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Alumni Success

Q&A: Gabrielle Ruiz

An In-depth conversation about Broadway and television

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

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Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment
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