June 2018 Class Notes

1967: STEPHANIE COLE

An exhibit featuring the artwork of Stephanie Cole (HAS) of Rockport, Mass., will open in 2020 at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Mass. Her three-dimensional “memory sculptures” are made up of fragments of ceramics, broken antiques, and cherished clothing created in homage to a person, place, or moment in time.  

1975: JOE WOCOSKI

Andy Anders and the Rebel Spies is the first novel for Joe Wocoski M (BARNEY) of Gaithersburg, Md. Published under the pen name “Allen Alright,” the book is a young adult civil war novel set in the fictional town of Mercyville, Conn., at the start of the Civil War in 1861.  

1977: DON SHAW

Don Shaw M (BARNEY) of Granby, Conn., and Bernard Kavaler ’79 (A&S), M’88 (BARNEY) of West Hartford, Conn., were among a group of 60 Over 60 recognized by the Duncaster Retirement Community for their contributions as influential leaders in Connecticut. Drawing on his professional career at Accenture, a consulting firm, Shaw logs countless hours of volunteer work with a host of non-profit organizations. Kavaler, founding principal of Express Strategies, has used his 30 years of experience to give an internet presence to nonprofit organizations and their good works.

1979: BERNARD KAVALER

BERNARD KAVALER ’79 (A&S), M’88 (BARNEY)
See DON SHAW ’77 (HARTT)

1982: ANN-MARIE BUTLER DESAUTELLE

Ann-Marie Butler Desautelle(HARTT) of Washington, Mass., has retired after 30 years as a middle and high school music technology teacher and choir director.  

1988: JOHN HASSELBACK

JOHN HASSELBACK (HARTT)
See THOMAS SCHUTTENHELM ’01 M (HARTT), D (HARTT)

1994: HAYLEY FOSTER

Hayley Foster (BARNEY) of Port Washington, N.Y., has authored the book, Foster Your Passion: A Guide to Finding Your Passion and the Tools You Need to Foster It. She is founder of Foster, Inc., where she shares her life and business experiences through consulting, workshops, masterminds, speaking engagements, and networking events. 
 

1994: ANDREW HACKER

Andrew Hacker (HAS) of Portland, Ore., has been promoted to inventory coordinator/catering-full serve at Elephants Delicatessen. Elephants, with seven locations in Oregon, is celebrating its 40^th anniversary in 2019. 

1995: PHILIP BOYKIN

Philip Boykin (HARTT) of West Orange, N.J., Orin Wolf ’01 (HARTT) of Silver Spring, Md., and Joey LaBrasca ND ’17 (HARTT) of Lee, Mass., were among the UHart alumni associated with 2018 Tony Award-winning performances. Boykin is a principal cast member in Once on This Islandwhich won for Best Revival of a Musical. Wolf is Lead Producer of The Band’s Visit which won 10 Tonys, including Best Musical. LaBrasca is cast member in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child which won six Tony’s including Best Play.  

1995: JILL COURVILLE

Jill Courville (A&S) of Medway, Mass., is now a business leadership development coach for MAPS Coaching, one of the world’s largest coaching companies. Courville will remain as the CEO of Keller Williams Pinnacle Central in Worcester, Mass., where she earned the prestigious Black Belt award for recruiting.

1995: KIMBERLY GRAHAM

Kimberly Graham (HARTT) of Woodside, N.Y., has been the associate casting director for Judy Henderson Casting since 2003. She casts for film, television, commercials, and theater. Her work on the first three seasons of Homeland garnered Artios, Emmy, and Golden Globe awards for Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series.  
 

1995: THOMAS ANTHONY HUMBERT

Wholly Broken, a faith-based musical film by Thomas Anthony Humbert(HARTT) of Garden City, N.Y., made its world premiere at the SoHo International Film Festival. The accomplished recording artist and composer has had starring lead roles in more than 50 musical theater productions and tours across the United States.

1997: MEEGAN COLEMAN

Meegan Coleman (HARTT) of Hicksville, N.Y., conducted a workshop at the Long Island Minds Conference, titled “Jazz in the Elementary Chorus.”

