The Chicago production of a play written and directed by Dr. Matt Foss and designed by Stephen Sakowski, both associate professors of theatre at The University of Toledo, has won six out of the seven nominations it received for the prestigious 2020 Non-Equity Jeff Awards.

Similar to the Tony Awards in New York, the Jeff Awards recognize Chicago’s top theater each year.

“This is the first time a production that began in this department has ever gone on to a professional version and several professional awards,” said Dr. Edmund Lingan, professor and chair of UToledo’s Department of Theatre and Film. “We are extremely proud of Matt Foss and his team.”

“All Quiet on the Western Front” won for Best Production of a Play and for Best Ensemble —two of the top awards in Chicago theater each year. Two UToledo alumni, Austin Rambo (Theatre 2019) and Bianca Caniglia (Environmental Science and Women’s Studies 2018), were part of the Chicago production’s ensemble cast.

The production also was won awards for Best Choreography (Leah Urzendowski) and Sound Design (Dan Poppen).

Sakowski received the award for Best Lighting Design of the year, and Foss the prize for Best New Work.

Dr. Matt Foss, associate professor of theatre at The University of Toledo

Foss adapted Erich Maria Remarque’s historic novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” for the stage, and it premiered at The University of Toledo with a student cast in fall 2018 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, the war in which the novel is set.

The professional premiere of the play featured a unique collaboration between The University of Toledo co-producing the production with Red Tape Theatre and the Greenhouse Theatre Center — two professional companies in Chicago. UToledo’s support resulted in an extension of classroom learning in a professional setting, with Sakowski and a number of former students also participating in the project. The opening of the production culminated in a showcase event highlighting the UToledo College of Arts and Letters’ commitment to the arts, student experiences and innovation.

In 2019, the play received the Kennedy Center’s David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award, recognizing the year’s outstanding new work premiered at a college or university.

More information about the 47th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards can be found at jeffawards.org.

Scene from DREAM RUNNER by James Aponte, featuring Jeffrey Burden, II as “Julian”

The film DREAM RUNNER (2020) by University of Toledo alumnus James Aponte (Film/Video ’16) is now streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video. It is included with Prime to its subscribers. The film’s national debut on Amazon is a major step forward in Aponte’s effort to take his film to mainstream audiences.

In announcing the film’s release, Aponte said on Facebook, “It’s been two years of navigating distribution, but I am so happy to say that as of today my feature film ‘Dream Runner’ is now streaming on Amazon Prime!”

UToledo Theatre and Film Department chair, Dr. Edmund Lingan says he is thrilled that Aponte’s film is receiving national play, but not surprised. “As a UToledo student – and later as a professional filmmaker – James always proved to be that rare blend of artist and entrepreneur that leads toward professional success. Our department has been proud and happy to support his work from the beginning, and I am sure this is only the beginning of a series of successes in his career that I will enjoy watching.”

The film’s subject matter leans toward sci-fi, as the film’s opening text makes clear, “Humans no longer dream. Now man made, dreams are sold in supermarkets, drug stores, and fueling stations. Certain dreams are declared illegal by world governments and organizations. Patrons turn to Dream Runners to attain these illicit fantasies.”

Watch the film is available on Amazon Prime Video

Watch a trailer for DREAM RUNNER by James Aponte

A host of UToledo and Theatre and Film Department grads star in and helped create this film:

CAST
“Dana” – Olivia Pierce (Theatre ’16)
“Phil Donahue” – Jamal Knight (actor)
“Drake” – Ian Davis (2014)
“Robbie” – Nolan Thomaswick (Theatre ’16)
“Julian” – Jeffrey Burden II (Theatre ’16)
“Rene” – Christina Pinciotti (Theatre ’17)
“Victoria Kingsley” – Samantha Campbell (Theatre ’17)

