Q&A: Danielle DuFóre Garcia
Ann Lacy's most recent Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Q&A: Chip Abbott
Broadway veteran, choreographer, and director
Q&A: Jess Palu
From OKC to NYC, a talk with a current Radio City Rockette
Q&A: JEREMY DUVALL
Co-Founder of Industry Xperience talks dance trends & more
Our alumni keep us up-to-date on the work they're doing—here are just a few!
Brianna Brandon: Assistant Stage Manager, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; Administrative Assistant School of American Dance & Arts Management
Karma Vowell: OCU MBA-Arts Management - Director of Resource Development for Youth Friends in Kansas City
Sarah Culp: Event Operations Coordinator for Macy’s in New York -- coordinates nationally broadcast Macy’s parades
Elise Dwenger: Performer and MS Maasdam Company Manager for Holland America Cruise Line
Debbie Mancuso: Chief Operating Office of Ballet Petite in Bethesda, Maryland
Jacey Garcia: Owner/Director of City Dance Center in Beaumont, Texas
Ashley Banks: Lighting Designer for Church Performances
Eli Coronis: Alumni and Events Coordinator for Woodbury University
Katy Leonard Clark: Dance studio owner in Michigan
Lisa Davis: Performing in “Broadway” in Branson; Dino’s Christmas Extravaganza in Branson; performer in “Red, Hot and Blue” in Branson
Sarah Fazio: Choreographer for Dino Show in Branson; Choreographer for Carman World Tour; Master Teacher for Dance Olympus
Samantha Ford: Development Database Administrator for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Jocelyn Cohenour: Extra in “Sex and the City”; Siegfried and Roy Show in Las Vegas
Margaret Crissman: Documentation Intern at Jacob’s Pillow; development associate for Eliot Feld Ballet Tech in New York City
Dana Fisch: Jacob’s Pillow Stage Manager Intern; coordinator for Battery Park Arts Festival in New York City; stage manager for Dance Anonymous at the Duke Theatre in NYC; performer with Push Factor in NYC; artistic director for Undertoe Dance Project in New York City
Chelsea Cain: Shores Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma development and fundraising assistant; dance director at Milam Magnet Elementary School public school in Odessa, Texas; private dance studio teacher
Heather Pederson: Culinary and Catering Administrative Assistant for Sodexo Services
M’Shay Eskola: Dance instructor at Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School, Little Rock, Arkansas
Kari Grooms: Entertainment/Production Coordinator for BEST Agency in Las Vegas
Mary Roberts: Performer in Culture Shock Atlanta
Sarah Johnston: Management staff for Ferguson Center for the Arts, Christopher Newport University
Emilie Schmidt: New Jersey Tap Ensemble; teaching musical theatre dance for Cincinnati Ballet school
Kim Self: Management staff of Celebrity Attractions (Musical Theater presenters) in Little Rock; University Assistant Financial Aid Director
TeNeil Barney Spaeth: Company Manager/Production Manager of Tulsa Opera; director OCU Spirit of Grace Liturgical Dancers
Erika Reuter: Performing in EFX! in Las Vegas with David Cassidy
Seth Reimer: Company Manager for David Parsons Dance Company; Performance Manager for Carnegie Hall
Cassie Olson: Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma development intern; promoted to Lyric Theatre Executive Assistant
Shana Rutz: Performed in featured dance at Jazz Dance World Congress in Wiesbaden, Germany, Summer 97; OCU Dance Department Administrative Assistant to Jo Rowan
Allison Van Fleet: Owns own dance studio in Omaha
Andrea Tornabene: Taught at an arts high school in Florida; Owns Universal Dance Academy in Port Charlotte
Jennifer Woodside: Was with OKC Philharmonic Box Office; was teaching and managing at a local OKC dance studio before assuming administrative position with Western Arkansas Ballet
Stacey Jamieson: Studio Administrator, School of Performing Arts in Naperville near Chicago
Scott Ellis: Company Manager, National Tour of “Grease”; company manager of “Blues in the Night” with Maurice Hines, Frida Payne, and Carol Woods
Shannon Elliott: Company member in River North Dance Company, Chicago; Ensemble for Music Theater of Wichita; Company member Luna Negra Dance Company; development staff member for Suzuki-Orff School of Music in Chicago; Artistic Program Producer for National Dance Institute in New Mexico; Director of Dance and Assistant Chair of Performing Arts at Santa Fe University of Art and Design; Lyra Precise Musical theatre dancer; Branson performer; performer for Celebrity Cruise Lines; Dino’s Christmas Extravaganza in Branson
