Act II for two years. For her senoir project she wrote and performed Accepted in January 2010 and since graduation she took a lead role in Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) for the Walking Shadows Theatre Company in Liberty SC.

Angie Toole graduated with an emphasis in costume design. Previous involvement with the NGU theatre has included acting roles (The Twelve Pound Look, She Loves Me), stage management (Romeo and Juliet, A Grand Night for Singing), and most favorably, work with the costume crew for All My Sons and She Loves Me, and costume designer for The Miracle Worker. After graduation and getting married in May, 2010, Angie will bring her imagination and creative spirit to Redding, California, where she is already searching for area theatres where she can share her talents and grow as a designer and potential teacher.

2008/2009

Katy Beth Cassell has been active in Greenville area theatre, from her lead role in The Dining Room at Centre Stage to assistant directing the fall 2009 production of Macbeth at the Warehouse Theatre. She is auditioning for graduate school at SETC, UPTA and URTA this year. In the interim, she works part time for Christians in Theatre Arts and in the Peace Center box office.

Betsey Courtnay is from St. Matthews, South Carolina. While at North Greenville she was makeup/costume designer and house manager for Two by Foote and Foxfire as well as directing The Gift of the Magi for her senior project. She stage managed Of Widows and Vegetables for Warehouse Theatre’s The Edge series. Since graduation she is making plans to serve with the International Mission Board.

Elyse Middlebrooks graduated with a design emphasis at North Greenville University. She hopes to pursue a MFA in costume design and later continue on to design for children’s theatre. Her technical experience includes: The Women of Lockerbie (assistant costume designer), Seussical (seamstress), All My Sons (assistant costume designer) a summer with Kentucky Shakespeare Festival (costume design intern) and costumes for NGU's Romeo and Juliet. She has been hired by Centre Stage to design costumes for God Committee and The Dining Room in 2009.

Ben Porch is a graduate hailing most recently from Greenville, SC. His stage credits include Trigorin (The Seagull), Lucentio (Taming of the Shrew), Captain Arbuckle (Blue Jacket), Keller (All My Sons), Rev. Worcester (Unto These Hills) and John Sevier (Horn in the West). Ben is a Recognized Advanced Actor/Combatant and member of the Society of American Fight Directors. This past summer he was a featured fighter for the outdoor drama Horn in the West. Since graduation, Ben continues his stage combat/martial art training and helped start Rat Pack Productions, a stage combat/stunt team. He recently relocated to Orlando where he is acting as Benjamin the Blue and Andre Baptiste in Pirates Dinner Adventure.

Rozlyn Stanley is originally from Lexington, SC. She is studied theatre and dance abroad at Wesley Institute in Sydney, Australia. A few productions she has performed in at NGU include: John: His Story, A Young Lady of Property, Twain by the Tale, Kairos, Winnie The Pooh and she played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet for her senior project. She is also an alumnus of the Los Angeles Film Studies Centre. She acted in numerous student films while attending school in LA and interned for independent producer, Keri Selig. Rozlyn was cast as Titania in the South Carolina Shakespeare Company production of Midsummer Nights Dream (spring 2010), completed a film, and has been acting and touring with the Columbia Children's Theatre.

Brittany Sullivan worked at the Orlando Shakespeare Festival as a management intern following her graduation. She appeared with the Upstate Shakespeare Festival in Greenville SC and is now pursuing theatre work in the Greenville area.

Leah Thomas worked as the Administration marketing/developing intern for Florida Repertory Theatre in Fort Myers, Florida until the summer of 2010. She received her BA in Theatre Performance and is now expanding her education to include the business facets of theatre. NGU stage credits include: "The Miracle Worker" (Annie Sullivan), "Romeo and Juliet" (Lady Capulet), "The Taming of the Shrew" (Widow and Make-up designer), "The Closet Monologues" (Director) "One Act Play Festival" (Stage Manager). Professional Credits include: Centre Stage Theatre (Marketing/Box Office Intern) and Theatre 315, NYC (Stage Manager).She is still considering graduate school for her up-coming years, but is eager to begin making her own way in the theater profession. She is so thankful that the Lord has used NGU to impact her life so greatly.

