MAY 2024

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

This month, we celebrate things that are new and beautiful – like the amazing new collaborative space for artists created at New York University by Ariyah Brown ‘22. Our “Day in the Life” video by Riley Summers ‘21 is a ray of sunshine as she details her experiences at UC Santa Barbara.

Our alumni are flourishing, and we have news from Reese Gonzales ‘19, Christina Jesenski ‘20, Sam Matthews ‘21, Jessica Perez ‘21, Jack Robertson ‘21, and Rachel Yi ‘23.  

Two new shows blossom at OCSA this spring – OCSA Unleashed II and The Devils Are Here. Last but not least, we are excited to welcome Donald Amerson as the new Acting Conservatory Manager.  

Our Blast From the Past this month is from 12 Angry Jurors, in which talented actors showed how the evidence in a trial could bloom into reasonable doubt.

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

Ariyah Brown Creates Collaborative Space for Artists

Ariyah Brown ‘22 is currently attending New York University with a major in Dramatic Writing and a minor in Film and Television Production. While at OCSA, Brown won the prestigious Orange County Artist of the Year in 2021. Since graduation, Brown has been building a collaborative space for artists at NYU called “Word,” and her first film produced through that space, Hurry Me, God, will be premiering at the Do It Your Damn Self National Youth Festival, hosted by Cambridge Community Arts Center. The festival is a champion of social-justice and issue-focused youth filmmakers. Brown recently shared her experiences with the Alumni News. 

Q: Describe the program at NYU? What classes are you taking?

A: Both the Dramatic Writing and Film department at NYU have been really interesting to be a part of. I’m currently a second-year student, and this year I am choosing to focus on writing for television. I am currently enrolled in two major-specific classes. One is named Episodic I and the other is called TV Survey. In our classes we study, critique and write spec scripts for TV shows, which has been challenging but really fun! Each week in my Episodic class, we workshop in groups, creating our own mini “writers room” where we give feedback to foster growth. For my minor, I am enrolled in Fundamentals of Filmmaking. It's a bit of a challenge because almost every week we are filming projects on rotation based on our crew numbers and screening them in class, but my work ethic is strengthening because of it!

Q: You created a group called “Word” at NYU. Can you describe what that is and what your mission/goals are for the group?

A: Word is a multidisciplinary space where artists are welcome to gather and collaborate on projects using film. Our goal is to operate as a collective and create a safe environment where artists are able to freely express themselves and craft messages for the culture, by the culture.

Q: Does the group focus primarily on film, theater or another art form? 

A: We focus on film, but love to incorporate other art forms within it. Think of it as a medium within a medium! Our homebase is on Instagram. You can follow us here for updates. We just shot a music video and that will be dropping soon.  

CLICK HERE to view Word's IG page.

The first film I directed for Word is available on Vimeo. It is called Hurry Me, God, and I wrote, directed and shot it. It will be showing at the Do it Your Damn Self (DIYDS) National Youth Festival, hosted by Cambridge Community Arts Center and will be showing at Harvard Art Museum! 

CLICK HERE to for more info the DIYDS festival.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for this group? What was your inspiration? What made you want to create this group?

A: I realized that there wasn’t a space at NYU where I felt I could be creative and articulate the nuances of my Black experience without it being confined. I wanted to speak, create, engage, connect and liberate myself freely, and I wanted to do these things surrounded by people who would be active, truthful and authentic in not only their art but how they viewed the world.

Q: What do you want audiences to take away from your work?

A: I can’t speak for my other collaborators on Word, but I know that when it comes to my work in particular, I want people to walk away with a sense of Ubuntu and love. Ubuntu is this practice/belief that “a person is a person through persons.” I believe that our differences are integral toward our identity, but where we go wrong is by pinning ourselves against each other. I am very passionate about interconnectedness and the importance of building from a joint root upward.

Q: What do you see as the future of Word?  