PRODUCTION TEAM
Executive Producer/Director – James Aponte (Film/Video ’16)
Producer – Nick Kostelnak (Film/Video ’15)
Producer – John Eidemiller (Communication, faculty)
Music – Stephen Mariasy (Film/Video ’15)
Cinematography – Andre Lewis (Film/Video ’18)
Production Management/Assistant Director – Marcus Jordan (Film/Video ’17)
Guitar – Ryan Dalton (Music, Jazz Performance ’17)

UToledo 2010 Film/Comm Alumnus, Andrew Makadsi at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys

Andrew Makadsi, art director to pop star, Beyoncé, was nominated for an Emmy in the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards. He graduated from the University of Toledo in 2010 with dual undergraduate degrees in Film and Communication. Andrew, along with production designers Ric Lipson and Rachel Duncan, were nominated for an Emmy in Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special for their work on “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé.”

The show, produced through Beyoncé’s company, Parkwood Entertainment, originally aired on Netflix last April. The show also received Emmy nominations in five other categories: Outstanding Music Direction, Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Non-Fiction or Reality Programming, and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special.

https://www.emmys.com/shows/homecoming-film-beyonc%c3%a9

The awards were held in mid-September. Although the award ultimately went to RENT, Makadsi was thrilled to have been nominated and the University is equally proud of his tremendous accomplishment. Andrew posted to Facebook, “My first Emmy nomination. A date I will never forget. Feeling so grateful and thankful for all the support and love.”

One of Andrew’s UToledo film faculty, Holly Hey, said, “We are confident that this year’s Emmy nomination is only the beginning of Andrew’s professional recognition. Andrew’s work at UToledo always showcased his personal style, his dedication to creative expression, and his unparalleled commitment to crafting his work. Words hardly express how proud we are of Andrew and how happy we are to have played even the smallest part in preparing Andrew to work at such a high level in the Arts and Entertainment industries. Well done, Andrew!”

Leading up to the Creative Arts Emmys, Andrew was also recently profiled in an article in Vogue Arabia, the Middle Eastern edition of Vogue magazine. https://en.vogue.me/awards/beyonce-art-director-andrew-makadsi/. The article, written by Caterina Minthe, covers Makadsi’s education at UToledo and his meteoric rise in the art direction world, from fashion runway art director to his work with arguably one of the most famous stars on the planet, Beyoncé.

In the summer of 2017, then University of Toledo film student, Eva Noria, landed an internship in New York with post-production company, Running Man. Impressed with her energy, work ethic and post-production skills, the company offered her a job as a post-production assistant upon graduation. Eva graduated from UT in spring of 2018 and has now been on the job for almost a year.

Running Man serves a clientele that includes shows for Netflix, HBO, Comedy Central, Showtime, TBS, CBS, IFC, and many others. As a post-production assistant, Eva is responsible for organizing, reviewing and updating continuity on works in production as well as collecting contracts for the loop group, the voice talent for off-screen parts. When her company wraps a season, they send the client screeners for the media, a cue sheet and a copy of the individual episodes.

Eva credits her success with Running Man to her time as a student with the University of Toledo Department of Theatre and Film. Originally, she had planned to major in exercise science and work as an athletic trainer because she had a scholarship available to her in that program area. However, she decided to switch to a major in Film with a minor in Communication when she realized her heart was in the arts.

Once in the program, Eva knew she made the right call even though she soon learned it wasn’t an easy degree. Her faculty challenged her more than she expected—to think more creatively and examine her work more critically. She remembers in particular, Tammy Kinsey, professor of film, pushing her to do better and give her best. “She wanted you to be engaged and to know that anything, no matter how small, counts. You have to be able to take criticism, and if you’re able to take it, then you’re going to do well.”

Professor Matt Yockey was also instrumental in her success. Eva says his classes were a challenge in volume. “He always gave us so much work, but it was really helpful. I learned so much from him.” Holly Hey, professor of film and head of the film program at UT, in addition to helping Eva perfect her editing skills, was also a great source of encouragement. “She noticed whenever I was feeling down, and she was there for me. All the professors are there for you, for anything. It was great to have that support especially since I was from out of state.”

