A degree from Ball State’s Department of Theatre and Dance puts you in the company of an incredible array of artists working at venues across the country, educating at institutions of higher education and a range of primary and secondary schools, and using their skills in a variety of ways. Ball State Theatre and Dance alumni contribute to their communities and change the world. Through their journeys to a fulfilling career and meaningful life, our alumni continue to give back to the department.

Megan "Collins" Conley Headshot - Theatre and Dance Alumni

Meghan “Collins” Conley

After graduating with a BFA, Meghan moved to New York City and took the stage name Collins while joining Actor’s Equity. Collins is currently performing in Mean Girls the musical on Broadway where she made her Broadway debut in 2018 as Lizzie Therman, Caroline Krafft, and “Sexy Corn”! Before her work in Mean Girls, she played Ashley in the world-premiere production of The Prom at the Alliance Theatre prior to its Broadway run. Recently she acted as choreography assistant on Casey Nicholaw’s new production of Some Like it Hot where she was thrilled to finally put her tap skills to good use! Outside of performing, Collins teaches tap for The Growing Studio, coaches Mean Girls workshops, and loves doing talk backs with young aspiring performers. Growing up she was a competitive dancer, science nerd, and enjoyed tapping around the country as a member of the St. Louis Hoofer’s Club. This early skill set, along with her BSU training, laid stepping stones for her success. She continues to train in NYC and uses her love of science for daily fun facts in the Mean Girls dressing room; she promises they’re a hit!

Matt Glassner headshot - alumni theatre and dance

Matt Glassner

Upon graduating from Ball State with a musical theatre degree, Matt moved to Chicago where he was the casting intern at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Upon completing his internship at Steppenwolf he decided to pursue casting full time and moved to NYC and interned with Telsey + Company and then Manhattan Theatre Club (as an Artistic Production Intern). Since completing these internships, he has begun working full time in casting, first for Innovative Artists and now, for Barden/Schnee Casting. 

Dylan Cole Passman

DCP is a New York City-based performer, choreographer, and director and a proud graduate of Ball State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. DC’s work as a performer and choreographer have been seen Off-Broadway and in Regional houses around the country. Some of his favorite credits include; The Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, The Fulton, Gateway Playhouse, and Maine State Music Theatre. He recently finished choreographing a successful Off-Broadway run of “The Drowsy Chaperone” as well as an immersive production of Lippa’s “The Wild Party” in conjunction with The Yale School of Music. Proud member of AEA. 

Grace Rex headshot - alumni theatre and dance
Grace Rex
 Grace currently resides in Brooklyn where she makes her own work and collaborates with others. The musical theatre alumna acts on stage and on screen and is a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Her film credits include “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty;” “Ruth and Alex” (starring Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman), which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival; “Song One” (starring Anne Hathaway), which premiered at Sundance Film Festival; “Women Who Kill;” “5 Flights Up;” “Guilty;” “Contagion;” “The Dilemma;” and “The Comedy.” Her television credits include “E.R.,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Good Wife,” “Blindspot,” “Master of None,” “Elementary,” “Biker Bar,” “State of Romance,” and “Underemployed.” She has also been seen on the stages of The Denver Center, Steppenwolf, and A Red Orchid Theatre, among others. Visit her website.

 

Adam B. Shapiro
Adam has appeared Off Broadway in both English and Yiddish in such shows as Bastard Jones, The Golden Bride, The Mikado Re-imagined, Death of a Salesman (in Yiddish), The Boys From Syracuse, Gimpel the Fool, and in the Award-Winning Yiddish language production of Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Joel Grey, in which Adam played the Rabbi and understudied Tevye and Lazer Wolf. In TV/Film, Adam has appeared on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Master of None, Friends from College, 30 Rock, The Mysteries of Laura, and played the role of Bella in HBO's Emmy-Winning film, The Normal Heart. Adam is also a MAC Award winning cabaret artist and has performed his solo work all over NYC, including Lincoln Center as part of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention. He can be heard on several albums with Stage Stars Records and his debut single "Warm As Winter" is available on all streaming platforms. www.adambshapiro.com
 
 

Other notable alumni include: Nick Abbott, Tommy Bullington, Lincoln Clauss,Kayla Davion, Caleb Donahoe, Evan Duff, Megan Farley,Betsy Farrar, Michael Ferraro, Keirsten Hodgens, Tony Howell, Jeff Lawhorn, Shelby Putlak, Monica Ramirez, Allison Sill,  Danni Smith, Laura Sportiello, Nicholas Walters, and Krystal Worrell.