A: I think that I want to just keep it as a collective/a safe space for artists to connect and share their work together without feeling pressured to compete. I really want Word to exist outside of the business realm, and operate simply as a collaborative space, and from there on the individual careers of the artists we collaborate are up to them. I like to think of Word as a time capsule of some sort.

Q: What is your film Hurry Me, God about?

A: Hurry Me, God is an experimental piece that meshes slam poetry with film, and is based off of the question: Is there space for the Black consciousness to exist under God's fair image? And through the poetry we hear the internal voice of our Angel, who has seen how the world treats the people who look like him, versus what God's promises are, and as a result, questions his free will. Hurry Me, God challenges our constructed notions of race and religion, and more importantly how the two intersect within the daily lives of people of color. 

Q: What are your future plans or next steps?

A: To create, to live, to give back to our communities, and to do it over and over again.

Q: What have you learned from your experiences on this project?  

A: The most important thing I have learned is that I can’t do everything on my own. As Word continues to grow, and the more people want to collaborate with us, I’ve learned (and still am learning) how to communicate my needs with my co-collaborators instead of doing the heavy work by myself.

Q: Are your future plans focused on acting, playwriting, film or all of the above?

A: To be honest, I’ve found so much fulfillment in being able to craft things from behind the scenes that I will likely lean toward film and gradually work my way up to full-length feature films.  

Q: How did you get involved in acting?

A: A former teacher listened to me during a time I struggled with speech as a kid and I finally began to feel free by being in a space where I could be creatively curious without any judgment.

Q: What advice can you give aspiring playwrights or actors?

A: I think that whatever it is that you choose to do, question who you're doing it for. Are you doing it for yourself, your culture/community, or validation. How you answer that can give you not every, but most answers that you’re looking for. Introspection is key to your progression as not only an artist but a human being.

Q: What roadblocks have you faced?

A: Life happens to everyone, and I could go into detail, but truthfully I’ve been working on shifting my perspective in what I see as an obstacle. Sometimes the obstacle isn’t even tangible, because it’s myself and how I choose to react to things. So the biggest roadblock for me has been myself. I am constantly reminding myself that I have control in how I craft my life, and that can go farther than perspective.

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

A: One thing OCSA helped me out with was commitment. No matter what it is that I want to do, I know how hard I have to work to get it, and how integral it is to not be so quick to let go/walk away just because it doesn’t work out the first time. I’ve come to realize how difficult and unique it is for a school to instill persistence into their students, so I have an appreciation for it.

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

A: Mrs. Dorian's “moments before” exercises are something that always stick in my head, specifically my first one. She was teaching us mindfulness before I even knew what mindfulness was, and the older I get the more I see the value in taking a step back to actually live, breathe and explore the spaces you may encounter. And for that I am forever grateful.

Riley Summers Shares Her Experiences at UCSB

Riley Summers ‘21 is currently a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  Summers was a production assistant on the CBS show Superfan, which premiered this past fall.  “It was an amazing experience, and I learned so much about the production side of a film set,” Summers said.  Summers took time out of her busy schedule to share a “Day in the Life” of a film student. 

Reese Gonzales Attends Showing of Movie

with Lin Manuel Miranda

Reese Gonzales ‘19 traveled to New York City in February to attend an event hosted by Lin Manuel Miranda at the United Palace Theater.  Gonzales recently starred in Aristotle and Dante, and the event featured a showing of the movie and a talk back afterward to an audience of 3,500 people.  Gonzales also took part in the celebration for Latino excellence in film and television in January.  

“After the strike, we were finally able to celebrate Ari and Dante,” said Gonzales.  “I’m so thankful to Lin [Manuel Miranda] for organizing and hosting the movie and talkback.  In true Lin Manuel fashion, the energy ‘in the room where it happened’ was exhilarating.”

Reese Gonzales ‘19 celebrated in New York City at a screening of Aristotle and Dante with Lin Manuel Miranda, director Aitch Alberto, and co-star Max Pelayo. 

