SMTD Faculty, Student and Alumni News

In October, eight students from Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance traveled to Lansing, Mich. and participated in a federally funded study that helps train Michigan State Troopers how to identify human trafficking at routine traffic stops. The study is happening in California, New York City, and Michigan.

The Flint Repertory Theatre’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire ran Sept. 19 – Oct. 5 and featured OU musical theatre alum Ash Moran in the cast. Distinguished Professor Emerita Karen Sheridan was dialect coach. Acting alum Emily Nichter is also the assistant to the producing artistic director at Flint Repertory Theatre.

A 3D-printed larynx created by OU Vocal Techniques students

First-year Vocal Techniques students got an unforgettable, hands-on lesson in October in how the human voice works — thanks to a creative collaboration between Prof. Carol Perry, new faculty in Applied Voice, and Drew Ulner, Library Makerspace Coordinator. Together, they brought anatomy to life by 3D printing a movable larynx — allowing students to literally hold and explore the structure that makes singing possible. This partnership is a perfect example of the interdisciplinary spirit that makes Oakland University so special. When music, science, and technology come together, learning becomes dynamic, creative, and deeply inspiring.

The Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood, Ohio presented “Rights of Passage” by OU Theatre Lecturer Kitty Dubin on Oct. 27 and Oct. 27. Directed by Mitchell Fields and starring Anne McEvoy, Tom Fulton, Agnes Hermann, Devra Levine, Chris Richards and Lara Mielcarek, “Rights of Passage” is a group of five short plays that explore the defining moments in the journey of life from bris to shiva. Dubin, an award-winning playwright whose works have been performed across the country, served as Playwright in Residence at the Jewish Ensemble Theatre in suburban Detroit for many years. She has also received productions at The Jeff Daniels Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Mich.; the Boars Head Theatre in Lansing, Mich.; and the Live Oak Theatre in Austin, Texas. Her one acts have been performed in numerous festivals and competitions including The American Globe Festival (NYC), Heartlande Theatre’s Play-by-Play Marathon (Detroit), Vitality Festival (Chicago), and the Samuel French Play Competition (NYC). Dubin has been teaching beginning and advanced Playwriting at Oakland University for the past 29 years. She has also been a frequent speaker at writer’s conferences and continues to mentor her playwriting students long after they graduate.

Anna Kamryn Marck

Alum Anna Kamryn Marck’s play Three Needles & Suture toured Southeast Michigan this fall. Her one-woman show Women of the Watch has toured throughout Michigan. She’s coming up on her 100th performance.

African Ensemble (Akwaaba) and Steel Band (Pan-Jumbies). Akwaaba presented drum and xylophone traditions of West Africa during the World Music Concert on Thursday, Nov. 20 in Varner Recital Hall. Pan-Jumbies featured Caribbean music arranged for the steel pan. Directed by Mark Stone and Patrick Fitzgibbon.

“Every Day She Rose,” a student-directed project, ran from Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 in Varner Lab Theatre. Set during Toronto Pride 2016, a protest sparks conflict between roommates Mark and Cathy-Ann, as the playwrights step into the story to examine race, identity, and allyship.

Oakland University Professor Thayer Jonutz presented a special concert on Nov. 15 to raise funds for first responders and members of the Grand Blanc, Mich. community who were impacted by the tragic mass shooting and arson attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28, 2025. “I've been a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and while the Grand Blanc congregation is not my weekly house of worship or congregation, it is part of what we call it the ‘stake center,’ which is where we meet for conferences and where all of the local congregations within that geographical boundary meet at least twice a year,” said Jonutz, an associate professor of dance and director of the Repertory Dance Company at OU. “It is also a building that has housed many youth activities, and I've taken my own children there,” he added. “So this attack hit very close to home, even though I did not know any of the victims directly.” The world premiere of Jonutz’s new performance piece, “Scorched,” took place during the benefit concert, which was held at Eisenhower Dance Detroit in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Jonutz also performed his signature work, “Hammer and Nail,” — a multi-disciplined performance merging dance, theatre surround sound music composition, creative writing and set design — during the concert.

On Nov. 18, the Latin Jazz Band and the Oakland Jazz Band rocked Varner Recital Hall! Congratulations to all of our participating students on an unforgettable performance and thank you to everyone who came out to see it!

Anthony Guest

Oakland University Professor Anthony Guest celebrated his fifth year of performing in “A Christmas Carol” at Meadow Brook Theatre. Guest, who plays the roles of “Ghost of Jacob Marley,” “Belle’s Husband” and “Merchant,” is an associate professor of theatre at OU.

Despite the winter weather, several SMTD jazz students trekked out to Aretha’s Jazz Cafe in Detroit on Nov. 30 to sing some jazz tunes.

Carlos Perez Hijar, a senior trumpet performance major at Oakland University, performed on a national stage this fall. Hijar was chosen for the 2nd class of Hispanic Heritage Awards Orchestral Fellows and joined six other outstanding student musicians from across the country to perform with the American Pops Orchestra at the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Awards at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. The program was nationally televised on PBS and honors Hispanic artists and leaders from across the United States. This opportunity grew out of Hijar’s work with OU Music faculty and reflects the kind of meaningful, real world experience our students can access through the School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

Antonio Vettraino (center)

Musical Theatre alum Antonio Vettraino played El Gallo in The Fantasticks at Open Book Theatre in Trenton.

Oakland Opera proudly announces its upcoming production of G.F. Handel’s Alcina, presented Jan. 15–18, 2026. Performed by Oakland Opera’s talented students, this reimagined staging places Handel’s exquisite music within a contemporary influencer-house setting, blending classical artistry with modern visual culture. The production incorporates live image capture, immersive projection design, and an entirely re-envisioned script developed with the support of artificial intelligence. The result is a bold, innovative interpretation that promises to both captivate and challenge audiences, offering a fresh perspective on one of Handel’s most beloved operas.

Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance will host an interdisciplinary Opera Panel on Jan. 7, 2026, at 7 p.m., bringing together faculty from philosophy, design, and opera to explore the evolving intersections between artificial intelligence, artistic creation, and modern approaches to operatic storytelling. The event accompanies the upcoming Oakland Opera production of Handel’s Alcina. Panelists Dr. Karim Nader (Philosophy), Dr. Jonathan Cooper (Graphic Design), and Dr. Drake Dantzler (Opera) will discuss a range of topics including the social dimensions of aesthetic experience, historical and contemporary uses of technology as a creative medium, and the practical and artistic implications of integrating AI tools into performance and production processes. Together, their perspectives will consider how emerging technologies are reshaping both artistic practice and audience engagement. The Opera Panel is free and open to the public.

Karen Sheridan

Distinguished Professor Emerita Karen Sheridan is directing Julius Caesar at Wayne State University. It runs Feb.  6-15, 2026 on the Stage at the Hilberry Gateway in Detroit. OU alumna Sophia Cannella Esch is a graduate research assistant working on publicity and marketing the for production.

Sheridan has also been selected at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region 3 Gold Medallion Recipient. Region 3 includes Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Western Ohio. The Medallion honors individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and who have significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the KCACTF. It is the most prestigious regional award given by KCACTF and is considered one of the great honors in theatre. The award will be presented to Sheridan during the KCACTF Faculty/Gold Medallion Dinner on Jan. 9, 2026 in Madison, Wisc. She will be introduced by Carolyn Gillespie, Professor Emerita at the University of Michigan – Flint.