We have been so busy preparing our wonderful seniors and meeting our new juniors and even sophomores (!) that we haven't updated in awhile!  Here's all the news - and if we've left you out, update us and we'll add it!

Current senior Erica Vlahinos was chosen as an NFAA Arts Award Finalist in Musical Theatre!  She will be participating in NFAA Arts Week in Miami from 1/10-1/17.  Also named Merit Award and Honorable Mention Winners were seniors Jenn Kranz, Gracie Martin, and Katie Wesler.

Adria Vitlar was cast as Caroline Cushing in Frost/Nixon at Arkansas Rep.  The show will be run from 4/23 to 5/9. Click here for more info.

Mark Christine was cast as Hippolito in The Revenger's Tragedy at UCSD.  The show is being directed by Chris Ashley, Artistic Director of the La Jolla Playhouse and director of both Memphis and Xanadu on Broadway.  The show runs 2/11 - 2/20.  Mark will also be performing in a two-person play, Gruesome Playground Injuries, at the beginning of March.

Alumna Nikki Bonino has been cast in Chataqua! at the NY Public Theatre. Performances will be Jan. 6 - 17. Click here for more info.

Alumi Alysha Deslorieux, Christine Smith and Kelly O'Neill performed in Hair at CCM.  As Dionne, Alysha sang "Aquarius".  Alumni Jordan Firstman and Christine Smith will be in the upcoming CCM production of Anything Goes.

Telly Leung is currently in rehearsal for a new musical, Give It Up!, based on the Greek comedy Lysistrata. Click here for more info.

Natalie Weiss will present her Birdland debut, Natalie Weiss Offline, on Jan. 24th. Birdland Jazz.

Gil Brady performed the two-person show Woman In Black at Atlanta's Theatre in the Square from September to November 2009.

Leo Ash Evens played his most-performed role, Riff, at the North Carolina Theatre in October 2009.

In his inaugural role with the National Shakespeare Theatre, Charlie Murphy was in the ensemble and understudied the role of Orlando in As You Like It.

Darren Biggart performed in the musical The Toymaker for the NYMF Festival in September and October 2009.

Nick DePinto performed the roles of Young Scrooge and Nephew Fred in Washington, DC's annual production of A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre.

Greg Jarrett will be serving as Assistant Music Director for the upcoming Encores production of Fanny.

Junior Eden Eernissee advanced to the National Thespian Competition in Monologues, Solo Voice, and Duet Voice.

Alumnus Trevor St. John-Gilbert has been cast in the upcoming production of Ragtime at the University of Michigan.

Chris Peluso has been cast in the upcoming La Jolla Playhouse production of Frank Wildhorn's new musical Bonnie and Clyde. The show runs Nov. 10 - Dec. 20. More information can be found here.

Alumna Chelsea Gidden will be appearing as Charity in Sweet Charity at the Mac-Hayden Theatre in New York. Click here for more info.

Alumna and Penn State graduate Lauren Nestor has been cast as the lead in the Disney Cruise Lines mainstage show Disney Dreams. She will be performing on the Disney Wonder for 8 months.

Current student Michelle Rubich won The "Metro" Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical, given to the best actress in a high school production from participating schools in Rockland, Westchester and Bergen counties. She moves on to the 2009 National High School Theatre Awards at the end of June!

Mary Anna Dennard was one of 5 distinguished judges asked to choose America's Junior Miss 2009 at the AJM National Finals in Mobile, Alabama. More info

Charlie Murphy was one of 5 male actors nationwide to be offered a prestigious, year-long Fellowship at the Shakespeare Theatre of DC.

Leo Ash Evens received rave reviews for his portrayal of The Emcee in Cabaret at Houston's Theatre Under the Stars. Up next, Leo will be playing Mark in Rent at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont.

Recent alumna Celine Held was awarded the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's Constance T. Rockwell Scholarship this year, chosen from a group of one hundred students who auditioned and interviewed.

Alumna Stephanie Moskal is performing in a professional production of Mame, starring Lee Meriwether, at Boston's Reagle Players.

