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Stories from the College of Fine Arts

We Know They Can Dance
Four WMU Dancers are on their way to Vegas to compete in the hit reality series So You Think You Can Dance on FOX. Stacey Cable, Dashh Boggerty, Dani Clifford, and Brittny Tesner have made it to callbacks for the tenth season. The two-night premier aired on May 14 and 15. When they arrive in Vegas, dancers will

Broadway Director
David Alpert (BA '06, Theatre Studies) has been working on an impressive resume since leaving WMU, most recently serving as an associate director for The Trip to Bountiful. The Broadway show opens April 23 and features a star-studded cast including Cicely Tyson, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Vanessa Williams

Helm Wins Vocal Competition
A Western Michigan University Student took first place in the Opera Grand Rapids' Annual Collegiate Vocal Competition in mid April. A record number of students entered the competition—only nine made it the the final round, and Chelsea Helm of WMU, soprano, won

An 'All-Steinway' Campus
The School of Music turns 100 years old this year and becomes the first All-Steinway Music School at a university in Michigan

Ardently Involved
Both dances submitted by the WMU Dance Department were selected for the Gala Concert performance at the regional American College Dance Festival. Viva Vivaldi was the only ballet selected for the performance and Ardently Involved was one of only two works choreographed by undergraduate students

Boerma Joins WMU
Scott Boerma (BM '86, Music Education) is joining WMU in his 'dream job.' The new Director of Bands will be responsible for all

Award Winning
Karen Ziemba has won a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award—and this weekend she's on stage at WMU

Dancing with the Stars, at WMU
The fifth annual Dancing with the WMU/KAZOO Stars is all wrapped up and a new winner has been named. Stephanie Hinman, took first place with partner, Jesse Hoisington. Hinman is the Director of Sustainability for the Hinman Company in Portage, MI.

A New Musical
The next great Department of Theatre production hits William's Theatre in the Gilmore Complex on Friday (October 26). Spring Awakening tells the story of rebellious 19th century teenagers on their journey from adolescence to adulthood—a "powerful celebration of self-discovery in oppressive times

Three Musketeers Take Over!
The Three Musketeers are taking over campus mid-October, and the swash-buckling swordplay is not to be missed! The student production begins October 11 and runs through October 21 at Shaw Theatre

WMUsic Spectacular!
A showcase of talent from WMU's internationally recognized music program will perform for the benefit of Student Scholarships on

A Global Gathering
In late September, the Fetzer Institute hosted an international event in Assisi, Italy—The Global Gathering— which brought together over 500 thought leaders and Advisory Council Members from around the world. The purpose of the gathering was to address compelling questions related to the power of love and forgiveness in the world

A Creative Voice, Found
Mary Hatch (BS '70, Secondary Education- Art; MA '72, Painting) taught briefly—three years to be exact—helping students to find their creative voice. She's also taught classes at Kellogg Community College and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Although she felt well prepared for teaching, she returned to the studio to focus

The Gift
LaVergne traveled to Nigeria to create a 14-foot steel sculpture called 'The Gift' at Obafemi Awolowo University. The sculpture depicts a woman receiving a child from heaven. The sculpture will be dedicated as part of the University's 50th anniversary celebration later this fall

A New Dean
Dan J. Martin (BA '76, Communication; Music Theatre Performance) now has the prestigious distinction of being able to call himself

Crews — Back in the News
Terry Crews is back in the News— and he's been busy. Since the former Bronco football star played the boot camp Instructor in Bridesmaids, Crews has starred in The Expendables 2 and scored a spot on the new HBO series The Newsroom. Crews is also in talks to develop a spin off of the movie Idiocracy

A Season Preview
The Back to School Sales have already begun and although there's still some Summer left, the Bronco Marching Band is gearing up for a new season of members and music

Best Brief
Attorney General Bill Schuette announced the Attorney General's Solicitor General Office received the National Association of

Moku Hanga
The Georgia Review is recognized as one of America's premier journals for arts and letters. The Summer issue includes a series of woodblock