2001: THOMAS SCHUTTENHELM

Thomas Schuttenhelm M (HARTT), D (HARTT) of Rocky Hill, Conn., premiered his new work, Invocation, as part of his Six Moments Musicaux(for clarinet and guitar). It was recorded with fellow alumni Alex KolinasM’13 (HARTT) D’18 (HARTT) of Colchester, Conn., John Birt M’13 (HARTT) of Pawtucket, R.I., and John Hasselback '88 (HARTT) of East Aurora, N.Y.

2001: ORIN WOLF (HARTT)

Lori Bindig (A&S), ’04 (HARTT), M’05 (A&S)
See Philip Boykin '95

2001: KYLE WRENTZ

Kyle Wrentz (HARTT) of Norwalk, Conn., is co-owner of Break a Leg Theater Works in Plymouth, Mass. He works extensively with children interested in musical theater.  

2002: IAN QUINN

Florida State University's Assistant Professor of Organ and Coordinator of Sacred Music Iain Quinn(HARTT) of Tallahassee, Fla. has published two monographs and an edited volume this year. In addition, he recorded three CDs: CPE Bach Organ Sonatas, The Enlightenment Influence, and Twentieth-Century Masterworks.  

2003: ROBIN ALLEN LAPLANTE

The Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro, Vt., hired Robin Allen LaPlante (HARTT) of Randolph, Mass., as their marketing and communications director.

2005: CHANTELL BOISSIERE-KELLY

The husband and wife team of Shane and Chantell Boissiere-Kelly M (A&S) of Hartford, Conn., have opened an ice cream shop, Capital Ice Cream, in Hartford, Conn. The opening was featured in the Hartford Courant. 

2005: COURTNEY LAINE SELF

Courtney Laine Self (HARTT), (A&S) of Topeka, Kan., recently premiered a new work, RPT, co-written with Stephen Cyr, at the 92^ndStreet Y in New York City, N.Y., as part of their Musical Theater Development Showcase. 

2006: RYAN BAUER-WALSH

Ryan Bauer-Walsh (HARTT) of Minneapolis, Minn., co-starred in HBO’s Deuce and will publish his second book this year.

2006: BRITTNEY MACKENZIE

After many years working for a large handbags and accessories company, Brittney MacKenzie(HAS) of Nanuet, N.Y., ventured out on her own and launched MacKenzie83, a line of chic, eco-friendly clutches and handbags. She launched the company in August, 2017 and currently has 11 handbag designs available.  

2006: AMANDA M STUART

Amanda M Stuart (HARTT) of Scarsdale, N.Y., is the artistic associate for the Transcendence Theater Company in Sonoma, Calif.

2006: RACHEL WEINBERG

The Cleveland Jewish News has included Rachel Weinberg A’04 (HILLYER), (BARNEY) of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, in its inaugural 12 Under 36 class. The distinction recognizes Jewish leaders who have made a difference in their communities. Weinberg is vice-president at the Brunswick Companies where she focuses on Commercial Risk Management.   

2007: ALLYSON CAROLAN

An article in the The Jewish Standard featured the youth dance program at the Kaplan (N.J.) Jewish Community Center and the influence of its director, Allyson Carolan (HARTT) of Dumont, N.J. She has led the program the past nine years. It services 425 students ranging in ages from 18 months to 16 years old.  
 

2007: SUSAN BELL

Windsor Locks Public Schools Superintendent Susan Bell (ENHP) of Longmeadow, Mass., was quoted extensively in an article titled “On Becoming Student-Centered and Mastery-Based” that appeared on gettingsmart.com.

2008: JARED BONNER

Jared Bonner (HARTT) of Los Angeles, Calif., Brock Harris ’10 (HARTT) of New York, N.Y., and Pat Morrisey ’10 (HARTT) of Mound, Minn., are directing and filming a micro mockumentary called Marco Polo Dance Team! The Marco Polos are a single dad’s dance team that comes together for a modern dance competition on Venice Beach, Calif.

2010: BRITTNEY BERTIER

Brittney Bertier (HARTT) of East Longmeadow, Mass., is playing Norma Jean in Marilyn The Musical in Las Vegas, Nev. She also creates and stars in the YouTube web series, Transplants.  

2010: ABBY GERSHUNY

Abby Gershuny (HARTT) of North Hills, Calif., is currently performing in three shows at the Tuacahn Amphitheater in Ivins, Utah. They are Matilda, Prince of Egypt, and Cinderella. 