Current student Lexi Greenberg will be appearing as Natalie in the Quest Theatre's upcoming production of All Shook Up. The show runs June 19-20 at Paramus High School. For more info click here

Alumnus Steve Miller as well as current students Paige Glosser and Chandler Reeves recently won Dallas-area Cappy Awards.

Current student Michelle Rubich was nominated for a Metropolitan High School Theatre Award for Outstanding Leading Actress. More info here

We have a number of current students who will be attending summer programs:
- Katie Wesler and Mackenzie Orr - MPulse
- Michelle Rubich and Sarah Merner - CAP 21
- Kathleen Weston - Baldwin-Wallace
- Chandler Reeves - Interlochen
- Jackie Wladis - BADA

Due to some tech issues with our old website, we've had difficulty keeping the news page updated... But, we've made some major changes to the site and will be updating things much more frequently from here on, so check back often!

Here's all the news from the past several months. After this, we will be updating as news happens.


Beth Falcone has been named the 2009 winner of the Kleban Award for most promising musical theatre lyricist. This prestigious award is named after late lyricist Edward Kleban, who wrote the lyrics to A Chorus Line. More info here

Mark Christine was one of 8 actors accepted into the prestigious University of California - San Diego MFA Acting program. Mark will begin the program, which includes a residency at the La Jolla Playhouse, in Fall 2009 - and he'll continue coaching, our first MTCA coach to live on the West Coast!

The following team members and alumni have received job offers for the upcoming summer:
- Chris Peluso has been granted a brief leave from Mamma Mia! on Broadway to play Chris in Miss Saigon at Music Theatre of Wichita.
- Leo Ash Evens will play the Emcee in Cabaret at Houston's Theatre Under the Stars. Playbill Article
- Matthew Scott will by playing Marius in Les Miserables at Pittsburgh CLO.
- Alumnus Joseph Rosko will be working at Maine State Music Theatre.
- Alumna Olivia Ercolano will be working at the Barn Theatre in Michigan.
- Alumni Dominique Bonino and Ana Llewellyn will be working at The MUNY in St. Louis.
- Alumnus Bryan Baldwin will be performing in Les Miserables and The Music Man at PCPA Theatrefest.
- Alumnus Matt Edmonds will be playing Feste in Twelfth Night at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

Kirsten Bracken and Matthew Scott have gotten engaged! They are planning a wedding for this July. Congrats!

Mary Anna Austin Dennard has been selected as a judge for the national finals of the America's Junior Miss Program. The national competition will be held June 27 in Mobile, Alabama. Details here

Chris Peluso performed in readings of Silas Marner and Mayday!

Leo Ash Evens performed in a reading of Signs of Life. Playbill article

Telly Leung just finished shooting a new ABC pilot entitled Limelight. We'll keep you posted about this...

Indiana University Sophomore Jen Saltiel played the lead role of Muffy in the regional premier of the new musical Vote! Broadwayworld article

Cara Massey is back in Legally Blonde, but this time as a member of the 1st National Tour. She is performing the same track she performed on Broadway and joins current cast member/coach Cortney Wolfson.

Telly Leung is currently on tour with Rent playing the role of Steve and understudying Angel. Go here for tour dates and more info!

Alumna Stephanie Moskal was cast as a featured dancer in 42nd Street at The Boston Conservatory.

In February, senior Olivia Harris performed at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.

Seniors Olivia Harris and Susanna Rizzo were named NFAA youngArts Finalists in Musical Theatre. Olivia was then named a Presidential Scholar semi-finalist. More info

Seniors Olivia Harris and Dana Harper were given NFAA youngArts Merit Awards in Jazz Voice and Popular Voice respectively.

On his Mondays off from Mamma Mia!, Chris Peluso will be starring in the show Glimpses of the Moon at the famed Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel. More info

Telly Leung will be singing Leonard Bernstein's Mass with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in Baltimore, at Carnegie Hall in NYC, and at the Kennedy Center.

The Coaching Team welcomed newest member Leo Ash Evens, who just returned from playing Riff in the European Tour of West Side Story.