Jeromy Smith: Music Theater of Wichita Ensemble; “My Fair Lady” at Papermill Playhouse; “Ragtime” at Music Theater of Wichita; national tour of “Swing”; national tour of “42nd Street”;General Management Associate for Richards/Climan, Inc., Broadway show management company in New York City
Ashley Trimble: Actress in Off-Off Broadway Show; Assistant Company Manager/Assistant to the Development Director for Merce Cunningham Dance Company; Director of Off-Off Broadway Show, “A Sense of Humor”; Company Manager, David Parsons Dance Co.; Individual Support Manager for Jacob’s Pillow
Stephen Kovash: Grants Officer for EPA; fundraiser for Oklahoma City Arts Council and Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition
Martha Stone: Development Director of Oklahoma City Community College
Kathleen Kern: Development Director for Bishop McGuiness High School in OKC
Shannon Wright: Continues to teach Dance to Visually Impaired Children, in OKC
Lori LaFrance: Technician for Disney in Orlando
Shelly Greene: House management staff for Andy Williams in Branson; owns a dance studio in Lewisburg, Texas
Amy Shoeffler: Annual Giving Campaign Manager, Tulsa Philharmonic
Dawn Fowler: Orchestra Manager, Kansas City Symphony
Robert Fox: Box Office Manager, Play Maker Rep. Co. at U. of NC-Chapel Hill
James Eng: Development officer for Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in NYC; Operations Assistant for New York Philharmonic
Beth Sedberry: Assistant Marketing Director for Oklahoma City Philharmonic
Marne Tysdal: Teacher at Susan Webb’s Dance Innovations and insurance company administrator
Lori Freeman: Marine Corps officer
Emily Turner: Dance Captain at Frontier City and lead assistant for David Thomas and the World of Magic
Katy McDermott: Technical theater staff at Seaside Music Theater, Daytona Beach; Stage Manager for Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company; dance department coordinator for Cornish College for the Arts; agent in dance division of IMG Artists in New York
Jennifer Young: Former Unit Manager for “Home Matters” for Banyan Productions, on Discovery Channel; Now on Management Staff of the Wilmington Opera
Jennifer Fox: Operations Management at Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra
Terrie Bentley: Manager, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble
Renee Koenen: Busch Gardens, Tampa - Performer; manages a dance supply business in Dallas
Jen Halpin: Busch Gardens, Tampa - Performer
Amy Osborne: Manager of a Dance Supply business in Pennsylvania
Robyn Bohrer: Supervisor at Six Flags Over Texas; Choreographer at Six Flags Over Texas
Kellee Haas: Founder and Owner of North Georgia Dance and Music Factory
Jenny Lang: Production Manager for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
Amy Klingler: Assistant Manager - Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma Box Office; Dancer, Bobby Vinton Show, Branson; performer on the cruise ship Mercury; Rockette; Celebrity Cruise Line performer
Sabrina Redding: Administrative Assistant, Oklahoma Arts Institute (Quartz Mountain); Intern Coordinator for Oklahoma Arts Institute
Anna Ables: Assistant Program Director, Oklahoma Arts Institute; Utah Shakespeare Festival; Director of Marketing and Public Relations at The Theatre School at DePaul University
Kristen Swinehart: Graduated Florida Coastal School of Law and passed bar exam - Entertainment Law
Jennifer Pfaff: Business director of Chicago Tap Theatre and performer; instructor at Hubbard Street’s LCDS studio; performer for Dance Chicago, Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago Human Rhythm Project; teacher at Beverly Arts Center
Shannon Beaumont: Founder and Owner of All That Dance! dance studio in Conway, Arkansas
Shannon Houston: Dancer in Bobby Vinton Show in Branson; cruise ship performer on the Costa Victoria; “One the Show” at Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach; associate at Clear Talent Group talent agency in New York City; consultant to Gallim Dance in Brooklyn
Carrie Speicher: Cruise ship performer on Norwegian Lines Dawn; “Broadway” in Branson; “One the Show” at Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach; artistic director for Fisher Dance Center in Wilmette, IL; Rockette; Will Rogers Follies national tour starring Larry Gatlin
