SMTD Faculty Student and Alumni News

Over the summer, the Oakland Chorale embarked on their European Tour, during which they visited Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

In June, the Oakland Chorale embarked on their European Tour, during which they visited Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. “This tour was a life changing experience for the students in the Oakland Chorale,” said Michael A. Mitchell, professor of music and director of choral activities at OU. “Each of their performances in these historic locations was world class musically and they connected beautifully with each audience. I’m incredibly proud of our Oakland music students.” The tour was generously sponsored by the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Office of the Provost.

Congratulations to OU theatre students Trish Brown and Matthew Sell who worked at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia this summer.

OU alum Kennedy Vernengo performed in “Avenue Q” at The Dio Dining & Entertainment in Pinckney, Mich. The show ran from June 27 until Aug. 10.

DeNetria Gibson

On July 25, DeNetria Gibson (OU Acting ‘26) won first place at the Black Theatre Networks “Dr. John Shévin Foster Monologue Competition” in Los Angeles, Calif. and won $500.

A scene from "Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Distinguished Professor Emerita Karen Sheridan directed “Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help,” which ran from June 26 until Aug. 3 at the Williamston Theatre in Williamston, Mich. The play also starred Faith Green, a musical theatre student at OU,  who played the role of “Becky.”

Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance partnered with The ARK Initiative to present “Building Community” — a vibrant dance event bringing together professional guest artists, dance companies and OU dancers — on Aug. 9-10 in Varner Recital Hall. The collaborative performance featured two world premieres. The first was created for OU dancers by former Martha Graham principal dancer, Stephen Rooks, and the second was created for rising New York City Ballet artist, India Bradley, by Caleb Mitchell, a former Houston Ballet Company artist. In addition, the evening also featured guest appearances by The Troy Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Samantha Pille (ARK Initiative/Soloist,Texas Ballet Theater), David Cummings (ARK Initiative/former Ballet Arkansas company artist), Shannon Benton, (ARK Initiative - Storling Dance Theatre Company artist), Eliana Gibbs, Northville Ballet Theatre, Isabella Hunter, (ARK Initiative), and companies, The Link School of the Arts, Eisenhower Dance Detroit Youth Ensemble, Ballet Edge-Detroit, The Body of PraiZe Dance Factory and Singer/Halle Bond (NYC).

A scene from "Oedipus the King"

Renaissance City Repertory Theatre’s production of “Oedipus the King” featured many familiar faces, including OU alums and faculty both on stage and behind the scenes. The production ran from Aug. 15-17 in Varner Recital Hall.

Wishing Well Theatre’s production of “Romeo & Juliet” in Rackham Park in Fenton, Mich. featured three familiar faces. Grace Lawrence (Juliet) and Lilija Shuger (Mercutio) are OU musical theatre alumni and Zander Warstler worked with current faculty Tony Guest and Bill Irwin on fight choreography for the show, which ran from Aug. 22-31.

The cast of "Caribbean Dreamin'"

OU’s production of Caribbean Dreamin’ received four National Recognitions at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) National Festival in Washington, D.C., including the Citizen Artist Award, Outstanding Musical Direction (Patrick Fitzgibbon), Distinguished Stage Management (Bex Papazian), and Outstanding Performance and Production Ensemble.

A student production of “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” by Team StarKid opened in Varner Lab Theatre on Sept. 6, with performances on Sept. 6 and 7. The shows were completely sold out before opening night. The production was completely produced, directed, and designed by students from Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

The 2025 Peace Day Concert

In celebration of the International Day of Peace, Oakland University presented its annual Peace Day Concert on Sept. 21 in Varner Recital Hall. The program featured Joe Reilly, a singer, songwriter, social worker, Dharma teacher and educator who writes songs from his heart to bring people together and build community across lines of race, class, gender, ethnicity, religion, age and nationality. Reilly was joined by Lesley-Anne Stone and Mark Stone for this year’s Peace Day celebration.

OU’s Jazz Singers participated in a Jazz Retreat with April Tini, a jazz vocalist and professor from the Berklee School of Music.

A scene from "Souvenir"

Oakland University Professors Alta Boover Dantzler and Jacob ben Widmar united to tell the story of an unlikely duo in Stephen Temperley’s “Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins.” The play, which follows the unpredictable relationship between a wealthy eccentric, self-described great soprano and the hapless accompanist who knows she is incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tune, was performed in Oakland University’s Varner Recital Hall on Sept. 20. “Souvenir” was directed by Distinguished Professor Emerita Karen Sheridan. 

Milica Govich, a special lecturer in theatre at OU, was recently in New York City filming an episode of the television show “Law & Order,” on which she plays the recurring role of Judge Leanne Dreben. “It is the third episode of this new season, and will air sometime in October,” Govich said. “I was excited to have the opportunity to do a walk-and-talk scene with Hugh Dancy!”

Ou alumna Jennifer Ward (BA Theatre ’16) is the director and set designer of “Tuck Everlasting,” which runs through Sept. 28 at Stagecrafters in Royal Oak. “Thanks OU/SMTD for providing me the skills to make this amazing production come to life,” Ward said.

Scott Brickner

In September, OU trumpet studio alumnus Scott Brickner became the 2nd/Assistant Principal Trumpet (Mark Novitch Memorial Chair) of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO). Brickner will be playing second trumpet in the orchestra for both pops concerts and masterworks concerts and playing with the KSO brass quintet for both chamber music concerts and educational outreach in Kalamazoo schools. Brickner graduated from OU with a bachelor’s in music performance in April 2019 and from Western Michigan University with a master’s in music performance in April 2021. He has performed with the Five Lakes Silver Band and also with the Oakland, Battle Creek, Southwest Michigan, Lima (Ohio) and Macomb Symphony Orchestras.

James Long (BM in Euphonium Performance, ‘15) was appointed as assistant professor of music and director of bands at Victoria College in Victoria, Texas. He teaches low brass, music theory and conducts their concert band. 

Levi Hardy

This summer, Levi Hardy (MM Euphonium Performance, ‘25) was selected as one of 10 semifinalists to compete in the 40th annual Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Solo Competition that was held at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Mich. in August. Levi was selected from more than a hundred applicants in what is acknowledged as the premier solo competition in the world for the instrument.

The Oakland University Brass Band has received a prestigious invitation to compete in the World Music Contest next summer on July 11, 2026 in Kerkrade, Netherlands. The band is one of only 10 groups selected from around the world in the First Division and is based on competition successes from the past 10 years. The World Music Contest is held every four years, bringing not only brass bands, but concert wind bands, marching bands and other groups from around the world. The OU Brass Band's conductor, Kenneth Kroesche said "The invitation to perform at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade is one of the highest honors in the brass band community and speaks to the standard of excellence that the band has established over the years.”