Jessica Ervin headshot - alumni theatre and dance Jessica Ervin

Jessica Ervin is a Chicago-based actress and an ensemble member at Rivendell Theatre. She received an Equity Jeff Award (Outstanding Actress) nomination for her portrayal of Ester in Dry Land with Rivendell. Jessica has also worked at A Red Orchid Theatre, Walkabout, Route 66, The Public House, and Blue Goose Theatre. Jessica can be seen as a co-star on an episode of NBC’s Chicago Fire. Her film credits include Princess Cyd, Teacher, and Stalled. She’s a 2019 graduate of the prestigious School at Steppenwolf and graduated from Ball State in 2015. She’s proud to be represented by Actors Talent Group.

Talley Beth Gale - headshot Theatre and Dance AlumniTalley Beth Gale 
Talley received her MFA from The Old Globe/University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program. Theatre credits include: Hamlet, Love's Labors Lost, Macbeth, Red Velvet (The Old Globe), Private Lives, Antony And Cleopatra (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), PROOF (Oldcastle Theatre Company), and This Is Our Youth (Steppenwolf Theatre Company). Talley can be seen in an upcoming Tracy Oliver comedy on Amazon and in the web series Queen's English. She is currently based in NYC. Talley advocates to destigmatize mental illness and provide support for artists. Visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org for more information. www.talleygale.com  @talleybethgale

Joe Lino - headshot Theatre and Dance Alumni

Joe Lino
Joe Lino (class of 2014) is a Chicago-based actor and playwright. In Chicago, he has worked with Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, BoHo, Windy City, Drury Lane, Teatro Vista and Interrobang Theatre Project where he is an ensemble member. Off-Broadway: The Glory of the World (world premier) by Charles Mee at BAM’s Harvey Theater; Regional: That High Lonesome Sound at Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival. His play Small World (which he co-wrote with fellow BSU alum Julian Leff) had its premier with New Colony Theatre in 2019.

Photo of David MertenDavid Merten
David is a proud graduate of Ball State University's BFA Acting program. He made his New York Off-Broadway debut with a seven-month run of the hit play Afterglow at The Davenport Theatre. Regional Theatre credits include Sons of the Prophet (Normal Ave Theatre), The Two Gentlemen Of Verona (Scranton Shakespeare Fest.), And Then There Were None (Judson Theatre Company), and the Williamstown Theatre Festival Acting Apprentice program. Catch him in the popular fiction podcasts Gay Future and Meet Cute on iTunes, as well as the web series Queen's English, streaming online now. David is a proud member of AEA and a current MFA Acting candidate for the class of 2023 at Brown University/Trinity Rep. david-merten.com

Erin Neufer Headshot

Erin Neufer
Erin Neufer is a 2010 BSU graduate and went on to continue her studies at the NYU Graduate Acting Program in New York City, graduating in 2015. She has appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award winning play “Ink”, many off-broadway plays including “Nathan The Wise” with F. Murray Abraham, and developed works with The Public, The Lark, New Dramatists and Ensemble Studio Theatre. Regionally, she has performed in theatres across the country including The Guthrie and Baltimore Centerstage. Her television credits include a recurring role in Gypsy (Netflix) and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Hulu). Erin also makes very silly things with her clowning group, "Soul Potato."  

Headshot Photo of Mary TayorMary Taylor
Mary Taylor is a Chicago-based actor represented by Stewart Talent. She made her Chicago debut in 2019 originating the role of Brielle in Rebecca Gilman’s Twilight Bowl at the Goodman Theatre.

Meg Warner HeadshotMeg Warner
Chicago theatre credits: Roe(Goodman Theatre); The Adventures of Augie March(u/s), Photograph51 (u/s) (Court Theatre); Travesties, Northanger Abbey (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company); Strandline (A Red Orchid Theatre); The Merry Wives of Windsor, Searching for Peabody’s Tomb (First Folio Theatre); Amadeus (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Wrens(Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); Romeo and Juliet (Teatro Vista). TV credits: Station Eleven(HBO); Utopia(Amazon); Chicago P.D. (NBC). Meg is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf, and earned her BFA from Ball State University. Represented by Paonessa Talent.

Billy Blanken headshot - alumni theatre and dance

Billy Blanken 

Billy graduated with honors from Ball State with majors in acting and dance performance. After graduation, he was invited to attend the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City on full scholarship. He started his professional career as a principal with the Amy Marshall Dance Company before he joined Les Ballets Grandiva. Selected credits include: principal guest artist with Brooklyn Ballet, guest artist with CoDa21 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dances Patrelle, Catherine Gallant Dance, Atlantic City Ballet, Mobile Ballet, Flexicurve, Northwest Florida Ballet, Lane & Co Arts, Sun Valley Ballet, the East Village Dance Project, Northeastern Ballet Theatre, Neville Dance Theatre, isadoraNOW, Ballet Mink Colbert, and performing Michael Foley’s work in the Howl on the Road Festival at Lincoln Center.