Kylie Moats: “One the Show” at Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach
Danielle Oberly: Administrator for Houston Ballet; owner of Dance Central dance studio Cypress, Texas
Kara Harvey: Peck Dance teacher in Destin Public Schools
Erin Davis: “One the Show” at Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach
Michelle Berg: Conference Coordinator for Cokesbury Court; Stage Manager for “African Tales” at Busch Gardens - Tampa; Director of Community Development for The Science Place in Dallas
Georgie Lesher: Management Intern at Goodtimes Entertainment
Michelle Lory: Chesapeake Energy Special Events Intern, Oklahoma City; Oklahoma City Museum of Art Director of Events, Group Tours and Facility Rentals
Carolyn Shierk: Assistant Business Manager for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; Director of Dance at North East School of the Arts in San Antonio
Andi Davison: Performer in Masquerade Show in the Sky at the Rio in Las Vegas
Carmen Scott: Performing and Modeling in Trade Shows; dancer in “Buku” music video
Meghan Dunn: Management Intern, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; manager of Dance Innovations Dance Studio in Oklahoma City
Krystina Alexis Nelson: Director of Marketing and Promotions for Push Factor jazz dance company in NYC; also dancer with Push Factor; lighting designer for The Wait Company; Balinese dancer in “Spirit of the Tiger”
Sarah Scott: Stage Manager, Town & Village School of Dance; Assistant to the Business Manager for Lyric Theatre; Marketing Assistant for Arena Stage in Washington; fundraising executive for Vanderbuilt University
Jennifer Kornmeyer: Jacob’s Pillow Technical Production Intern, Oklahoma Arts Institute Staff
Michael Weagraff: Assistant to Director of Development and Fundraising at Music Circus in California
Deborah Pense: Administrative Assistant, Music Theater of Wichita
Allison Welbes: Oklahoma Children’s Theatre Education Director
Kelsey Cartwright: Miss Oklahoma
Heather Fick: Intern for Opera in the Ozarks; Ticket Office Staff for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; OKLA Convention Assistant; Company Manager for Tulsa Ballet; Tahlequah Ballet Company academy ballet teacher; adjunct dance teacher for several colleges
Lauren Linville: Participant in LA Dance Force’s “Dance With The Force”, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma ensemble; Asia International Tour of “42nd Street”; dance ensemble for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; “Wicked” in Chicago; “Wicked” national tour
Patrick Galvin: Opera Club Steward, Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe, NM; Carnegie Hall (NYC) management internship; management intern for Carnegie Hall in New York City and management intern at American Ballet Theatre; Development Staff for American Ballet Theatre in New York
Chris Pelrine: Assistant Company Manager, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; costume shop foreman for Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management; staff of Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax, Canada; Personal Assistant to the President and Executive Director of Hailifax Film; private dance studio teacher
Hannah Leahy: Business Assistant for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
Cari Griggs: Major Gifts and Research Assistant for National Public Radio in New York
Jennifer Polvado Dowd: Assistant Stage Manager, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; Coordinator for External Affairs and Special Events for Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management
Rachel Christensen: Assistant Company Manager, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; teacher, administrator, and dance concert director for School of Performing Arts in Naperville, Illinois; 19 company manager for Chicago Dance Theater; production stage manager for Naperville 175th Anniversary Christmas production
Vicky Best: Intern at Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition
Hannah Brown: Instructor for American Dance and Drill Team School in Kansas and Texas
Deanna Wantz: Dancer at LaComedia Dinner Theatre’s Production of “Grease” and Guest Dancer for Rhythm in Shoes; LifeChurch.tv Director of Litekinds; grant-writing consultant for St. Louis Tap Festival; tap teacher in Stillwater
