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!

Cesar Hawas managing on Broadway

Since graduation, Cesar has worked as part of the General Management team on the Broadway productions of: "The 39 Steps", "The Homecoming", "November", "All My Sons", "August: Osage County", "Desire Under the Elms", "Blithe Spirit", "Speed-The-Plow","Superior Donuts", "Race" and "Enron". In addition to working in General Management, he has also been developing a play of his own called "Drag Show."

David Knoell to Appear in "Any Other Name"

David Knoell will be appearing in Equity Library theatre's upcoming production of George Brant's dark comedy, Any Other Name, opening June 15 at the Theatre Building Chicago.

Knoell Recieved his MFA in Acting in 2006.

For more information please visit: http://www.equitylibrarytheatre.org

Mitchell Orben - Entertainment Designer

2009 Tech & Design Grad, Mitchell Orben, has worked as a Freelance Designer for the Nickelodeon Family Cruise and with Royal Caribbean International.


For the Nickelodeon Cruise, Mitchell designed a slime themed attraction that allowed guests a chance to have a photo taken of them and their entire family being slimed. He also served as the Scenic Designer for a family style game show entitled "Tick-Tac-Nick." He's also worked for Nickelodeon as Scenic Designer for their show "Dora the Explorer: The Search for the City of Lost Toys" a live show that toured in Mexico as well as, "Dora the Explorer: Sing Along Adventure" a live show that took place on the initial Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean International in 2008. 

UCF Theatre Alum on Survivor: Samoa

UCF Theatre alum Monica Padilla was selected from more than 800 interviews and approximately 48 semi-finalists to appear on Survivor: Samoa.

Survivor: Samoa is the nineteenth season of the CBS competitive reality television series. The season premiered on Thursday, September 17, 2009.