Under their guidance, Eva flourished. A top student, she was invited to participate in the Klar Leadership Academy at UT. Students invited to the academy are drawn from all undergraduate majors at the University. “This is a pan-academic effort with the goal of increasing each Academy member’s career success, ability to lead and influence others to impact the world for good, and help each member capture a “personal vision” as to what they can do to improve the human condition!”

Eva was thrilled to participate in the Academy where she met business leaders, received career advice, took part in mock interviews and performed service work for the non-profit organization, Feed My Starving Children. She says the experience “got us out of our comfort zone. We learned our strengths and weaknesses and got to meet a lot of interesting people. It became like a mini-family.”

Another milestone experience was a study abroad trip to China. Eva and several other film students from UT accompanied music education students to study the arts culture in China and to document their experiences. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about that trip.”

Having learned a great deal from her time as a student, Eva has some sage advice for new students. “Get out of the dorm, get involved, meet people, join organizations. I got involved in getting any kind of experience I could. When you make connections and meet new people, they can help you and give you all kinds of opportunities.” Those experiences led her to the internship with Running Man and later a permanent position with the company.

Her job with Running Man has helped her expand upon her education. “This opportunity has opened my eyes to new possibilities and exposure that as a student we don’t know of. Overall, working for Running Man has been wonderful. At first, it was a bit slow but soon things started to pick up. I was able to ask questions and be curious about everyone’s role in making a show/film and how things are created and pieced to together. Growing up, one would believe there is some sort of magic in making a show/ film but there isn’t. It’s literally a huge group of people who come together and work with one another to make sure the content is the best version of what they started with from a script. And you notice that if someone in this formation slacks off it can cause problems down the line. In school, we have group projects, but here the stakes are higher and expensive.”

“I’ve also had the opportunity to make connections with different companies and people. It’s important to have these connections especially if someone wants to have their own company or start on their first projects. When I finished with ‘The Last O.G.’ season 2, I didn’t have anything lined up. A co-worker had connected me with an executive producer who needed a PA [production assistant] and an assistant for pre-production for an MTA/Visa commercial. I got a lot more of experience, not just in post-production but in both pre-production and production.”

Eva says her next step is to become a post-production coordinator then work toward becoming a producer for a variety of projects within the industry for different companies. She adds that her experiences as a student at UT have helped grow her as a person and helped create job opportunities. “I thank them for giving me a door so I could slip in and see where it takes me.”

Eric Thayer, who graduated from The University of Toledo in 2008 (Art History & BFA), has been selected to show in ImageOHIO 2016, an exhibition featuring photography, video, and digital media from artists living in or with roots in Ohio. Click the link to visit the show’s web site http://www.roygbivgallery.com/exhibitions/imageohio-16/

Eric Thayer’s blog www.thegreatchainsawjugglingact.blogspot.com

Eric Thayer is on Vimeo!

Hey Barry,

Alyssa Brown, 2013 BFA graduate University of Toledo Department of Art

It has been a year since I’ve last touched based…I’m wrapping up my fellowship with Challenge Detroit. It has been a fun year full of exposure and leadership development and most importantly great work with 6 non-profits in Detroit related to transportation, urban farming, education, health disparities and neighborhood development. I will be staying full time with my host company, Edw. C. Levy Co., as their eLearning Designer and I’m looking forward to it! At Levy I support the LMS, design graphics, and create how to job aids for our 1500 employees using InDesign (lots and lots of job aids). I’ve most enjoyed getting out to our steel mill and aggregate sites throughout Michigan to photograph. I’m hoping they will send me to Thailand or Brazil soon to do some work there! 😉

A vector drawing by artist Alyssa Brown that was submitted and appeared on local electronic billboards, 2012

Two big wins:
I can honestly say, I wouldn’t have this job here if it wasn’t for your support in college. The work I did for the USRCAP (Undergraduate Summer Research and Creative Activity Program) and the Irish of Toledo book was exactly the experience I needed for this eLearning job. I’m very grateful for that.
I also often think about your push for me to subscribe to Lynda.com (I can remember being resistant at the time because it was costly and I was busy) but I now have a subscription as a benefit through my company and I use it ALL THE TIME.
Lastly, have you been to Grand Rapids, MI yet? They have a new Japanese Garden there that I’ve heard great things about and thought you might be interested to know.