2010: BROCK HARRIS (HARTT) and PAT MORRISEY (HARTT)

See JARED BONNER '08 (HARTT)

2011: J.P. QUALTERS

J.P. Qualters (HARTT) of Waltham, Mass., completed his run appearing in the national tour of Kinky Boots. His recent roles have included the band leader in Swing at Gateway and in the ensemble in Mamma Mia at Pioneer Theater Company. He has joined the ensemble as a cast member in Beauty and the Beast at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.

2011: JILLIAN SOARES 

Jillian Soares (HARTT) of Somerset, Mass., is working under her fourth contact as a lead singer for Celebrity Cruise Lines. She has performed on five continents. 

2012: SCOTT CARON

Scott Caron (HARTT) of Shrewsbury, Mass., is working as an assistant director at Gloucester Stage Company (Mass.).

2012: CHARLES SOUTH

Charles South (HARTT) of Hartford, Conn., and Zazh Bencal ’13 (HARTT) of Londonderry, N.H., appeared in the touring production of Aladdin. South appeared in the ensemble, while Bencal performed as Babkak. 

2013: ZACH BENCAL

ZACH BENCAL (HARTT)
See CHARLES SOUTH ’12 (HARTT)

2013: KRISTINA BOULAY

Kristina Boulay (HARTT) of Brookline, Mass., played Mama Ogre/Mama Bear, and was in the ensemble of Shrek the Musical performed at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, Mass.  

2013: ALEX KOLINAS M (HARTT), D’18 (HARTT) and JOHN BIRT M(HARTT)

See THOMAS SCHUTTENHELM M (HARTT), D (HARTT)

2013: DAKOTA DUTCHER

Dakota Dutcher (HARTT) of New York, N.Y., is performing in Cabaret at the Mac-Haydn Theater in Chatham, N.Y., and will be joining the national tour.

2013: CAITLYN WILAYTO

Caitlyn Wilayto (HARTT) of Pepperell, Mass., appeared in a production of Will Rogers Follies at The Goodspeed Opera House in Haddam, Conn. She played a Follies Girl in the ensemble and starred in the role of Betty Blake.  
 

2014: MICHAEL COALE GREY

Michael Coale Grey of Union, N.J., has a new play based on characters from the cartoon Doug and it is on course to reach Broadway. The play is a “where are they now” story based on the 90s series.

2014: JOSHUA WILBUR

The Archdiocese of Hartford (Conn.) welcomed Father Joshua Wilbur (HARTT) of Winsted, Conn., to the priesthood. The Ordination ceremony was conducted by Archbishop Leonard P. Blair at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph. He is a former music teacher who will share his talents and joy of music with parish music directors.  

2015: CARLY GLENN

Carly Glenn (HARTT) of Chicago, Ill., is studying at the Harold Ramis Film School at Second City in Chicago, Ill.

2015: KATIE LUKE

Katie Luke (HARTT) of New York, N.Y., is in the production of Newsiesstaged at Cortland Theater in Cortland, N.Y.

2015: JUSTIN KOHLHEPP

Selective Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Selective Insurance Group, has appointed Justin Kohlhepp M (BARNEY) of Wethersfield, Conn., assistant vice president, IT application delivery. He joined Selective in February 2018. Before that, he was director, IT delivery, at The Hartford Financial Services Group.

2015: JAKE OSWELL

Jake Oswell (HARTT) of New York, N.Y., sang back up to Demi Lovato at a Barclays Center concert. He also provided backup vocals for recording artist Father John Misty on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

2015: JUSTINE ROSALES

Justine Rosales of Miami, Fla., is producing cabaret in South Florida. She helps showcase local talent and includes people of color, high school students, college students, and other up-and-coming actors. 

2015: EMILY WISSER

An article on vocal health authored by Emily Wisser (HARTT) of Robesonia, Pa., appeared on Medium.com.
 

2015: GRANT BENEDICT

Grant Benedict (HARTT) of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., is in rehearsals to appear in Kiss Me Kate at Summer Theatre of New Canaan (Conn.).

2017: JOEY LaBRACA ND (HARTT)

See PHILIP BOYKIN ’95 (HARTT)