Jen Donohoo headshot - alumni theatre and dance

Jen Donohoo

Since earning a degree in dance, Jen has appeared in the Jeff Award winning “Follies” (Ghost Showgirl/DC) at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. She has since worked on “A Chorus Line” directed by Mitzi Hamilton, “Timon of Athens” at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, “Brigadoon,” and “A Christmas Carol.” She has also performed in numerous industrials and commercials around the world as a principal dancer for the Lions Club, CSO’s “Welcome Yule!,” “Dance For Life,” “Duets for My Valentine” and “Chicago Takes Off” among others. She has also served as guest faculty at Joffrey Ballet, Lou Conte Dance Studio and Ruth Page Centre for the Arts. Within the last year, Jen worked on “Deployed” (assistant director) for NYMF and “Soul Doctor” Off-Broadway (assistant choreographer/assistant director) both under the direction of Mindy Cooper. She also assisted Devan and Janki on “Fly Guy and Other Stories” and has since taken over setting this regionally touring show. This past spring, she worked on “Guys and Dolls” at Goodspeed Opera House under the direction of the brilliantly talented Don Stephenson. She is a member of AEA and AGMA.

Cristina Gustaitis headshot - alumni theatre and dance

Cristina Gustaitis 

Cristina is a professional dancer in New York City and has performed throughout the US and abroad with companies Treeline Dance Works and MachineHistrionica Dance since she received a degree in dance. In addition to performing, she is a choreographer and dance teacher in her neighborhood of Brooklyn.

 

Chadae McAlister headshot - alumni theatre and dance Chadaé McAlister

Dance alumna Chadaé has performed regionally in "Showboat", "Little Shop of Horrors," and many others. She was on the First National Tour of “Motown the Musical.”


 

Photo of Alum Tyler Ring

Tyler Ring

Tyler Ring is a native of Muncie, Indiana, where he graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance from Ball State University. He has also studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Visceral Dance Chicago. As a performer, Tyler has danced new works by James Gregg, Banning Bouldin, Sidra Bell, Amy Miller, Dianne McIntyre, Monica Bill Barnes, and David Shimotakahara. After one season as a performing trainee with Thodos Dance Chicago, he danced with GroundWorks DanceTheater in Cleveland, Ohio from 2017 to 2019 where he also served as Interim Education Outreach Director coordinating a curriculum of dance for inner city elementary schools in Northeast Ohio. Additionally, he spent one year as an Adjunct Professor with the Cleveland State University Theater and Dance Department creating new work for his students. In 2019 Tyler wrote a grant for Cleveland Public Theatre's annual DanceWorks Series, where he was selected as one of nine local contemporary dance companies to present an evening length work. 'Transcription Beta' premiered in June 2019 at the Gordon Square Theater. Presently Tyler is serving on the faculty of the Dance Institute at the University of Akron, and is also part of The CODA Collective.

Other notable alumni include: Jordyn Alexis, Nic Herring-Harman Eugenia Jones, and Rachel Lou Redding

Emily Amick - headshot Theatre and Dance Alumni

Emily Amick

Since graduating from BSU in 2012, Emily moved to NYC and has been working full-time as a freelance makeup artist. Her work has been seen on national television, red carpets, and even at the Olympic trials. She has worked with musical artists like Estelle and Imagine Dragons, TV personalities like Tim Gunn and the Impractical Jokers, and actors like Jenna Fischer and Danny Glover. She’s worked with countless esteemed directors, comedians, and world famous athletes. Emily credits the BSU Theatre and Dance Design and Technology program for helping her discover her passion. She is incredibly thankful to the faculty and staff at BSU for encouraging and supporting her non-traditional path, and allowing her to create her own coursework that fostered her talents and interests. She says it was because of how Ball State Department of Theatre and Dance prepared her, and instilled in her such a professional work ethic that she was able to hit the ground running in NYC and accomplish so much in just a few short years.

Kevin Depinet headshot - alumni theatre and dance

Kevin Depinet

As a design and technology alumnus, Kevin has designed for venues as prominent as Steppenwolf, The Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, The National Theatre of Great Britain, and many more. He also designed scenery for Michael Mann’s Film “Public Enemies” (Universal Studios). He was the Associate Designer for the original Tony-award-winning “August: Osage County,” as well as “MF with the Hat,” and “Of Mice and Men" on Broadway. He is also an adjunct professor of design at DePaul University. Graduate work: Yale School of Drama. Visit his website.

