FEBRUARY 2024

Welcome to the February edition of the El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory ALUMNI NEWS!

Welcome to the February edition of the El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory Alumni News! The Alumni News is back after taking a break for the holidays! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!  

February is the month of love, and we love this month’s Spotlight, Sara Tamadon ‘17, who shares her passion for her work as a Psychology Research Assistant at the Children’s Institute. We have lovely “Day in the Life” vlogs from Lucy Blumling ‘21 and Jordan Maldonado ‘22. We have amazing news updates from West Mulholland ‘23, Logan Langevin ‘23, Alyssa Kardos ‘17, Royce Lundquist ‘18, Scott Becker ‘22, and Noah Strattan ‘20. 

We are thankful to all the alumni who came to our beloved Stephanie Dorian’s final OCSA show, Mac Beth in December. Ms. Dorian definitely felt the love from all of the alumni who showed their support, including Sadie Braverman ‘23, Jacob Ferguson ‘22, Ethan Gray ‘22, Zac Hoffman ‘22, Audrey Hou ‘22, Logan Langevin ‘23, Maddy Martin ‘23, Aidan Moore ‘22, Nena Oshita ‘21, Jack Reid ‘23, Griffin Runnels ‘16, Maia Sheridan ‘20, Anna Simurda ‘20, Leila Stark ‘22, Alyssa Tuohy ‘20, Lauren Tuohy ‘23, Alyssa Vincent ‘21 and Anathea Woirhaye ‘20. 

We are infatuated with OCSA’s next show, Mother Courage, which opens February 8, 2024, and features a beautifully talented cast of students from grades 7 to 12.  

Lastly, our “Blast from the Past” reminds us of the love of family and friends as we enjoy cast photos from OCSA’s 2018 production of Our Town.  

Remember, we would love to hear from you about what you are doing! This newsletter is for YOU! Our hearts will break if you don’t forward your stories, employment news, business ventures, performance information and more! We want to continue to share information and celebrate YOU! CLICK HERE to email the Alumni News.

Lastly, don't forget -- “We are always in this together.”

Sara Tamadon’s Love of Acting Provided the

Foundation for Her Love of Psychology

Sara Tamadon ‘17 gave back to OCSA by serving as a “Step Back into the Classroom” panelist on February 27, 2023. As a panelist, she shared her experiences as a Psychology Research Assistant at the Children’s Institute with OCSA students. Tamadon recently took time to share more of her experiences with the Alumni News and explained how her early love of acting and character study led her to a STEM career in psychology. 

Q: You attended USC after OCSA. What was your major?

A: I graduated from USC in 2022 with a major in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Psychology and Health Care Studies. 

Q: You are currently working as a psychology Research Assistant at the Children’s Institute. What does that entail?

A: Children’s Institute is a nonprofit that provides behavioral health and educational opportunities for children and families in the greater Los Angeles area. As a research assistant, my work consists of compiling data and creating reports that allow our therapists to conceptualize conditions and curate treatment plans for our clients. Additionally, I utilize the data collected by our agency to do my own original research on the efficacy of our mental health programming.  

Q: Are you currently working on a particular research project?

A: I just finished up an original research project and poster that I presented at the International Violence and Trauma Conference in San Diego! My research assessed the efficacy of telehealth therapeutic treatment in comparison to in-person interventions looking specifically at 175 clients in our CalWORKs program. My findings suggested that there are no statistically significant differences between in-person and telehealth therapy! This is great news as it reinforces the efficacy of our current telehealth interventions!

Q: Children’s Institute runs mental health and educational programs for children from disadvantaged homes. Can you describe the program in greater detail?

A: At Children’s Institute, we offer many different programs, resources, and interventions for our clientele. We have two main departments, Behavioral Health and Wellness (the domain I primarily work in) and Early Childhood Education. Some examples of our programs include; headstart courses, family and youth therapy, after-school programming, and government appointed therapy. 

Q: What have you learned from your experiences working as a Research Assistant?

A: I’ve learned so much over my last year at CII. I feel I’ve been given the opportunity to lead a team and enhance my collaboration skills. Additionally, I’ve learned a lot about quality research, assessment measures, and data management. Mostly though, I’ve gotten really really good at Excel. LOL!

Q: What sparked your interest in psychology and/or children’s health? What makes you passionate about that field?

