Student Profile: Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan is a third year BFA Theatre Design and Technology student. She is working as the Assistant Scenic Designer and Scenic Painter for UCF's Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

The show posed a bit of a challenge for Sarah and the rest of the design team because of its setting: eighteenth century France. This set required a lot of visual research and all of the designers, including faculty member Joseph Rusnock, worked together. The main inspiration came from architecture and building interiors from the period.

The final set has a neutral color palette and will greatly contrast with the brightly colored costumes. Sarah says, "I think audience members will find it a visually refreshing change from some previous plays seen at Theatre UCF."

Some of her recent credits include serving as the Scenic Charge Artist for Orlando Repertory Theatre’s The Little Mermaid Jr., Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre's 2012 Summer Stock Season, as well as Theatre UCF's Ragtime and Veronica's Room. Upon graduation, Sarah plans to travel as a scenic designer.

Student Profile: Jany Bacallao

Jany Bacallao is a senior in the BFA Acting program. He is playing the role of Vicomte de Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. The play follows Valmont and Marquise de Merteuil, played by Jessie Booth, as they play a very dangerous game that those around them fall prey to.  

One of the biggest challenges that Valmont posed for Jany was the amount of lines that he had to memorize and the complex language. Dr. Donald Seay, Liaisons director and faculty member, took Jany under his wing and guided him throughout the entire process. 

One of Jany's goals with Valmont was to make him relatable. Although he is a deceitful and malicious character, Jany focused on his good qualities so that audience members could empathize with him. "I think this is something that everyone can relate to. We have all been our worst enemy at some point in our life." 

On top of Jany's full course load during the days and rehearsals in the evenings six days a week, he also worked double shifts at Hamburger Mary's.

Jany was last seen on the Theatre UCF stage as Henry in Bury the Dead. He is a graduate of Florida School of the Arts where he received his Associate in Arts and his Associate in Science.  

In March 2013, he will attend the Southeastern Theatre Conference and will audition for many theatre companies in hopes of gaining an internship. Jany is really looking forward to what the next few months have in store for him, especially his move to New York City.

Kelli Rose Sleigh

Kelli Rose Sleigh, a UCF BFA Musical Theatre 2009 Alum, recently competed in the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) Central Florida Chapter Musical Theater Competition. Sleigh competed in the Advanced Musical Theater division, which required contestants to prepare six songs of varying style and era. Sleigh placed 1st in her division and performed in the Winner's Recital with accompanist, Pati Sayers. Up next Sleigh will be traveling to New York City to compete in the preliminary auditions for the NATS National Musical Theater Competition in May, 2012. In the meantime, Sleigh is currently attending the Joe Blasco Make-up Artist Training Center in Orlando, FL where she is furthering her education and becoming a Professional Make-up Artist.

She says, "Thank you so much for your support! I am so proud to have graduated from our program at UCF!"

Sidonie Smith

Sidonie Smith, former MFA MT student writes: "I had some really exciting news in the last couple of days and wanted to share it with all of you! I was mentioned yesterday on PLAYBILL.COM as one of the 14 finalists in composer Scott Alan's "I'm A Star" Contest! I am absolutely thrilled and hope that you'll take a look at the article and/or my submission video. Thank you so much for your never-ending support of me and my wacky dreams!"

http://playbill.com/news/article/160907-Finalists-Announced-for-Im-a-Star-Contest-Winner-Will-Be-Revealed-April-1

Alumnus Michael Marinaccio New Producer for Fringe Festival

Michael Marinaccio, who received his B.F.A.-Acting in 1998 from the University of Central Florida, has been hired as the producer for the Orlando Fringe Festival. Marinaccio has contributed greatly to the Central Florida theatre community since his days at the university, working on and off stage with local theatres including the Orlando Shakespeare Festival, the Orlando Repertory Theatre, Mad Cow, Sak Comedy Lab, Theatre Downtown, and others.

"I did my first Fringe in 1997 while I was a student at UCF. It was myself and a group of other UCF students, some of whom I still work with today. Those connections and collaborations began at UCF," said Marinacciol about his time at the university.

"Fringe is where I found my individual voice, but UCF is what taught me to use it. I owe so much of what I am today to my professors, including Dr. Don Seay, Jim Helsinger, and especially Jim Cali."

The Orlando Fringe Festival is the nation's longest-running Fringe Festival and is Central Florida's best-known theatrical event. In the past fifteen years, Marinaccio has worked with the Festival in many roles, including volunteering, producing, and performing.

"I am extremely excited to have Mike on board the Fringe team," said George Wallace, the Fringe's general manager, in this week's announcement. "He is well-known in the arts community and an outstanding choice."

(Photo is from the Fall 1996 production of Servant of Two Masters. Michael Marinaccio is top center.)

Theatre UCF Student Wins Scholarship

BA Theatre student Katie Gray Coleman has been awarded one of two $500 scholarship from the Michelle Catania Children's Theatre Program.

The scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Michelle Catania, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2010 after a valiant 10-year fight. In an effort to preserve her memory and true spirit, many loving family members and friends established the Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program, in partnership with the Center Players, her local community theater in Freehold, NJ. The program provides children’s theater programming in addition to awarding one $500 scholarship each year in each of the states she called home, Florida and New Jersey. To qualify for the scholarship, a member of the applicant’s immediate family must have had a serious bout with cancer.

"We are thrilled to award these scholarships," said Bernice Garfield-Szita, President of Center Players. "By supporting the next generation of academically successful students involved in theater and community service, we pay tribute to Michelle and her vision of young adults involved in the arts."

For the 2011-2012 academic year, the program received numerous applications from students planning to attend many different colleges and universities in both Florida and New Jersey. Selection criteria includes academic performance, letters of recommendation, an essay about how cancer affected the student’s life, and qualifying letters from the student’s parent or guardian . More information about the Michelle Catania Children’s Theater Program Scholarship can be found at http://michellecatania.wordpress.com/scholarship-Program/.

Justin Sargent in Rock of Ages

2007 BFA Musical Theatre graduate, Justin Sargent, has been cast as a swing in Rock of Ages on Broadway.

Since graduation, Justin has worked professionaly in Florida at Seaside Music Theatre, Alhambra Dinner Theatre, Mad Cow Theatre, Orlando Repertory Theatre, and at Universal Studios Orlando. Favorite roles include Riff Raff (The Rocky Horror Show), Frog (A Year With Frog and Toad), and Pippin (Pippin).

Justin was originally cast in the 1st National Tour of the production but was offered the role on Broadway after only a month with the show.

Way to go Justin!