Suzi Bonnot: Production intern with CD International Entertainment in Shanghei, China, Theatrical and Performing Arts Entertainment Divisions, supporting international tour of “Cinderella”
Amanda Craig: Tech crew Oklahoma Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain; internship with Oklahoma Arts Institute for programs and house management; programs/front of house manager for Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute; costume shop foreman - Ann Lacy School of American; Dance and Arts Management; Coordinator for External Affairs – Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management
Amanda Kosack: Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma Assistant Stage Manager multiple seasons; Assistant Stage Manager for Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, NJ, then Production Stage Manager there for “I Do, I Do”; Assistant Stage Manager of “Fela!” national tour
Ellen Cole: Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma Assistant Stage Manager; arts management intern at the Kennedy Center in Washington; assistant for The Mine talent agency in New York City
Jaeden Parker: Ticket Office for Lyric Theatre, Script Writing for Thelma Gaylord Academy, in Oklahoma City, OK; performer Lyric Theatre production of “Fiddler on the Roof” performer Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach
Lacy Brown: Dancer in “The Magic of Saipan” at the SandCastle Showroom in Saipan
Lindsey Jouett: Administrative intern for Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts; Assistant Company manager, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City; dance teacher Preston Dance Center in Dallas
Jenny Rice: RA for Governor’s School for the Arts in Kentucky; Choreographer/Teacher – Town & Village School of Dance in Pans, KY; dancer for Missouri Ballet in St. Louis
Krystal M. Rajkowski: Played the role of Princess Brooke at Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park at Lancaster, PA; Intern at Broadway Dance Center in NYC
Tori Lucas: Horn Creek Conference Grounds summer staff, Westcliffe, Colorado; Character Performer, Walt Disney World
Heather Pederson: Wardrobe Coordinator of Light Opera of Oklahoma
Frances Lawrence: Performer at Worlds of Fun Theme Park in Kansas City, MO; Global International Mission ”Cultural Mixer” with dance in Honduras, S. America
Erica Olavarria: Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop in Boulder, Colorado
Mary Timaeus: Ticket office staff for Spoletto Festival USA
Crystal Lee: Internship at Tulsa Ballet in Special Events and Development; tech crew Oklahoma Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain
Jessie Pries: Character performer, Walt Disney World; Paramount’s King’s Island (Ohio) Character Department; intern at Jeff Roberts & Associates Christian Music Booking Agency in Nashville
Leia Eubanks: Internships with Dance 411 Entertainment and BlocSouth Talent Agency in Atlanta; administrative intern for Chicago Human Rhythm Project in Chicago, IL; fundraising and event management consultant in Georgia
Sheila Heying: Performer, Six Flags in St. Louis
Christine Soileau: Chesapeake Boathouse staff in Oklahoma City; Member Services Coordinator for Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce
Julie Russell Stanley: MFA in Dance Fast Track at Oklahoma City University; Performer, Mary Kay Convention “Celebrate the Dream 08” in Dallas
Emily Yowell: Intern for Oklahoma City Ballet; Intern for Fine Arts Institute of Edmond
Amelia Frates: The Boy from Oz (Stage Management Production Assistant)
Angela Everett: 42nd Street
Ashley Stover: Hello Dolly
Becky Berstler: 42nd Street
Becky Downing: Crazy for You, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Will Rogers Follies, My Fair Lady
Brad Musgrove: Fosse, The Producers, La Cage aux Folles
Brandi Wooten: Spamalot, 9 to 5: The Musical
Brian J. Marcum: Fascinating Rhythm, Saturday Night Fever, 42nd Street, The Boy from Oz, Spamalot
Brian Shepard: Peter Pan, Spamalot, Young Frankenstein (ensemble and Igor understudy), Annie Get Your Gun, Follies
Bruce Johnson: Sunset Blvd. (Joe Gillis - male lead) Chip Abbott: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Swing), On the Town (Swing, Dance Captain, Assistant Choreographer *Tony nominee Best Choreography 2014)
Cindy Shadel: 42nd Street
Clifton Samuels: (Cliff Fogle) Follies
Colby Q. Lindeman: Wicked
Colette Simmons: Mama Mia!