A: I have always loved people more than anything in the world. As a kid, I would spend countless hours thinking about how people experienced their emotions, personalities, and the power of connection. This naturally led me to my first love which was acting. Through acting, I found an insatiable interest in understanding the psychology of not only the characters I played but also myself and my loved ones. In college my love for psychology really bloomed as I went through my courses and it became clear that I felt deeply called to the profession. 

Q: What are your plans for the future? Are your future plans focused on research, acting, producing, playwriting or all of the above?

A: I am planning on getting my PhD in clinical psychology. I hope to focus my research on how attachment and support systems help those with chronic illnesses heal through hope. Eventually, I would like to start my own private practice to provide therapy for patients with chronic illnesses and to teach psychology at a university. 

Q: What advice can you give students aspiring to work in psychology?

A: I would say the biggest thing is to try all aspects of the field and find what you love. A career in psychology can be extremely dynamic and robust, so figuring out what you want to focus on specifically can help you find opportunities that lead you to the right career path for you. For example, do you prefer research or clinical application (therapy) or both? What subspecialties of psychology are interesting for you? Do you like developmental, social, personality, research methods? The world is your oyster so don’t be afraid to jump right in and try a bunch of things! 

Q: What roadblocks have you faced?

A: I’ve been faced with many challenges since graduating high school, most prominently with my health. My kidney functioning failed my senior year of high school. I was forced to finish my last semester while spending three days a week on dialysis, which was definitely very emotionally and physically taxing. I couldn’t have done it without my incredible support system of friends, family members, and OCSA staff (shoutout to Stephanie Dorian)! After I graduated OCSA, I started at USC in Fall of 2017 and then received my kidney transplant in October of 2017. I took two months of leave from school to recover and then returned in Spring of 2018. I really had to learn independence, not just for school, but also for my physical and emotional health. It took me a little bit longer to find my path but it has really informed my career passion. 

Q: How did being an OCSA student/actor prepare you for your current position?

A: Oh my goodness, so, so immensely! I tell people all the time I went to high school at the best place in the world. I really believe the nurturing, uplifting, community focused culture of OCSA prepares students in such a special way to excel at whatever career path they choose by instilling confidence. Mostly though, I learned the importance of kindness, empathy, and individuality at OCSA. These skills have been invaluable both professionally and personally for me. I will forever cherish my acting training as it brought me to my passion for psychology.

Q: What are your favorite or most inspiring moments at OCSA?

A: My time at OCSA was full of memorable and inspiring moments! The first memory that comes to mind was on my first day of school freshman year. I was bursting with excited nerves and I had no idea what to expect. I remember turning the corner from Trousdale to behind Symphony Hall (an area that would eventually become the DMS) and was hit in the face with a bunch of instrumental music students playing “Careless Whisper.” I remember being so shocked and in awe of their talent and bond with one another. My whole OCSA career was filled with moments like that. Seeing people doing what they love in a supportive and encouraging environment always inspired me to find and pursue the things that I loved. Now I know the impromptu concert is just an ordinary morning at OCSA and that in itself is pretty magical. 

Q: What advice can you give to OCSA students?

A: I remember feeling really burnt out and emotionally exhausted towards the end of my OCSA career. I know how tricky it can be to balance school, rehearsals, homework, college applications, testing and extracurriculars and OCSA kids tend to shine pretty bright in every category. My biggest advice would be to make sure you’re taking time to rest and you’re trying to enjoy every moment as it passes. Your time at OCSA is so precious and the memories you take with you will last a lifetime, so try to take care of your heart and enjoy them while you’re in it.

Alumni Lucy Blumling and Jordan Maldonado Share Days in their Lives at Scripps and NYU

Lucy Blumling ‘21 is currently attending Scripps College as a biology major with a minor in French and Francophone Studies. Blumling is president of an acapella group on campus. Blumling shares with us a day in her life, including a performance at the Southern California Acapella Music Festival, which involves not only groups from the Claremont Colleges, but also groups from UCLA, USC and UC Davis. Enjoy this unique insight into the days leading up to the performance.

Jordan Maldonado ‘22 is currently studying theater at New York University.  Maldonado took time out of her busy schedule to share details of her classes at NYU and her life as a student in New York. 

West Mulholland Movie Heads to Sundance

West Mulholland ‘23 was cast in Presence directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by David Koepp. Presence premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in January. The film is about a family who moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they are not alone. Soderbergh is best known for sex, lies and videotape and The Girlfriend Experience. The film was shot in entirely one location and also features Lucy Liu, Julia Fox and Chris Sullivan.  

