Melanie Allen (Cirque du Soleil, Stage Manager, Alum)
Centered on the Arts
Ending Alumni Month, we have brought in CFA Alum, Melanie Allen. Tyler Flynn chats with Melanie Allen, a Pepperdine alum from Castle Rock, CO who graduated in 2018 with a theatre production/design degree, with a specific emphasis in stage management. During her time at Pepperdine, she served as the CFA Student Marketing Assistant, and supported numerous productions such as Big Fish, Hedda Gabler, The Magic Flute, and Crazy for You. Since graduating, Melanie has received a Master's degree in Stage Management at Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Wales, worked in various backstage...
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Lauren Jennerjohn (Marketing, Artist, & Alumni)
Centered on the Arts
Continuing Alumni Month, we have brought in CFA Almun, Lauren Jennerjohn. Tyler Flynn sits down with Lauren Jennerjohn, an alumni of Pepperdine who graduated in 2019 after double majoring in theater arts and advertising. During her time at Pepperdine, Lauren was involved in numerous Smothers productions, such as The Taming of the Shrew, Big Fish, and Crazy for You, while also participating in Dance in Flight and working as the CFA student marketing assistant. Currently, she is working as the Sales and Marketing Coordinator for New Tradition, a company that specializes in outdoor advertising....
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Paul Dufresne (Scenic Designer & Alumni)
Centered on the Arts
Welcome to Alumni Month! A month of podcast episodes dedicated to our CFA Alums, detailing where they are now, how CFA helped them, and their own thoughts of the Arts. Dani Lobello chats with Paul Dufresne, an alumni of the Pepperdine theatre program who graduated with a BA in scene design and went on to earn an MFA in scene design at Boston University. He is based in Los Angeles, though he has also worked internationally and across the United States for theaters such as the LA Opera, The Guthrie, The English National Opera, and the Gary Marshall theater, among others. A few of his credits...
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Bryan Yamami (Taiko Drummer/TAIKOPROJECT)
Centered on the Arts
Rebecca Carson sits down with Bryan Yamami, the founder and current Executive Director for TAIKOPROJECT, who has directed the company’s performances on the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, NBC's The Voice, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Iron Chef Gauntlet. TAIKOPROJECT has toured across the United States, and Europe, Asia, and South and Central America, while also collaborating with some of the largest names in music such as John Legend and Stevie Wonder. The group is known for their powerful sound and dynamic performance, something that has delighted audiences since its inception in 2000....
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Stewart O'Rourke & Rick Aglietti (Scenic Designer, Technical Director, and Shop Foreman)
Centered on the Arts
Dani Lobello sits down with Rick Aglietti, the Resident Scenic Designer and Technical Director of Smothers Theater whose past work includes working as a technical director/lighting designer in Washington D.C and as a technical director/lighting designer in Ohio. They are joined by Stewart O’Rourke, the Assistant Technical Director and the Shop Foreman of Smothers, who previously worked as the master carpenter for the Center for the Arts and the Weisman Museum art installer. They discuss the technical aspects of previous Pepperdine productions, such as Les Miserables and Into the Woods,...
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The Omer Quartet (Strings)
Centered on the Arts
Rebecca Carson sits down with the Omer Quartet to discuss their history, as well as why the arts are important to them. With their brilliant and fearless renderings of classical pieces, the Omer Quartet have risen to international acclaim, their skill commended by a multitude of awards. They completed residencies at the New England Conservatory, and currently, they are finishing up doctorate degrees at the University of Maryland while also serving as Visiting Fellows at the Yale School of Music. On Sunday, November 15 at 2:00 pm PST, they will be appearing before Smother’s audiences, hoping...
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Melanie Emelio (Soprano & Music Professor)
Centered on the Arts
Tyler Gabbard chats with Melanie Emelio. Known to many as Dr. E, Melanie is a Professor of Music at Pepperdine and has worked on numerous Fine Arts Department productions including operas like The Merry Widow and The Old Maid and the Thief and musicals like Ragtime and Les Miserables. Dr. Emelio is a talented soprano, having appeared in opera, oratorio, and recitals throughout the United States and Germany. She completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Abilene Christian University and a Master of Music...
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Chris Lashua (Cirque Mechanics)
Centered on the Arts
R.J Morgan sits down with Chris Lashua, the director and founder of Cirque Mechanics. They discuss Chris’ history of performing in the Circus Arts, and how his background in riding a BMX bike has influenced his ability to begin his own circus company. R.J. and Chris even go into the intricate engineering needs of the sets and props used within the Cirque Mechanics’ incredible shows. Cirque Mechanics: More info about the Center for the Arts can be found: Music Composer: Jeremy Zerbe
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Nic Few (Actor and Director)
Centered on the Arts
Tyler Flynn chats with Nic Few and two students, Jada Henry and KJ Powell, to discuss the play they are currently involved in, Polar Bears, Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids, as well as their personal histories in the arts. Nic Few - Jada Henry - KJ Powell - More info about the Center for the Arts can be found: Music Composer: Jeremy Zerbe
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Alicia Patterson (Stage Manager & Parkening Competition Production Manager)
Centered on the Arts
Tyler Flynn chats with Alicia Patterson, the Competition Production Manager for the 2019 Parkening International Competition, about her role in the Parkening competition and her own experience in the arts.
info_outlineThe Center for the Arts staff members interview each other, getting a little more information on what their role is, what they do for the Center for the Arts, and why the arts are important.
To learn more from the Center for the Arts: arts.pepperdine.edu or faceboo
To purchase tickets for upcoming performances call 310.506.4522