LaughFest Director
Joanne Roehm (BA '04, Music; MPA '10, Non-Profit Leadership & Administration) is involved with some funny stuff. She was recently appointed

Listen Closely... to Heather Ewer

In the Times
If you watch the Showtime comedy Episodes, you may have noticed Kathleen Rose Perkins (BFA '95, Music Theatre Performance) as

Listen Closely... to Ross Wixon

World Choir Games
Think Summer Olympics—except with choirs. WMU's Gold Company was invited to give two featured showcase performances—the only invited representation of vocal jazz from the United States— at the 2012 World Choir Games. More than 17,000 singers—350 choirs, from 50 countries attended the games

Listen Closely... to Richard Baskin

Listen Closely... to Nich Mueller

Dancing Funny Man
Matt Baker (BFA ’08, Dance) was recently interviewed by Dance Spirit Magazine to talk about KEIGWIN + COMPANY (K + C), a

In The Spotlight
If you watched the Tony Awards Sunday night, you may have noticed Godspell star and WMU alumna, Hannah Elless (BFA '09, Musical Theatre Performance), in the spotlight for a moment. In a special performance by the cast of Godspell, you can see Elless choosing none other

Hollywood Bronco
While attending WMU, Shannon Kane was a Gilmore Scholar for Dance, so we already know she's talented, but now

Showcasing Bronco Talent
This year, the Walmart Annual Shareholders Meeting featured the talents of several Broncos in their global celebration.

And the Winner is...
At the May 4 Art Hop in Downtown Kalamazoo, comic book versions of the Goldman were larger-than-life and there was a contest to win an iPad

The Maybee Library
There are several different libraries on WMU's campus—many containing more than just books, and one of them is tucked away in the Dalton Center. The Maybee Music & Dance Library was established in 1948 and named for the first head of the music program at Western

Listen Closely... to Mary Bullock

Listen Closely... to Carl Doubleday

4,620 Miles
Formed in 1915, the BMB saw two World Wars, a nationally-televised Chicago Bears halftime show in 1959, and a school name change in 1941 that forced all school songs to be rewritten

Student Art on Display
Graphic Design, Ceramics, Sculpture, Jewelry & Metals, Painting, Printmaking, and New Media will all be featured in this year's Annual Gwen Frostic School of Art Student Exhibition

Dalton Back on Campus
Alumnus Nick Dalton recently closed the world premier of the new musical The Nutcracker and I, and then headed back to WMU's campus for his next gig— choreographing the University Theatre's upcoming musical, Hairspray

A Broadway Debut
Hannah Elless (BFA '09, Musical Theatre Performance) recently made her broadway debut in the revival of Godspell!

Performing at the Kennedy Center
Western Michigan University dancers have been included in a select group to perform Foreground at the Kennedy Center in this year's American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) National Conference. In the world of university dance

A Stunning Debut
Brett Rigby (BFA ’07, Theatre) has been advancing his education since he left WMU, including studying under award winning musical theatre

'Colors of Life' on Display
Susan Teague (’76) received her bachelor’s degree in art from WMU—but the professional artist’s work is currently on display at the College of Health and Human Services. Colors of Life can be viewed in the second floor art gallery now through March 12.

Run Across Palestine
Meryl Marsh (BA ’04, Music) is running across Palestine—that’s right, for 5 days and 129 miles, Marsh is running from the West Bank of the Palestinian Territories, from Hebron to Jenin, to show her support for sustainable community development in farming regions across the world.

The Cat's Pajamas
Nathaniel Adams (BA ’08, Music; Lee Honors College) is a lead/ tenor singer in a vocal band that’s been getting a lot of attention lately

The People's Choice
Erin Lamont (BA, Dance, BBA, Marketing) is at it again—more accurately, she never stopped

The Nominees Are...

Alumna in Aluminum Show

Leading Actress

Broncos in Dolphins Voices

WMU Dancers in Chicago

Download WMU from Anywhere

A Bronco's Big Break

U.S. Supreme Court Appearances

Radio City Rockettes!

Ad World Authority

Spotlight: MLK Jr. Academy