Mulholland can also be seen in David Slade’s recent horror film, Dark Harvest, which was released to streaming on Amazon Prime in October, 2023. 

Logan Langevin Takes the Field in Geico Commercial

Logan Langevin ‘23 delivered an enthusiastic locker room war cry in the recent Geico commercial “Down and Easy,” which has been airing during prime football season. “It was an amazing experience,” Langevin said. “I’ve worked with Hungryman Productions a few times before, and similar to OCSA, the collaborative and engaging environment made it a joy to be a part of.”

CLICK HERE to view Langevin's commercial.

Alyssa Kardos ‘17 was recently awarded the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Centennial Fellowship to address climate change and textile waste in Cambodia with ReMade in Cambodia. She is one of four fellows selected for the award. As an IIE Centennial Fellow, she will work with her team to establish an upcycling center in Phnom Penh that upcycles textile waste from the rivers, honors local weaving methods, and provides employment opportunities for former sweatshop workers. As part of the grant process, Kardos has been interviewing upcycling projects and designers across Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina to learn best practices to implement for her center. She'll return to live in Phnom Penh in January of 2024 and will remain there indefinitely to tackle textile waste and promote Cambodian design and art.

CLICK HERE to read more about Kardos' fellowship.

Royce Lundquist and Scott Becker perform in Illium

Royce Lunquist ‘18 and Scott Becker ‘22 performed in Illium at Orange Coast College in November, 2023. The play was a reimagining of Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida. In the play, the armies of Greece and Troy were at war, and the people of Troy and the Greek warriors who surrounded their besieged city struggled on the battlefield and in private.

Alumni Jack Robertson ’21 and Maddy Martin ’23 in attendance to support Scott Becker ‘22 and Royce Lundquist ‘18 performance in Illium at Orange Coast College. 

Noah Strattan Rings in the New Year Vegas Style

Noah Strattan ‘20 rang in the new year in Las Vegas performing his magic for celebrity comedian and actor Kevin Hart and his wife, Eniko Hart in the 2024 New Year Celebration at the beautiful Aria Resort and Casino. Strattan also caught up with two fellow alumni from the Commercial Dance conservatory, Anna Melendres (CD '18) and Rachel Melendres (CD '18), who also performed with Kevin Hart in the show. The show was hosted by Hart, and was held for more than 1,000 very special guests of the MGM Resorts, in their Bristolcone Ballroom at Aria. Strattan currently lives in Las Vegas, and has been performing there for the last three years. In addition, Strattan visits Orange County to perform at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, as one of their resident performers. To book Strattan for a corporate event, please reach out to Joe, his Business Manager @714-519-9940 or joestrattan.nse@gmail.com.

Noah Strattan '20 celebrates the arrival of 2024 with Kevin Hart and his wife, Eniko Hart.

Noah Strattan ‘20 in Las Vegas with commercial dance alumni Anna Melendres (CD '18) and Rachel Melendres (CD '18).

ALUMNI ON CAMPUS TO SEE MAC BETH!

The Drum!  The Drum!  Alumni, They Doth Come!

El-Erian Family Conservatory Assistant Director Stephanie Dorian’s final production was a dark revel performed by a talented cast of teenage girls in school uniforms, and Acting Conservatory alumni were on hand to witness the giggly and grisly fun. The play, an adaptation by Erica Schmidt, was performed in the newly remodeled Scott & Charlotte Egan Studio Theatre (commonly known as the black box), which proved to be the perfect intimate setting to watch the magic and mayhem ensue. 

“Directing Mac Beth was a highlight of my time at OCSA, and the production surpassed all my wildest dreams and hopes thanks to an extraordinary cast, assistant director, stage managers and crew, not to mention the phenomenal Wyn Moreno as Fight Choreographer,” Dorian said. “Artistically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, soulfully, it checked all the boxes. It was the most ideal, most beautiful ensemble and I’ll be forever grateful to have had this meaningful, joyous and illuminating experience! To top all of this, I was blown away by the number of alumni who attended the show. I am grateful to each and every one of them for making the effort to see our production!”

