Professional Guest Artist Program
The School of Theatre Arts and Dance at UNC has a long-standing and illustrious guest artist program. Each year we bring some of the industry’s top talent to campus to work directly with our students and faculty.
Students can take advantage of master classes, guest lectures, and workshops with NYC and LA casting agents, equity guest actors, visiting scholars, guest designers, choreographers, directors, playwrights, and craftspeople.
“Our guest artists are amazing. I still can’t believe that I had the opportunity to work on stage and in my acting class with Lucy Peacock, one of the top classical actors in North America.”
Anna Landy, Alumna (Musical Theatre, BA-2014)
Past Guest Artists
- 2019
- Jason Veasey - Broadway Actor
- Ava Kostia - Fight Director
- Megan Van De Hay - Equity Actor
- Rachel Hoffman, CSA - Telsey + Company
- Aaron Galligan-Stierle - Max Theatrics, NYC
- Reginald Edmund - Black Lives, Black Words
- Emily Reiner - Choreographer
- Chris Parnell - Co-President, Sony Pictures Television
- Dawn Williams - Guest Director, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
- 2018
- Matthew Edwards – Singing Pop/Rock Techniques Master Class
- Aaron Galligan-Stierle – Acting Teacher, New York Film Academy
- Rachel Hoffman – NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Michael Donavan – LA Casting Director
- Victoria Morris – LA Manager/Producer for Lexicat - Former Agent & Senior Vice President of KSR
- 2017
- Aaron Galligan-Stierle - Acting Teacher, New York Film Academy
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Frank Chavez - Scenic and Costume Designer
- Steven Hauck - AEA Broadway and Film Actor
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Victoria Morris - LA Manager/Producer for Lexicat - Former Agent & Senior Vice President of KSR
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Andrea Runge – Professional CAEA Actor/Teaching Artist (Stratford Festival)
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Henry Haggard – AEA Guest Artist
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Vance McKenzie – Lighting Designer
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Katie Dawson – Educator - Theatre for Young Audiences
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Tyler Jensen – NYC Actor/Alumnus – Dance Master Class
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Jean Luc Cavnar – NYC Actor/Alumnus – Dance Master Class
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D.J. Selmeyer – Lighting Designer
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Aisha Jackson – Broadway Actress/Alumnae (Frozen, Beautiful – The Carol King Musical, Waitress)
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Megan Van De Hey – AEA Guest Artist
- 2016
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Aaron Galligan-Stierle - Acting Teacher, New York Film Academy
- Matthew Edwards - Singing Pop/Rock Techniques Master Class
- Judy Bejarno - Choreographer
- Krista Leons - Choreographer
- Katie McSwain - Choreographer
- Jacob Mora - Choreographer
- Jenny Schiff - Choreographer
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Frank Chavez - Scenic and Costume Designer
- Victoria Morris - LA Agent/manager for Lexicat - Former Agent & Senior Vice President of KSR
- Gary Marshall - Film, Television, Broadway Producer, Director, Playwright
- Patrick Welborn - Agent and owner of Allegory Creative Management in LA
- Megan Van De Hey - Actor AEA
- Billie McBride - Actor AEA
- Katie Gruenhagen - Lighting Designer
- 2015
- Brian Yorkey - Tony Award-winning playwright and lyricist Next to Normal and If/Then
- Rachel Hoffman -NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Goeff Kent - Stage Combat
- Aaron Galligan-Stierle - Acting Teacher, New York Film Academy
- Concrete Temple - Devised theatre and puppetry
- Jeff Whiting - Broadway Director/Choreographer
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Lawrence Hecht - Head of Acting for Denver Center for the Arts Education Program
- Katie Gruenhagen - Lighting Designer
- Kate Bryer - Associate Artistic Director Imagination Stage