Justin Walker came to NGU from Spartanburg, SC. He was a performance concentration major and appeared on the NGU stage as Higgins in Pygmalion, George in All My Sons, and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew. He performed Romeo for his senior project. After finishing his degree he played Lucentio in The Distracted Globe's production of The Taming of the Shrew at the Warehouse Theatre and Leandro in the Warehouse's production of The Three Cuckolds. He was on tour with the SC Children's Theatre and in their productions of A Christmas Story and The Reluctant Dragon. He performed in Warehouse Theatre's production of The Diary of Anne Frank. Fall 2009 he was on tour with Bright Star Theatre company out of Asheville NC. He will begin his MFA in Acting program at the University of Arkansas in the fall of 2010.

2007/2008

Lydia Campbell is a graduate from Pisgah Forest, NC. Lydia was a leader in the theatre department as president of the Alpha Psi Omega chapter, director of the NGU box office, and director of a one-act play in the 06-07 season. She appeared onstage as Mrs Pierce in Pygmalion and was assistant director on the Shrew production. Her senior project was acting a lead in She Loves Me. Lydia is a member of the improv team, Work in Progress, and the drama ministry team, Act II. She plans to use her education for drama ministry. She is currently the production intern at Lifeway for Fuge (Student and Kids) Camps and is applying for the MFA in directing program at Baylor University.

Cora R. Flottman is a graduate from Virginia Beach, Virginia. While at North Greenville, she performed in Tales of Poe, The Dancers, Pygmalion, The Happy Journey, and The Taming of the Shrew. Her senior project was acting Ann Deaver in All My Sons. Cora traveled with Act 2, BSU's drama ministry team, for three years. She is a member of Work In Progress and Alpha Psi Omega. She looks forward to continuing to cultivate her craft in graduate school. In 2009/2010 she is a long-term substitute at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, VA where she is learning all about high school theatre programs.

Chris Hecke began his theatre career at a small high school in his hometown, Sao Paulo, Brazil. At NGU he played in Foxfire, The Valiant, and Cinderella as well as Chris Keller in All My Sons. He is an intern at Taylors First Baptist Church, played Richie Valens in Clear Lake Reunion at Centre Stage and was recently cast at the prince in Cinderella at the SC Children's Theatre. He continues to work in the Greenville area in the Upstate Shakespeare Festival and at the Warehouse Theatre.

Daniel Jordan is a graduate from Miami, FL. He was on the North Greenville University stage in Twain by the Tale, and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Daniel landed a job at Universal Theme Park in Orlando in summer 2008 and also tours with a puppet theatre company. In fall 2009 he's beginning to teach improv to high school students as well as continue his work with a local improv group. He's taken classes at SAK Comedy Lab, toured with a puppet theatre company, and generally stayed quite busy!

Matthew Martinez created an improvisational comedy troupe for his senior seminar project (Work in Progress). He’s considering going to grad school in something akin to theatre, or maybe just going to Disney World and trying his hand at being Goofy (his character analysis is almost complete… method acting, you know how it is.) His next move is to Nashville TN.

Melody Pinion is from Woodstock Georgia. Melody has been recognized for her vocal performances by the state of GA (Literary) SC (NATS) and the Miss America local pageant system. As well as performing at NGU she was also involved at the Greenville Little Theatre and now auditions regularly in the Atlanta area. She now sings and acts at Dollywood in Gatlinburg, TN where she recently sang a duet with Dolly Parton! Her most recent work was in a musical at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta GA in the summer of 2010.

Shane Saxon worked on a variety of shows at NGU as lighting designer and technician, as well as scene shop supervisor. He went to work with Feld Entertainment upon graduation and toured with High School Musical the Ice Tour until March 2009; he then began working on World of Fantasy Ice Tour with the same production company. In 2010 Shane will be married to Allison (a skater) and together they will continue touring to countries in the far east and southeast Asia.