“In 7th grade, my mind was blown by The Wolves, and so getting to be in Mac Beth, [Ms. Dorian’s] final production, has been a dream come true,” said Kaya Sparnicht '25, a junior who played Lady MacBeth. “Ms. Dorian is an incredibly empathetic and emotionally in-tune director and human being who leads with an energy that is electrifying but still gentle, making us feel safe to be vulnerable and take emotional risks. You don’t just dip your toe in the cold waters with Ms. Dorian, you jump in because you know she’s there, she believes in you, and it makes you brave.”

Maia Sheridan ‘20 joins Stephanie Dorian at Mac Beth.

Nena Oshita ‘21 and Alyssa Tuohy ‘20 attend the final performance of Mac Beth.

Alum Jack Reid ‘23 poses with the cast of Mac Beth outside the new Scott & Charlotte Egan black box theater.

Anathea Woirhaye ‘20, Anna Simurda ‘20, Alyssa Vincent ‘21 and Maddy Martin ‘23 pose with Stephanie Dorian at Mac Beth.

Griffin Runnels ‘16 with Stephanie Dorian at the December 16 matinee.

Ethan Gray ‘22 poses with Junior Kaya Sparnicht '25, who played Lady MacBeth.

Brava to Ms. Dorian as alumni celebrate the success of Mac Beth on closing night: (back L to R) Zac Hoffman ‘22, Sadie Braverman ‘23, Stephanie Dorian, Leila Stark ‘22, Lauren Tuohy ‘23, Jacob Ferguson ‘22, Aidan Moore ‘22, Audrey Hou ‘22 (front L to R) Nena Oshita ‘21, Alyssa Tuohy ‘20, and Logan Langevin ‘23.

Soon to be alumni – Seniors from the cast of Mac Beth pose after their final performance.

OCSA NEWS

Mother Courage Challenges Actors and Audience to

Face the Reality of War

“Most theater scholars and critics agree that Mother Courage and Her Children is one of the greatest plays of the 20th century and arguably the greatest anti-war play ever written,” said El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory Director John Walcutt. “With multiple prominent wars raging somewhere all the time (like now), the play never loses its relevance.”

Mother Courage is the story of a woman who tries to profit from war, without getting involved in it. The play’s author, Bertolt Brecht, wrote it in Santa Monica in 1939 after fleeing the Nazis in his hometown of Berlin. “Brecht worked hard to make the title character (Mother Courage) not sentimental,” Walcutt said. “He didn't want people to feel sorry for her, he wanted the audience to see that she makes bad, selfish decisions which she pays a high price for in the end. But the strength of his storytelling is such that we can't help but get sucked into the power of the story. So, Brecht purposely created a style (now often referred to as "Brechtian"), where his characters would break the fourth wall (the imaginary wall between the actors and the audience) in moments of high drama, and talk directly to the audience to make sure they got the point. You'll see this style in full bloom in Mother Courage. It's really amazing and the effect is very theatrical.”

Walcutt wanted to direct this play for a number of reasons. “I wanted to incorporate talent from The Popular Music Conservatory, and I'm thrilled they wanted to be a part of it. Brecht wrote song lyrics (and some music) for the play, but again, unlike American musicals, he didn't want them to be sentimental. He used them to step out of the play and to confront the audience with the play's theme. I saw this as an opportunity to have ‘Rock Star Moments,’ which would be really fun for the actors, and shocking to the audience. I'm very grateful to Ms. Pasternak and Mr. Francavilla of the PM Conservatory, for giving us this killer band and these amazing soloists. They will blow you away. I am immensely indebted to the incredible Mr. Richard Kinsey, our Music Director and Composer. Not only did he take an idea I suggested ("I'd like to use Bob Dylan songs for the play") and run with it, but he contributed several of his original compositions as well. So, this is a one-of-a-kind Mother Courage.”

When asked what would surprise the audience about this play, Walcutt responded, “This play is REALLY FUNNY. And it packs a punch. The biggest challenge? Getting SoCal American kids to understand the horrors of war. My generation saw it all on TV in Vietnam. The government doesn't allow that anymore. Now, war for us is far away. It's a TV show or a movie. A theoretical idea in someone else's land. Something on a screen... somewhere. And only for volunteers. We are so lucky. We are so protected. Do we realize it? I don't know. You be the judge. Brecht set his play during the 30 Years War in Europe, which began in 1618. Our production is not so distant. Brecht called his play ‘A comedy about war and other family business.’ I hope you laugh. I hope you cry. I hope it makes you think and thank your lucky stars. And mostly, I'm happy to be the person who gets to introduce our students and our families to these powerful, timeless masterpieces of the theater. It is one of the great joys of being at OCSA.”

