And The Award Goes To . . .

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By Annie Sears

YC alum Darren Criss speaks to other YC students. Photo by Ryan Montgomery.
A.C.T. congratulates all the artists recognized in the 76th Golden Globes, particularly Darren Criss, who trained in our Young Conservatory. For his work on FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Criss took home the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television. Many of our alums are working on creative projects all over the world, and several have exciting projects coming up soon.

Onscreen
Disney Channel recently picked up Just Roll With It, starring Tobie Windham (M.F.A. ’10). The show is a hybrid of scripted and improvisational comedy. The four actors begin performing a pre-written scene, but they’ll be interrupted by a ridiculous stunt of the audience’s choosing. Then, the actors will just have to roll with it.

TBS just cast Christina Elmore (M.F.A. ’12) as a co-lead in pilot of their new comedy Twenties. Scheduled to premiere this year, Twenties explores the life of a queer, Black woman and her two straight friends.

Jacob Ming-Trent (M.F.A. ’03) played Ernie Gainor in the feature film The Possession of Hannah Grace, which opened in theaters November 30.

Onstage
Next week, Two River Theater in New Jersey will open their production of Noises Off, and Adrianna Mitchell (M.F.A. ’18) will play Brooke Ashton.

Axel Avin Jr. (M.F.A. ’08) will direct the world premiere of Ray Yamanouchi’s The American Tradition at New Light Theater Project in New York City, running January 25—February 16.

The White Shoes, a 10-minute play by York Walker (M.F.A. ’14), was selected for NYC’s The Fire This Time Festival, which runs in New York City January 21—February 3.

At A.C.T.
We’re delighted to be producing Mfoniso Udofia’s (M.F.A. ’09) play Her Portmanteau, which begins previews at The Strand on February 15. Her Portmanteau is the fourth in a nine-play cycle exploring a Nigerian American family, and Magic Theatre will be producing In Old Age, the cycle’s fifth installment. In Old Age opens March 27, so Bay Area audiences will be able to enjoy two of Udofia’s stories in the same season.

Conservatory Director Melissa Smith hugs Mfoniso Udofia at her graduation in 2009. Photo by David Wilson.

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