Christina Jesenski’s Original Play Performed at UE

For her senior Honors Project, Christina Jesenski ‘20 was given grant funding from the University of Evansville Honors Program to produce a staged reading of her play, Glossolalia, which evolved into a unique reading/performance hybrid with parts of the action off book. Guest artist Portia Krieger flew in from New York City to direct the project. An accomplished director of new plays and musicals, Krieger has developed work with many notable theaters and organizations such as Playwrights Horizons, Second Street Theatre, Clubbed Thumb, Ars Nova, The Juilliard School, Roundabout, and many others. Krieger was the associate director of Broadway's Fun Home, Almost Famous and Seminar.  Also joining the team was OCSA Musical Theatre alum Emily Baggarly as the intimacy director for the project. Jesenski said she is “so grateful to have collaborated with a talented group of artists and for the opportunity share Glossolalia with an audience.”

Christina Jesenski ‘20 watches the rehearsal of her play Glossolalia from the audience.

Actors Garrett Hale and Aibhlinn Rose perform in Christina Jesenski’s play.

Sam Matthews ‘21 performed as Catherine Jennings Middleton/the Red Gossip in the NYU Tisch School of the Arts production of Sense and Sensibility in April. “We made our own world, and it was wacky. Every show was so unique with its own little bow on it,” said Matthews.  

Matthews also made his off-Broadway debut at 54 Below. He was a lead in a new musical in development called Acceptance Pending by Gabriel McDerment, where Sam played the school counselor. The show is about the struggles of mental health when applying for colleges. “The show had been to the Edinburgh Fringe, then toured, and I auditioned for the 54 Below show and got in. It was a lovely experience,” Matthews said. 

Sam Matthews ‘21 as the Red Gossip in NYU’s production of Sense and Sensibility. 

The cast of Sense and Sensibility with Sam Matthews ‘21 center.

Sam Matthews ‘21 (center) in Acceptance Pending.

Jessica Perez Interns at George W. Bush Presidential Center

Jessica Perez ‘21 graduates this May from Dallas Baptist University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Broadcast and Digital Media. Perez is an intern at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, working in their leadership and communications department. The presidential center’s website states that it is a nonpartisan institution advancing the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability and compassion. Perez recently finished a debate season which ended in two national championships, adding to a career total of three national wins!

Jack Robertson Performs in Fun Factory

Jack Robertson ‘21 was cast in an original play called Fun Factory, written by Kimberly Locke and Elizabeth Hannah.  The play is directed by Kimberly Locke with the help and mentorship of teachers at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Los Angeles, where Robertson is a junior.  Robertson plays the role of Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle, and “it is an absolute honor to get to play someone as well known as him.”

"The show follows the journey into the life of silent film star and director, Mabel Normand. Mabel's story is one of resilience, ambition, and the harsh realities faced by women in Hollywood during the early 20th century,” Robertson said.  “In Fun Factory, we delve into Mabel's quest to leave an indelible mark on the silver screen, only to be confronted by scandal, addiction, and the entrenched biases of a male-dominated industry. Through this poignant narrative, we aim to shed light on the struggles faced by young female artists, both then and now, as they navigate the complex landscape of the entertainment world.”

Rachel Yi Models for Zipped Magazine

Rachel Yi ‘23 is currently a freshman at Syracuse University pursuing a BFA degree in acting. Yi is a model for a Syracuse University student-run fashion magazine known as Zipped. "I decided to dip my toes into modeling and actually had the time of my life," Yi said. "From this experience, I decided that I really wanted to get into modeling because I had so much fun, and I was able to apply a lot of my skills and lessons I learned from acting, which was being comfortable in front of a camera and coming up with new ideas for posing."

Yi has also been busy doing community volunteer work for St. Jude through her sorority, Tri Delta.

OCSA ACTING NEWS

Donald Amerson Selected as Acting Conservatory Manager

The El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory is pleased to announce that Donald Amerson will be serving as Acting Conservatory Manager beginning July 2024.  (Stephanie Dorian’s position will end at the end of her tenure in June.)  Amerson will continue to teach in addition to providing part-time administrative support with planning, logistics and execution of the program throughout the year.  He will bring a wealth of diverse experience to this new role, and Acting Conservatory Director John Walcutt said he looks forward to working with him to continue taking the conservatory program to new heights! Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Mr. Amerson in his new capacity.