Performances run from February 8-16, 2024, in Symphony Hall. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

The cast of Mother Courage rehearses with Director John Walcutt.  The cast features approximately 40 students in the 7th through 12th grades.

Isabella Kim ‘25 as Mother Courage with Tessa Espinola ‘25 as her understudy, practice their songs.

Soldiers hold hostages as rehearsals continue for Mother Courage.

New Play Festival Celebrates Its 10th Season

It’s the 10th anniversary of the New Play Festival, and Director Bodie Newcomb promises to take the Festival to a new level. This year’s single play production, American Town Council: Dystopia or Democracy, examines the American ideals of liberty and freedom as storytellers, outsiders, ordinary citizens, the media and historical heavyweights grapple with the questions: WHO HAS A VALID VOICE IN THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE? Written by The Creative Writing Conservatory and performed by an ensemble cast from The Acting Conservatory, this play will include audience participation, improvisation, and a few surprises …. All in the name of the struggle for democracy and civil discourse. The New Play Festival performs February 29, March 1-2, 2024.  

Former Acting Conservatory Student in New Disney+ Series

Former OCSA student Aryan Simhadri '25 appears as the satyr Grover in the new Percy Jackson and the Olympians Disney+ series. The show is an adaptation of the Rick Riordan book series. The live-action show tells the story of the 12-year-old demigod, Percy Jackson, who is accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt. Percy and his friends, Annabeth and Grover, embark on an adventure to find the bolt and return it to Zeus. 

Simhadri also appeared on the Disney+ remake of Cheaper by the Dozen and starred in the Disney Channel original movie Spin.  

CLICK HERE to view the trailer.

CLICK HERE to watch interviews with the cast.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Do You Remember When We Traveled to Grover’s Corners?

In 2018, Directors Brenda Smith and Bodie Newcomb brought the fictional American town of Grover’s Corners to life with a talented cast of then-middle-schoolers.  The play, Our Town, by Thornton Wilder was performed in the black box studio theater.  The play was challenging because it was performed with a sparse set and the actors were required to pantomime their activities and chores without the use of props.  The cast was also challenged to explore themes of love and humanity as well as the cyclical nature of humanity. 

The cast and directors of Our Town in the black box theater.

Choirmaster Simon Stimson (James Slaybaugh ‘21) directs a stirring rendition of “Blessed Be the Tie that Binds.” 

The people of Grover’s Corners watch the wedding of George Gibbs (Dylan Barton ‘22) and Emily Webb (Bella Casperson ‘21).

Mrs. Gibbs (Sophia Del Rey ‘21) and Mrs. Webb (Gwenn Demmerlee ’21) meet in the garden to gossip. 

West Mulholland ‘23 pantomimes the throwing of the daily newspaper. 

Ethan Gray ‘22 gives the audience some facts about Grover’s Corners, overseen by State Manager Haedden Mund ‘22.

The wedding between George Gibbs (Dylan Barton ‘22) and Emily Webb (Bella Casperson ‘21) is officiated by the Stage Manager (Haedden Mund ‘22). 

SOON TO BE OCSA ALUMNI

Meet the Class of 2024

Our Acting Conservatory seniors have started their final semester at at OCSA. College applications are in and senioritis is settling in! Meet your soon-to-be fellow alumni.

SOCIAL MEDIA - CONNECT WITH ALUMNI

THE ACTING CONSERVATORY'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

We are actively searching for our acting alumni and their parents. Please help us by forwarding this email to classmates or posting on social media to get them in the loop. If you know of acting conservatory alumni who would like to receive this newsletter, CLICK HERE to email us!

OSCA has an alumni directory that provides a dedicated space for the larger OCSA alumni community to connect, network, and communicate. You can sign up in less than two minutes when you register with your LinkedIn or Facebook profile. You can also join with your email address.

Once you are registered, use the filters in the directory to:

• Connect: Find and connect with your classmates and fellow graduates. See what they have been up to, reminisce, gather together, and stay in touch.
• Expand: Leverage the shared history you have with thousands of alumni to expand your professional networks. Meet new people and open new doors – for yourself and others!
• Influence: Introduce, employ, and act as a mentor to our graduating students.

CLICK HERE to register and join the network!