Best Wishes!
Alyssa Brown

Follow Alyssa’s Challenge Detroit blog: http://challengedetroit.org/blog/alyssabrown/

CONGRATS to FILM Alumnus Nathan Elias (VPA ’11)! His short film “The Chest” was accepted into the 2015 Cannes International Film Festival, located in Cannes, France. Elias directed, co-wrote and co-starred in the film. The dramatic short is about three dysfunctional siblings battling over their father’s possessions after his death. The Cannes Film Festival is invitation-only and being accepted is one of the most prestigious honors for filmmakers.

http://sub.festival-cannes.fr/SfcCatalogue/MovieDetail/2142fd52-66b4-49be-a806-3aab3ed3e23a

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4229136/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

Photo: Nathan Elias, filmmaker. BA in Film from the University of Toledo, 2011.

Clifton Harvey, 2006 BFA graduate from the University of Toledo Department of Art

A 2006 BFA graduate from the University of Toledo Department of Art, Clifton Harvey, is exhibiting some of his most creative work in the UT Clement Gallery, located in the UT Center for Visual Arts next to the Toledo Museum of Art. The exhibit, on display now through April 12, is free and open to the public.

A Digital artist and Toledo native, Harvey combines his skewed photographic work with his unique hand-drawn creations. Drawing inspiration from childhood nostalgia and daydreams, his illustrated narratives depict surreal worlds inhabited by broken creatures searching for what the artist describes as their “missing parts.” Exploring themes connected to hope, despair, and the search for wholeness, Clifton’s work is an allegory for his personal experiences.

“The Last Tenant” by Clifton Harvey

“An unspoken dialogue exists between artwork and viewer. During this exchange, unexpected conclusions are drawn based on our unique experiences. These unpredictable associations may not be consciously made, but rather felt deeply, like a sensation of nostalgia for something never personally experienced. Exploring the precarious notion that a camera’s ability to freeze a moment is somehow linked to reality, I digitally combine my photography and illustration to discover my own kind of photographic truth. The ebb and flow of inspiration I experience between these media wouldn’t necessarily occur if I worked with each independently.”

Harvey is accomplished young artist with several important awards and accolades to his credit. He was selected for the Arts Commission’s Artist Designed Bike Racks Project (2013) and the “You Are Here, Toledo” public art project (2012). Harvey has also won first place in the 19th Annual UT Alumni Association Outdoor Juried Art Fair (2011), the People’s Choice Award at Artomatic 419! (2011), the Juror’s Choice Award at the Sixth Annual Ohio Online Visual Artist Registry Juried Show (2011) and has had his work featured on the Behance Network.

Learn more about Clifton Harvey:  http://www.cliftonharveyart.com/bio.html
See his work on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/67209226@N07/

Theatre alumnus PAT MILLER is in the news! In December, he received two awards for his work in the Beck Center for the Arts’ MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT.

2013 News-Herald Best Theater Awards
Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical Pat Miller, “Spamalot” – Beck Center for the Arts

2013 BroadwayWorld Cleveland Awards
Best Actor in a Musical – Guest Artist Theatre
Pat Miller – Monty Python’s SPAMALOT – Beck Center for the Arts

Pat credits his faculty at UT with his success – to Theatre Lecturer Irene Alby he writes:

“I truly appreciated all of your support and encouragement with the BroadwayWorld Cleveland Awards. It really meant the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Some pretty cool things ended up happening: I somehow received a Critic’s Choice Award from The News-Herald (a major Northeast Ohio newspaper) and also the BroadwayWorld Cleveland Award. So much of what you, Cornel, and Ed taught me at UT stays with me on stage. Unending thanks!”

Photo: UT Alumnus, Pat Miller in the Beck Center for the Arts production of MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT (Photo: CBS WDOK, Cleveland’s New 102)