John C. Reilly profiled in Vulture

JOHN C. REILLY (BFA, Acting, ’87) is profiled in Vulture about his career playing sidekicks. John has four films coming out this year – The Sisters Brothers, Stan & Ollie, Holmes and Watson, and Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet.

John discusses his career path starting with his first film, Casualties of War, just months after finishing at The Theatre School, and his his take on why he has been successful: “I was born to be a vessel for emotion,” he says. “I was born to experience things and have other people watch me experience them so that they can feel whatever it is I’m going through. If you really accept that about yourself, and I have, then when people ask you, ‘What are you really like?’ I can say, ‘I don’t know. I’m the cup.’ What is the cup? The cup is what’s in it, right?”

He says he works best in duos, and he’s in three this fall: Stan & Ollie, Holmes and Watson, and The Sisters Brothers.

Source: John C. Reilly on Working Best in a Duo and His New Films

Alumna KiKi Layne featured in New York Times for upcoming film “If Beale Street Could Talk”

The New York Times article calls KIKI LAYNE (BFA, Acting, ’14) a “breakout star” in Barry Jenkins’ upcoming film If Beale Street Could Talk.  The film debuted recently at the Toronto International Film Festival and receives its theatrical release on 11/30/2018. Check out the films teaser trailer below.

Source: KiKi Layne, ‘Beale Street’s’ Breakout Star, Has a 4 a.m. Moment – The New York Times

David Dastmalchian profiled in the Hollywood Reporter

Alumnus DAVID DASTMALCHIAN (BFA, Acting, ’99) has his career profiled by the Hollywood Reporter.

“Addiction left David Dastmalchian living out of a car, but after getting clean and working on a Batman movie, ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ and ‘Prisoners,’ he is in a different place entirely.”

 

Source: How ‘The Dark Knight’ Saved Character Actor David Dastmalchian | Hollywood Reporter

Ike Holter’s Chicago cycle Detailed in the Chicago Tribune

CHRIS JONES (Faculty) outlines alum IKE HOLTER‘s (BFA, Playwriting, ’07) seven-play Chicago-cycle, including three coming world premieres, in the Chicago Tribune.

“The 32-year-old Holter — whose astonishing writing talent I’ve admired since he exploded here in 2012 with a gorgeous play called “Hit the Wall” — moves in fancy circles these days. He’s represented by a top agent at William Morris Endeavor. He was a 2017 winner of Yale University’s Windham-Campbell Prize, one of the most lucrative honors in playwriting, given that it comes with a check for $165,000, no strings attached. When I caught up with Holter last weekend, he was about to hop a plane to London to work with the National Theatre of Great Britain, arguably the leading contemporary company in the English-speaking world.”

Talking to Ike Holter about “Sender,” “Wolf at the End of the Block,” “Exit Strategy” and how all the Chicago pieces to his dramatic puzzle fit together.

Source: Ike Holter’s plays you know, plus some you don’t, fit together into a Chicago cycle – Chicago Tribune

Tarell Alvin McCraney #15 on The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans 2017

TARELL ALVIN McCRANEY (BFA, Acting, ’03) is #15 on The Root 2017 list of 100 Most Influential African Americans age 25-45. The list honors “the innovators, the leaders, the public figures and game changers whose work from the past year is breaking down barriers and paving the way for the next generation.”

The Root’s annual list of the most influential African Americans in the fields of arts, community, business, entertainment, media, politics, science and sports.

Source: The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans 2017 | TheRoot.com

7 Industry Experts on Questions to Ask When Picking an Acting College

TRACEE DUERSON (Staff), our Director of Admissions, is one of seven industry experts offering advice to college theatre applicants in this article in Backstage.

We reached out to seven industry and Backstage Experts for advice on the questions prospective students should ask themselves when considering an acting college.

Source: 7 Industry Experts on Questions to Ask When Picking an Acting College | Backstage

Shannon Matesky interviewed in GO Magazine

SHANNON MATESKY (BFA, Acting, ’10) was interviewed by Go Magazine for “Seven Minutes in Heaven” a new interview series that profiles a different queer lady each day. Shannon talks about her monthly performance series Queer Abstract.

I believe our communion and celebration with each other is a statement of radical resistance.

Source: Seven Minutes in Heaven With Queer Abstract Host Shannon Matesky | GO Magazine

Eugene Lee interviewed in GQ

EUGENE LEE (BFA, Scene Design, ’64) was interviewed by GQ about his production design work on “Saturday Night Live“, a visit with Prince at Paisley Park, and his unique personal style.  Eugene recently received his 13th Emmy award nomination for Outstanding Production Design for Variety, Nonfiction, Reality Or Reality-Competition Programming for his work on SNL.

The legendary SNL production designer favors boat shoes, bowties, and private performances from Prince.

Source: Meet Eugene Lee, the Crazy Stylish 78-Year-Old Man Who Literally Built SNL | GQ