Ellie Weber is a graduate from Maryland. Her emphasis is set design/scenic painting. She interned at the Greenville Little Theatre, as well as Centre Stage. She designed the set for the musical, She Loves Me for her senior project. Ellie is now working as a technician at the Barter Theater in Abingdon, VA, doing everything from carpentry & painting to backstage crew & running sound/video. She recently relocated to New York City.

2006/2007

Jenni Austin traveled to Charlotte, NC and Germany to be a live-in Au Pair for two months. While there, she began work on a play for children and two children's books. She is also working on a new musical. Jenni just entered the US Navy and will begin her 6 years of service to the country in 2009.

Melissa Fisher is now working as a courier at the Wyche Law Firm. She was in the cast of the Greenville Little Theatre's 2007 production of To Kill A Mockingbird. In 2009 she acted in 2 shows at the Upstate Shakespeare Festival.

Liz Floto works at the Greenville Little Theatre as a Production Assistant. She works with every aspect of the theatre from acting and directing to construction and design. She is also the intern coordinator and works closely with the interns who assist at GLT. As a former intern herself she is more than qualified!

M.E. Leslie took a one year medical technology certificate program, is on the tech staff at First Presbyterian Church (Greenville) and continues to pursue theatre management projects in the Upstate SC area.

Britney Teie has been acting with Work in Progress, an improv team based out of Greenville, SC, and for the past 2 years has participated in the Upstate Shakespeare Festival. She is in The God Committee at Centre Stage (spring 2009) and leads a children's drama ministry team at Brookwood Church. In summer 2009 she is on a mission trip to Loja, Ecuador.

Matthew Thomason returned to his home in Aiken, SC to work as a substitute teacher in the public school system and then studied in the MDiv program at Southwestern Theological Seminary. In the winter of 2009 he went to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to work with the Shakespearean Repetoire Co. Matthew has an agent now and 3 upcoming auditions for roles in 3 major main-stream films.

David Holland Since graduating David has appeared as Sebastian in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, and heads up the theatre department at Liberty Middle School in Liberty, SC. He started the Liberty Educational Theatre where he performed in and directed in The Complete History of America (abridged) as the premeire show. He also started Walking Shadows Improv as an offshoot of the Theatre and will be directing Scotland Road in January 2010 and producing The Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) directed by Karla Neves (NGU theatre grad May 2010). He also completed a turn as Pastor Oglethorpe in Sanders Family Christmas. And finally in April 2010, Jennifer and David will welcome their first child, Elene Rebecca. In addition David is the founder of The Commons Theatre Group in Seneca, SC.

2005/2006

Sarah Catherine Botts Orr is currently living in Latta SC with her husband Jacob, where they own their first home! Jacob is the Associate Pastor of Families With Children at their church. Sarah Catherine is a high school teacher in Dillon county, and has started the theatre program at her school. She hopes to attend graduate school in the near future but is content with her current ministry.

Amanda Talcott Cumbo married Ryan and together they live and work in the Hendersonville NC area. Amanda auditioned for the Warehouse Theatre season and was subsequently asked to read for Centre Stage SC's production of Wait Until Dark. She was cast in the lead role and enjoyed rave reviews for her performances. She now teaches early childhood education in Hendersonville NC.

Brittany Moss Leazer is currently living in Atlanta GA with her husband, Michael, and is working at Mt. Bethel UMC as the theatre director. Brittany plans to attend graduate school for a Masters in creative writing with a concentration in play writing at Kennesaw State University in August 2009. Right now she is blessed to be working in theatre ministry and with her husband's FCA ministry.

Jessica Snyder is pursuing a Master's Degree (MFA) with two concentrations in costume design and acting at Western Illinois University. In her first semester (fall 2007) she is designed costumes for 5 studio shows and a major Shakespearean production. Since then she's designed for several mainstage shows, and in the fall of 2008 her designs went with a show to a ACTF regional performance. Her spring 2009 designs for Urinetown the Musical were noticed by an Equity production company!