UPCOMING OCSA PRODUCTIONS

OCSA Unleashed II Will Pump You Up

OCSA’s wild and crazy guys are back this year for the second annual OCSA Unleashed II, a Saturday Night Live-style live sketch comedy to be broadcast on May 4, 2024.  

The live show is a joint project with Acting, Production and Design, Film and Television, and Creative Writing, said El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory Director John Walcutt.  

“OCSA has never produced such a complicated live production like Unleashed,” said show director Josh Wood. “Although there have been live-streamed broadcasts of events that a conservatory is putting on, this is a four-conservatory collaborative production, integrated from top and bottom and a whole year in the planning…It’s a whale of a project, but super fun to be on.”  

Don’t get verklempt about missing this opportunity because there are two ways to watch the show. The live Watch Party begins at Symphony Hall at 6:30 p.m. with food trucks. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. The show will also be simulcast at http://www.zolo.productions/unleashed.

“Funny is fun. It’s fun to get together and have everyone laughing,” said Wood.  

The show was a mah-velous hit last year, and students and conservatory leaders learned a lot, said Walcutt.  

“I think the quality of all the cast and crew – from the writing, to the acting, to the production elements – it’s all going to super impress an audience. They will think, ‘Kids did this???’” said Wood. “This is Unleashed’s second year. It is shaping up to be a professional-level production that showcases hilarious material and skilled acting. The more OCSA creates events like this, both high profile and local, the more alumni of the school stand to benefit.” 

The crew works with the camera equipment in preparation for the streaming of OCSA Unleashed II. 

The cast and crew of OCSA Unleashed II.

All The Devils Are Here Showcases Middle School Talent

All the Devils Are Here directed by Jenny Moon Shaw and Cora Riley is the El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory’s spring middle school show. Performances will run from May 9-11, 2024. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Do You Remember When We Had Reasonable Doubt?

In December, 2018, acting teacher Colin Martin directed 12 Angry Jurors, a courtroom drama depicting a jury deliberating a verdict in a murder trial.  Written by Reginald Rose, the story focuses on how one dissenter with an undecided vote is able to overcome racism and discrimination to sow a seed of reasonable doubt.  Performed in the intimate black box setting with the action taking place entirely in the jury room, the actors were challenged to keep a fast pace and maintain the high stakes of the script.  Martin double cast the play with the leads in one cast being male and one cast being female, which created different dynamics between the casts. 

Shauna Salomone ‘21, Alyssa Tuohy ‘20, Wyland Collins MT ‘19, and Emma Milani ‘20 listen to the jurors debate the defendant’s guilt or innocence.

The jurors take a preliminary vote at the start of deliberations.

Alyssa Tuohy ‘20 as Juror No. 8 is the single “not guilty” vote at the beginning of the play. 

Cloyce Martin (Culinary ‘19) and Alyssa Tuohy ‘20 pay close attention to the evidence.

Polina Sultanov ‘22, Cloyce Martin (Culinary ‘19), and Alyssa Tuohy ‘20 listen to jurors argue about the evidence.

Alyssa Tuohy ‘20, Emma Milani ‘20 and Reese Gonzales ‘19 question the evidence presented by the prosecution. 

The tension builds as Alyssa Tuohy ‘20 as Juror No. 8 and Emma Milani ‘20 as Juror No. 3 engage in a debate about the switchblade knife allegedly used in the murder.

Golden Bachelder ‘19 grows heated during deliberations and intimidates Caitllin Cheung ‘21. 

Things get out of control between Tyler Gebo ‘20 as Juror No. 8 and Golden Bachelder ‘19 as Juror No. 3.

In the climactic ending to the play, jurors Kole Kistler ‘20 and Quintin Matheny ‘19 restrain Golden Bachelder ‘19, who has succumbed to the pressure of the case. 

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!