Photo Flash: TUTS Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Education Wing with Alumni Association
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) celebrated the 40th anniversary of the founding of its Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) with the kickoff of the recently formed HSMT Alumni Association. Graduates and supporters of the HSMT program from the past four decades joined for an evening of celebration and reunion as they mixed and mingled amidst the backdrop of the HSMT rehearsal rooms, complete with wine and hors d'oeuvres from City Kitchen.
Following the inaugural event, the HSMT Alumni Association watched a performance of Legally Blonde the Musical by current HSMT students as part of the school's yearly teen summer conservatory production. At the conclusion of the show, The Cast members attended a post-show reception, where the alumni group got the chance to meet and converse with the up-and-coming generation of musical theatre performers.
In effort to create lasting support for the Humphreys School, money raised by the alumni group's membership fees and charitable donations will fund a newly created artistic fund, which will support future HSMT productions and encourage growth in the disciplines of musical theatre.
"The evening was a tremendous success for both the HSMT Alumni Association and for the school," said John Breckenridge, President and CEO of TUTS. "To be able to reunite previous students while also showcasing the current students in their phenomenal summer production was a real delight. What a way to celebrate 40 years of teaching musical theatre excellence and to help support future productions!"
The Humphreys School historically has served as a springboard into the world of theatre and entertainment with many HSMT graduates succeeding not only in regional theatres but also on Broadway, in national tours and beyond the stage. Notable HSMT alumni include Bruce Norris (Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner for Clybourne Park), Chandra Wilson (ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"), Michelle DeJean (Broadway: Chicago; National Tours: Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Oliver!; TUTS: The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, White Christmas, Urban Cowboy), Michael Tapley (Broadway: The Who's Tommy; National Tours: Evita, 42nd Street, Mame, The Who's Tommy, The Unsinkable Molly Brown; TUTS: The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Annie, White Christmas), Austin Miller (NBC's "Grease: You're The One That I Want"; National Tours: Grease, Smokey Joe's Café, Victor/Victoria; TUTS: Urban Cowboy, Hairspray, 42nd Street), Logan Kesler (Broadway's 2010 Tony-winning revival and national tour of La Cage Aux Folles; TUTS: Urban Cowboy, Dreamgirls, West Side Story), Kalyn Hemphill (Season 6 winner of Lifetime Television's "Project Runway/Models of the Runway"; TUTS: Singin' In The Rain) and Manuel Santos (NBC's "Smash"; TUTS: West Side Story, 110 In The Shade, Beauty And The Beast).
For more information about the HSMT Alumni Association or to join, visit www.TUTS.com/HSMTAlumni. For more information about the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, please visit www.TUTS.com/HSMT.
Photo Credit: Sam Byrd
Peggy Hinajosa (HSMT teacher) and TUTS Director of Education and Administration Bob Lawson
Karen Eckert, Angelica Alcala-Herrera (HSMT student) and Maria Alcala-Herrera
Grace and Margaret Nardecchia and Mark Jackson (HSMT Alum)
Michelle DeJean (HSMT Alum) and Charles Swan (HSMT Alum and HSMT teacher)
Jennifer Mergele (HSMT Alum) and BeLinda Rossiter
SuSan Lee (HSMT Alum) and Julie Pradel (HSMT Alum).
TUTS Artistic Director Bruce Lumpkin, TUTS Chairman of the Board Steve Burkett, and TUTS CEO and President John Breckenridge.
Mark Jackson (HSMT Alum), Zach Ullah (HSMT Alum) and Synthia Jahan.
Michelle DeJean (HSMT Alum) and TUTS CEO and President John Breckenridge.
SuSan Lee (HSMT Alum), Julie Pradel (HSMT Alum), Rebecca Lazarou (HSMT Alum) and Shay Rodgers (HSMT Alum and TUTS Manager of Education).
TUTS Artistic Director Bruce Lumpkin and Michael Tapley (HSMT Alum).
Pattie Dodds, Deborah O'Donnell and Anne Bunting.
Monique and Nicolette Groen (HSMT Alums).
Natalie Flores (HSMT student), Grace Nardecchia, and Rachel Broussard (HSMT student).
Jacob Ables (HSMT student) and Clay Moore (HSMT student).
Christine Carroll (HSMT student) and Travis Beasley.
Megan McGuff (HSMT student) and Angelica Alcala-Herrera (HSMT student).
Steven Mendoza (HSMT student) and Sally-Anne Ganley.
Jacob Ables (HSMT student), Tyce Green (HSMT alum) and Rachel Broussard (HSMT student).
