Alumni
We are proud to showcase our exceptional alumni who have achieved remarkable success across the theatre and entertainment industries. From an ABC News 20/20 field producer to a set costumer for major films, from a talented director and choreographer to a cast member on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, our graduates continue to shine. They also include accomplished actresses and filmmakers and even the President and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center. Discover the diverse and inspiring paths of our alumni as they bring their passion, creativity, and leadership to the global stage.
| Madison "Maddy" Cunningham | 2016 BA Theatre - Maddy works at ABC News 20/20 as a Field Producer. She has helped produce over 100 hours of network television. Maddy received the 2019 CAS Rising Star. Maddy has received many awards for her work including an Emmy, Gracie Award, The Christopher Award and more. |
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| Amy Higdon | 2016 BA Theatre - Costume Design & Technology - Amy is pursuing her masters in costume design at University of California. Amy worked as an intern, a production assistant, set costumer and more. Amy worked on Minari (2020), Stillwater (2021) and Killers of the Flower Moon (2020). Read more about her work in this article written in the "Aspiring Costume Designer Begins Career in Oklahoma Film Industry". |
| Liz Bealko | 2013 Theatre Minor - Liz is a director, choreographer, AEA Performer and educator. She received the Best Director at the New York Theatre Festival Winterfest in 2021. Liz is an Associate Producer at StrawHat Auditions (2014-Present), Creator of the Henryetta High School Performing Arts Department (2016-present), She was a recipient of the R.I.S.E. American Grant from NBC and the Educational Theatre Foundation in 2018. Liz was our visiting guest director of our 2023 production of "Ride the Cyclone the musical". |
| Jashodhara Sen | 2013 MFA Theatre - Jashodhara’s experience at Oklahoma State University as a scholar, artist, and pedagogue, prepared her to pursue a doctoral degree in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. Jashodhara specializes in South Asian diasporic theatre and performance, postcolonial and subaltern studies, theatre and social change, and digital autobiographical performance. Currently, she is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Florida. |
| Anthony Hill | 2011 BA Theatre- Cast member on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy". Anthony played guest roles on HBO's "Watchmen", "For the People" on ABC. He played a supporting role in the Liftime TV movie "Faith Under Fire,". Anthony can also be seen on MTV's "Scream", HBO's "Silicon Valley", FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles", HBO's "Looking", HULU's "Future Man" and Netflix's "Fuller House". Anthony received the 2022 Distinguished CAS Alumni. |
| Elizabeth Tabish | 2007 BA Theatre - Elizabeth is an actress and filmmaker known for her portrayal as Mary Magdalene in "The Chosen". She received her Master of Arts in Theatre and BA in Film Studies from OSU. She has directed a number of award winning independent films exploring female archetypes and is the Co-Founder and Art Director of The Arthouse Film Festival. |
| Stephen Snedden | 1995 BA Theatre - Stephen is a producer and actor. He is the President of Production and Co-Founder of CuzBro Productions. He has been in multiple films including "Antwone Fisher" and "Three Days In August". Stephen has guest starred on dozens of shows and was a regular on the series "The Lone Gunmen". |
| Clifford "Rip" Rippetoe | 1983 BA Theatre - Rip is the President and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. After leaving Oklahoma State, Rip worked in summer stock theaters, managed historical theaters, taught stagecraft at the Community College of Southern Nevada and eventually moved on to performing arts centers, stadiums, arenas, Olympic Games and convention centers. Rip received his master's from Claremont School of Theology. Rip is a Certified Facilities Executive, a published author, and is the Chair of the Board of the International Association of Venue Managers. |
| Sharon Miller | 1971 BA Theatre - After graduating, Sharon moved to Los Angeles where she worked first as a script supervisor and then as film editor. In 1976 she began her directing career. Sharon now has over one hundred directing credits. In 1983 she became the first woman in history to win the Directors Guild of America Award for directing a dramatic non-documentary film. She has won two Emmys, a Peabody Award, the Women in Film Lillian Gish Award, two Viewers for Quality Television Award and three New York Film and TV Festival Gold Medal Awards. Sharon received the 2016 Distinguished CAS Alumni. |
| Jane Willingham | 1968 BA Speech - Jane was chosen as Outstanding Speech Graduate of 1968. After graduation she moved to Texas to perform at Six Flags Over Texas. She went on to perform on stage, in commercials and film both in Texas and New York. She has also chaired major fund raisers and served on boards including the Dallas Theater Center and Dancers Unlimited Repertory Company. She is listed in Women of '85', Outstanding Young Women of America, and Personalities of the South. Jane still performs as often as she is cast! Jane received the 2021 Distinguished CAS Alumni. |
| Jeanie Cooper Sholer | 1966 BA Theatre - Jeanie received her MFA in Acting from UCLA. She has been teaching Acting, Improvisation and Makeup at Oklahoma City University. She previously taught at OSU, Webster University and UCLA. Jeanie received the 2018 Distinguished CAS Alumni. |
| Sarah Hoyt | 1966 BA Theatre - She retired in 2006 after 34 years of dedication to theatre education throughout the country. She taught speech, drama and English at Arvada High School while completing her Masters of Arts at Colorado State University. She returned to Oklahoma in 1977 and worked at high schools. She served a publicity director for Lyric Theatre and taught introduction to acting classes at Stage Center. Sarah received the 2015 Distinguished CAS Alumni. |
| Jerry Burson | 1955 BA Theatre - Dr. Jerry Burson obtained his Masters of Science Degree in Secondary Education with an Ed.D in Higher Education (Educational Psychology). He served as the Vice President of Northern Oklahoma College from 1965-69 and was a Speech, Drama and Radio Instructor for NOC in Tonkawa, OK. From 1989-1998, he served as the President of Navarro College in Corsicana, TX. Jerry received the 2017 Distinguished CAS Alumni. |
Alumni Spotlight
Jashodhara Sen earned her master's degree in Theatre with an emphasis in Directing
from Oklahoma State University in 2013. Jashodhara’s experience at Oklahoma State
University as a scholar, artist, and pedagogue, prepared her to pursue a doctoral
degree in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. Jashodhara
specializes in South Asian diasporic theatre and performance, postcolonial and subaltern
studies, theatre and social change, and digital autobiographical performance. She
is passionate about investigating systems of hierarchies through her research and
artistic practices. Her research and reviews have appeared in the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, Ecumenica, Asian Theatre Journal, New England Theatre Journal, Texas Theatre Journal, and Journal of Performance, Religion, and Spirituality. Currently, she is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies at the University
of Florida.
Jashodhara received an award from KCACTF (The Kennedy Center American College Theatre
Festival) for directing Shakuntala, a classical Indian play adapted for the 21st-century audience and produced by the
Department of Theatre and Dance at CU Boulder. Alongside her academic pursuits, Jashodhara
is also working on a new project, a new play by Mashuq Deen for the University of
New Hampshire, which will premiere on February 12th,2022.
To learn more about Jashodhara's work, please visit: https://www.jashodharasen.com/