- Suzan Zeder - Playwright/Educator/Author
- Matthew Edwards - Singing Pop/Rock Techniques Master Class
- Liz Eckert - Designated Linklater Voice Teacher
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Frank Chavez - Scenic and Costume Designer
- Victoria Morris - LA Agent/ Former Senior Vice President of KSR
- Eric Ladin - LA Actor
- Tracy Salter - Actor
- Tetrianna Silas - Actor and UNC Alumna
- DJ Selmeyer - Lighting Designer
- Steven McDonald - Sound Designer
- 2014
- Deidre Goodwin - Broadway Performer and Dance Teacher
- Chris Parnell - V.P for Development – Sony Pictures T.V
- David Larson - LA, DGA Film/Television Assistant Director
- Steven Dietz - Playwright and UNCo Alumnus
- Gary Marshall - Film, Television, Broadway Producer, Director, Playwright
- Jeff Whiting - Broadway Director/Choreographer
- Matt Floyd - LA Manager for Untitled Talent
- Natalie Weiss - Broadway Actor and Vocal Coach
- Naisha Arnold - LA Manager for Untitled Talent
- James Earl - LA Actor (Glee)
- Eric Ladin - LA Actor
- Ellen Lettrich - Broadway Vocal Coach (Matilda, Hand to God) Founder of MTCA
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Tim Barbiaux - Freelance Scenic Designer
- Victoria Morris - LA Agent/ Former Senior Vice President of KSR
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Mark Jeter - Admissions Officer, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts – UNC Alumnus
- Liz Hoover - Freelance Costume Designer
- Alex Dean - LA Photographer
- Megan Van De Hey - Actor AEA
- 2013
- Finegan Kruckemeyer - Australian Theatre for Young Audiences Playwright
- Michael Edwards - Singing Pop/Rock Techniques Master Class
- Tim Barbiaux - Scenic Designer (Denver)
- Joshua Buscher - Broadway Dancer/Choreographer – UNC Alumnus
- Dr. J. Michael King - Board-certified Otolaryngologist – Vocal Health Specialist
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Stephanie Yankwitt - Artistic Director of the Hanger Theatre, NYC Casting Director
- Frank Chavez - Scenic and Costume Designer
- Ben Newman - Stage Movement Specialist, Actor – UNC Alumnus
- Jon Michael Bray - Headshot Photographer
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Victoria Morris - LA Agent/ Former Senior Vice President of KSR
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- V.P. Boyle - NYC Showcase Coach
- Stephanie Cowan - NYC Producer and UNC Alumnae
- Vic Perillo - LA Agent
- Joshua Johnson - Former LA Agent – UNC Alumnus
- Anthony Reimer - Admissions Officer, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts – UNC Alumnus
- Nick Sugar - Denver Director/Choreographer
- Marsha Knight - Choreographer
- Jenny Schiff - Choreographer
- Katie Hiatt - Choreographer
- Dan McNally - Actor AEA/LTR
- Michelle Schupe - Actor AEA/LTR
- Eric Ladin - LA Actor
- Richard Gabai - LA Film and Television Director
- 2012
- Lucy Peacock - Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada Actress and Master Teacher
- Marie Davis - Green - Scenic Designer
- Steven McDonald - Sound Designer
- Geoff Kent - Fight Choreographer
- Shannon Fox - Lighting Designer
- Vince di Mura - Music Composer
- Phillip Franck - Scenic Designer
- Jason Veasey - AEA Actor/LTR
- Megan Van De Hey - AEA Actor/LTR
- Jeff Whiting - NYC Producer/Director
- Joan Lader - NYC Voice Teacher
- Jacob Mora - Choreographer
- David Marchant - Choreographer
- Mike Ruckles - NYC Voice Teacher
- Jordan Matter - Headshot Photographer
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Victoria Morris - LA Casting Agent/ Senior Vice President of KSR
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Kathleen McCall - AEA Actor, Denver Theatre Center Company
- Terron Brooks - AEA Broadway Actor, Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime
- Kathryn S. Williams - Choreographer
- V.P. Boyle - NYC Showcase Coach
- 2011
- Alice Ripley - Tony Award-Winning Actor for Next to Normal
- Debra Monk - Tony Award-Winning Actor for The Redwood Curtain
- Jason Watson - Actor in 1st National tour of Next to Normal - UNC Alumnus
- Bill Bowers - AEA Broadway Actor/Mime Artist/Movement Teacher