Connie Sasfai: Show Boat
Destan Owens: Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Tommy, Chicago, Rent (Tom Collins)
Dontee Kiehn: 42nd Street, Gypsy, Next to Normal (Associate Choreographer), The Addams Family (Associate Choreographer), Broadway Bares (Assistant Choreographer)
Erin Robbins: Jerome Robbins’ Broadway
Gabrielle Ruiz: In the Heights, A Chrous Line
Jennifer Mathie: Follies (Revival), White Christmas
Jeromy Smith: General Management for Broadway producers and theater owners
John Sawyer: Civil War
John Warren: Wicked
Jordan Ballard: Hairspray (Amber - one of the stars)
Kim Faure: Anything Goes (role of Chastity), Nice Work If You Can Get It, Bullets Over
Broadway
Kristen Willits: Richardson A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Kristin Chenoweth: Steel Pier, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Epic Proportions, Wicked, The Apple Tree, Promises, Promises
Lauralyn McClelland: Grease, West Side Story, Rock of Ages
Lesley Jennings: Music Man, Grease
Lyndy Franklin: A Chorus Line
Marie Danvers: Phantom of the Opera - (Christine - one of the stars)
Mary Ellen Stuart: Dreams, Chicago, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway
Matthew Sipress: Hello Dolly (performer and assistant to the choreographer)
Nathan Peck: Dance of the Vampires, La Cage aux Folles (dance captain), The Boy from Oz, Taboo, Wicked, Kinky Boots
Rich Yoder: White Christmas, Great American Mousical
Richie Mastascusa: Guys and Dolls, White Christmas
Ryan Ball: Frogs
Sara Edwards: White Christmas, Follies (Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain), Chaplin (dance captain)
Sarah L. Johnson: 42nd Street
Sasha Hutchings: Memphis, Motown the Musical
Taryn Molnar: White Christmas Tysh Nelson: Show Boat
Vincent Sandoval: Fosse
Wendy Roberts: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Wes Pope: On the Town, 42nd Street, Saturday Night Fever, Face the Music (City Center)
Dancers who have been Radio City Music Hall Rockettes or performers in the Radio City Music Hall Spectaculars
Rockettes
Lora Anderson
Becky Berstler
Nita Borchardt
Karen Boyd
Amy Burnette
Becky Downing
Beth Dukleth
Angie Everett
Jaime Fisher
Renee Fox
Kelly Garner
Lauren Gaul
Andrea Halbert
Carrie Hamner
Joele Hansen
Elizabeth Helms
Carissa Johnson
Sarah Lin Johnson
Nicole Jones
Karen Kasteel
Dontee Kiehn
Amy Klingler
Allison Lehr
Tonya Loveday
Jennifer Mathie
Tabatha Mays
Laura McKenzie
Melissa Miller
Brooke Nagy
Brittany Neal
Jessica Palu
Mindy Porter
Katie Rayle
Kristin Willits Richardson
Alison Roller
Laura Sambol
Tori Schelling
Amanda Schoppe
Jennifer Schreiber
Cari Speicher
Karilyn Surratt
Erin Swanson
Kristen Tudor
Laura Williams
Paige Williams
Melissa Zaremba
Men Performing in Radio City Music Hall Shows
Brad Barnes
Matt Clemons
Jarret Ditch
Jeremy Duvall
Cliff Fogle
Colby Lindeman (dance captain)
Richie Mastascusa
Brad Musgrove
Nathan Peck
Wes Pope
Vincent Sandoval
Steve Seale
Matthew Sipress
Todd Walker
Kevin Wilson
Marcel Wilson