Photo of Brandon ReedBrandon Reed

Since graduating from Ball State in 2014 as a design and technology alumnus, Brandon has been a sound designer, composer, and audio engineer working across the country. His design credits include companies such as PlayMakers Repertory Company, American Players Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Lake Dillon Theater Company, and the Arkansas Shakespeare Festival amongst others. He was previously based in Chicago for over four years where he designed for many of the city’s diverse range of companies. Before jumping into freelance he was an assistant for recognized designers such as Lindsay Jones, Richard Woodbury, Josh Schmidt, Matt Tierney, and Justin Ellington. He was the recipient of the 2019 USITT Robert Cohen Sound Achievement Award for his work since graduating from Ball State. He also been nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award as well as BroadwayWorld award. Currently he serves as the resident sound designer for PlayMakers Repertory Company while continuing to design across the country. He earned his MFA in Sound Design & Technology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was an apprentice at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as well as Chautauqua Theater Company. You can visit his website at www.brandonreedsounddesign.com

Christopher Swader - headshot Theatre and Dance Alumni

Christopher (top left) and Justin (bottom left) Swader

Christopher and Justin are New York-based scenic designers and directors. Recent designs include: The Tall Girls (Luna Stage), Dracula (Three Day Hangover), The Tempest (Classical Theatre of Harlem), Clybourne Park (Shadowland Theatre), Jarring (Mason Holdings), Ilsa, Queen of the the Nazi Love Camp (Columbia University), Old Flame (Theater for the New City), Comida de Puta (West End Theatre), A Perfect Ganesh (Luna Stage), Frozen (Essential  

Justin Swader - headshot Theatre and Dance AlumniTheatre Group), The Displaced Hindu Gods Trilogy (Company One, Boston), Uncle Vanya (Columbia University), The 7 ½ Mysteries of Toulouse McLane (Trusty Sidekick, Park AvenueArmory), Flamingo (Sanguine Theatre Company, IRT), Firebird (La MaMa), Dutchman (Classical Theatre of Harlem) and The Seven (Columbia Stages). National Winners of 2011 KCACTF Barbizon Award for Scenic Design (Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches). Their design for The Circus in Winter, based on Cathy Day's novel, won the award for Outstanding Scenic Design at the 2012 National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. 

Other notable alumni include: Adam Borchers, Andy Catron, Jeff Koger, and Gavin Mosier

Allyson Beheler - headshot Theatre and Dance Alumni

Allyson Beheler (Stage Management)

Upon graduation, Allyson was hired by Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, MA as a Company Management/Stage Management Apprentice. She will be the Assistant Stage Manager for three shows, and the Company Management Apprentice for four shows.

Marcus Carroll - headshot Theatre and Dance Alumni

Marcus Carroll (Stage Management) 

After graduating, Marcus was a Stage Management Intern at The Goodman Theatre on their productions of A Christmas Carol and 2666. He has also worked with Emerald City Theatre and Jackalope Theatre. He currently resides in Chicago.

 

 

Catherine Del Castillo (Theatre Education)

Since graduating BSU in 2012, Catherine earned her MA in Applied Theatre from the CUNY School of Professional Studies in New York. She spent 8 years as a New York-based teaching artists focusing on using theatre to strengthen literacy and social emotional skills. In the fall of 2019, Catherine moved to New Brunswick, NJ to join the education team at George Street Playhouse as the Manager of Tour and Academy Programs. She is passionate about using theatre education as a tool to help communities and classrooms work towards social change.

Shannon Golden (Stage Management)
Shannon Golden is an Equity stage manager and since graduating has worked in Chicago at many theaters including: Lookingglass Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and A Red Orchid Theatre. She just opened Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors at Chicago Shakespeare Theater as the Production Stage Manager. She is grateful for the hands-on production experience she received while at Ball State, as well as the high level of professionalism that all of the shows in the department met. Her best advice for young artists is to find the type of work that they are passionate about. And to take the opportunities that come their way, while being adamant in the worth of themselves and their time.
Coral Opem (Stage Management)

Since graduating in 2015, Coral has worked in Film/TV production in Chicago and Los Angeles. Production credits include Chicago P.D., The ChiShamelessOffice Christmas Party, Animal KingdomI Feel Bad, and AJ and the Queen. She currently works at Universal TV in development for CannyLads Productions and freelances as a producer.

Emil Thomas headshot - alumni theatre and dance

Emil Thomas (Directing)

Upon graduation from the directing program, Emil accepted the position of producing artistic director at Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square in Marietta Georgia. With six fellow Ball State alumni, he created the resident company Actors Theatre of Georgia. This new project is currently in its second production season, producing a variety of works including Carmen Rivera’s “La Gringa,” an adaptation of Richard Wright’s “Native Son,” and Tennessee Williams’s “The Glass Menagerie.”

Other notable alumni include: Andrew Kramer (Theatre Creation), Tayor Peterson-Burke (Theatre Education), and Emma Rund (Theatre Creation)

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