- Chip Walton - Artistic Director - Curious Theatre Company (Denver)
- Brian Vaughn and David Ivers - Artistic Directors, UT Shakespeare Festival
- Richard Robichaux - New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts
- Randy Kramer - Artistic Director of MusicalFare Theatre - Buffalo, NY
- Vince di Mura - Music Composer/Arranger
- John Fredo - AEA Actor/LTR
- Jeff Whiting - NYC Producer/Director
- Irene Weygandt - Marketing Director for Colorado Shakespeare Festival
- Diana Covington and Josh Hartwell - Curious Theatre Company (Denver)
- David Marchant - Choreographer
- Leo Ash Evans - AEA Actor and Jerome Robbins Specialist
- Steve Eastin - Alumnus/Film Actor/Owner of the Eastin Studio in LA
- Jessi D. Hill - Alumnae/SDC Director for Big Love
- Brian Crawford Scott - UNC Alumnus/Ringmaster for the Barnum & Bailey Circus
- Frank Chavez - Scene Designer/Costume Designer
- Michael Chin - SAFD Fight Master
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Richard Hochberg - LA Playwright and Composer (Scary Musical)
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Peter Konerko - LA/NYC Photographer
- Phillip Franck - Lighting Designer
- Peter Krantz - Shaw Festival Actor and Master Teacher
- Dan McNally - Actor AEA/LTR
- Deb McWaters - Choreographer and Broadway Theatre Project (FL)
- Victoria Morris - LA Casting Agent/ Senior Vice President of KSR
- Ben Newman - Theatre Movement Specialist
- Michael Paternastro - Musical Theatre Composer (Scary Musical)
- VP Boyle - NYC Showcase Coach
- Jessica Robblee - Buntport Theatre (Denver, CO)
- McKayla Marso - Actor, UNC Alumnae, National Tour of Spamalot
- Bruce Sevy - Associate Artistic Director, Denver Center for the Performing Arts
- 2010
- VP Boyle - NYC Showcase Coach
- Michael Chin - SAFD Fight Master
- Frank Chavez - Scene Designer/Costume Designer
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Brendon Fox - LA Based SDC Director for Sir Patient Fancy
- Kerri Jill Garbis - Actor AEA/LTR
- Ben Gasper - Underwater Automation Director for Cirque du Soleil’s O
- Deidre Goodwin - Broadway Actor and Musical Theatre Dance Teacher
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Peter Konerko - LA/NYC Photographer
- Joan Lader - NYC Voice Teacher
- David Larson - LA, DGA Film/Television Assistant Director
- Gary Marshall - Film Producer/Director
- McKayla Marso - NYC Actor/LTR
- Deb McWaters - Choreographer and Broadway Theatre Project (FL)
- Andrea Moon - Playwright
- Victoria Morris - LA Casting Agent (KSR)
- Todd Olson - Playwright and Producing Artistic Director of American Stage (FL)
- Herman Payne - Actor, Dancer, Choreographer
- David Rambo - Playwright and LA Screenwriter
- RWS - Theme Park Producers - Elitch Gardens
- Richard Robichaux - New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts/School For Film & Television
- Sarah Romersberger - SMU Theatre Movement Professor
- Scott Sedita - LA Acting Coach and Author
- Jane Spencer - Lighting Designer
- Amiee Turner - Producing Artistic Director of Theatre by the Sea
- Megan Van De Hey - Actor AEA/LTR
- Jeff Whiting - Casting Director and Assistant Director (Young Frankenstein, The Scottsboro Boys)
- 2009
- VP Boyle - NYC Showcase Coach and Author
- Frank Chavez - Scene Designer/Costume Designer
- Matt Chiorini - Producing Director of the Arkansas Shakespeare Festival
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Lawrence Curry - AEA Actor
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Brendon Fox - LA based SDC Director for Assassins
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Peter Konerko - LA/NYC Photographer
- Joan Lader - NYC Voice Teacher
- David Larson - LA, DGA Film/Television Assistant Director
- Eric Lieberman - NYC Actor/Teacher
- John Malinowski - Lighting Designer for Chess
- Jim Mezon - Shaw/Stratford Festival Actor and Master Teacher
- Dan McNally - AEA/LTR
- Deb McWaters - Choreographer and Broadway Theatre Project (FL)
- Victoria Morris - LA Casting Agent (KSR)
- Anthony Powell - SDC Professional Director for The Sunshine Boys (Little Theatre of the Rockies)
- Joan See - Head of the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts
- Anna Stone - AEA Actor/Teacher
- Jeff Whiting - Casting Director (Young Frankenstein, Hairspray, Disney Projects)
- Dolphin Entertainment/Films - LA Film Casting
- 2008
- Bill Bowers - AEA Broadway Actor/Mime Artist/Movement Teacher
- Frank Chavez - Scene Designer/Costume Designer
- Matt Chiorini - Producing Director of the Arkansas Shakespeare Festival
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- Rebecca Dyer - Choreographer
- Barbara Epstein - LA Producer/Director
- Margaret Faulkner - Choreographer
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Joan Lader - NYC Voice Teacher
- Sue Cary Mayer - Make-up Artist
- Ann Moradian - Choreographer
- Victoria Morris - LA Casting Agent (KSR)
- James Rogers - Scene Designer
- Nicholas Ross - Choreographer
- Joan See - Head of the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts
- Mark Shaiman - Broadway Composer of Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can
- Anna Stone - AEA Actor/LTR
- 2007
- Amy Bertaine - Workshop Leader - Theatre for Social Change
- Anne Blain - Sound Designer
- J. Kay Bradford Photography - LA Photographer
- Frank Chavez - Scene Designer/Costume Designer
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Dollywood Entertainment - Theme Park Producers
- Michael Donavan - LA Casting Director
- David Fillmore, Jr. - Lighting Designer
- Ron Gloeckler - Costume Designer
- Greg Gonzales - Choreographer
- Andrew Herron - Musical Theatre Composer (Babes in Hollywood)
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Gail Kennedy - 2007 Emmy Award-Winning Make-Up Artist
- Marsha Knight - Choreographer
- Dan McNally - Actor /LTR
- Jim Mezon - Shaw/Stratford Festival Actor and Master Teacher
- David Marchant - Choreographer
- Victoria Morris - LA Casting Agent (KSR)
- Deb McWaters - Choreographer and Broadway Theatre Project (FL)
- Brian O'Neill - Career Consultant for Professional Performing Artists
- Joan See - NYC School of Film and Television
- Jenny Schiff - Choreographer
- Jane Spencer - Lighting Designer
- Stilleto Entertainment - Cruise Ship Casting
- Nick Sugar - Denver area Director
- Margaret Wagner - Choreographer
- Jaylene Wallace - Scenic Painter
- Jeff Whiting - Casting Director (Young Frankenstein, Hairspray, Disney Projects)
- 2006
- The Acting Company - NYC Based Tour
- Lee Blessing - Playwright
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Henry (Kevin) Haggard - AEA Actor
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Hubbard Street Dance - Chicago Based Tour
- Geoffrey Kent - Stage Combat Instructor
- Jacob Mora - Choreographer
- Victoria Morris - LA Casting Agent (KSR)
- Christy O’Connell-Black - Choreographer
- Joan See - Head of the NYC School of Film and Television
- Philip Sneed - Producing Director Colorado Shakespeare Festival
- 2005
- Bill Bowers - AEA Broadway Actor/Mime Artist/Movement Teacher
- Teddy Brown - AEA Actor/LTR
- Dave Clemmons - NYC Casting Director/Broadway Producer
- Leonard Crofoot - Broadway Actor/Choreographer
- Michael Donovan - LA casting Director
- Greg Germann - Broadway Actor/Film & TV – UNC Alumnus
- Rachel Hoffman - NYC Theatrical Casting Agent (Telsey & Company)
- Damon Lewis - Stuart Krasnow Productions (LA)
- Thomas Mackenzie - Costume Designer
- Alyssa D. Miles - AEA Actor/LTR
- Joan See - Head of the NYC School of Film and Television
- Jane Spencer - Lighting Designer
- Jason Watson - AEA Actor
"David, thank you so much for bringing Jim here to work with us. I have yet to work
with him in my Styles II class (or see him in Heartbreak House), but every time I
watch him coach my classmates I want nothing more than to work on my own scene immediately.
I become excited to work and grow both as an actor and as a teacher (I teach yoga
and I also work as an acting coach for pre-college kids in Denver). Every one of my
classmates that I've spoken to about this seem to feel the same way. He has a wonderful
way of making us forget that we are struggling so that we are open to a plethora of
new choices. Thank you so much for bringing us this inspiring teacher."
Kelly O'Laughlin
