Marcia Lewis (1938-2010), CCM ’64
This was a well-known Broadway singer and actress received two Tony Award nominations – one in 1997 for her role as Mama Morton in the Broadway re-staging of Chicago (with Bebe Neuwirth and Joel Grey) and one in 1994 for her role as Miss Lynch in a revival of “Grease.” In 1987, she had also received a Drama Desk nomination for playing the mean Miss Hannigan in “Rags.” Other theater credits included "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Funny Girl." Her TV credits included "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" ('97), "Happy Days" ('77-79), "The Bob Newhart Show" ('74-75), "The Bionic Woman" ('76), “Hollywood Squares” and “Sesame Street.” Her film credits included MGM’s “Ice Pirates” in 1984. Recognized as a cabaret singer, she recorded her debut solo CD, "Nowadays," in 1998.

Visit Marcia's website. Read more in Playbill.

Albert Hague (1920-2001), CCM '42
A Tony Award-winning composer, Hague was best known for his television compositions and acting. His Broadway breakthrough came in 1955 with "Plain and Fancy," followed by "Redhead," which won nine Tonys in 1959 – two of them bearing his name, one for Best Composer and one for Best Musical. "Plain and Fancy," an Amish-themed show with the popular song "Young and Foolish," still shows every year at the Amish Acres theater in Nappannee, Ind. Among more contemporary audiences, Hague became known as the composer of the score for "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" in 1966, then for playing the recurring role of Mr. Shorofsky, the music teacher in the TV series "Fame" in the 1980s.

Read how he landed the Grinch job with Dr. Seuss, and hear him sing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." See his musical and acting credits from TV and movies, too. Visit our musicians page to read more and see a photo of him as the music teacher on the TV series "Fame."

Jane Froman (1907–80), att. CCM late ‘20s
A popular singing star on radio, Froman was also a Ziegfield Follies performer, opera singer, night club headliner and TV guest star. During WWII, she was one of the first performers to volunteer to bring entertainment to the troops, but it nearly cost her life. A ’52 movie was made of her life, starring Susan Hayward, in which she provided the vocal tracks. Her Broadway credits included "Ziegfeld Follies of 1934," "Artists and Models" ('43, gowns and long gloves covered her scars from the wreck, while sets were designed to accommodate her inability to walk) and "Keep Off the Grass" ('40 with Froman in the starring role).

Read more about her life and career. See her TV credits, movie credits, opera listing. Be sure to watch the vintage video of her on “What’s My Line?” In another video, she sings her No. 1 hit “I Believe.”

Lehman Engel (1910-82), CCM '27, HonDoc '71
Composer, arranger, musical director, orchestrator, arranger and musical supervisor for more than 50 Broadway productions, including the original "Streetcar Named Desire" with Marlon Brando ('47). He won two Tony Awards and was nominated for three others, making him the most nominated person in the Best Conductor and Musical Director category, which no longer exists. He also founded and served as the first director of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop in New York City. Considered the foremost training ground for new writing voices, the workshop received the 2006 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre and has brought forth many musical milestones in writing and production. Engel also wrote musical-theater books, conducted recordings for Columbia Records and RCA Victor, and served as dean of American Musical Theatre. See his TV credits.

• "A Musical Jubilee" ('75-76, musical supervisor for this play starring Lillian Gish)
• "Bajour" ('64-65, musical director for this Tony-nominated play featuring Chita Rivera)
• "What Makes Sammy Run?" ('64 Tony Award nominee for Best Conductor and Musical Director for this play starring Steve Lawrence, who was also nominated for a Tony in this play)
• "I Can Get It for You Wholesale" ('62, musical director for this Tony-nominee starring Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould)
• "Do Re Mi" ('60-62, musical director of this Tony-nominee starring Phil Silvers)
• "There Was a Little Girl" ('60, composer of incidental music for this Tony-nominated play starring Jane Fonda)
• "Take Me Along" ('60 Tony Award nominee for Best Conductor and Musical Director of this play starring Jackie Gleason and Walter Pidgeon)
• "Destry Rides Again" ('59-60, musical director for this Tony-winner starring Andy Griffith)
• "Jane Eyre" ('58, music arranger of this Tony-nominated play)
• "Goldilocks" (-58-59, '59 Tony Award nominee Best Conductor and Musical Director for this play starring Don Ameche)
• "Jamaica" ('57-59, musical director and vocal arranger of this play starring Lena Horne and Ricardo Montalban)
• "Li'l Abner" ('56-58, musical director and vocal arranger of this Tony-winning play)
• "The Ponder Heart" ('56, musical adviser for this Tony-winning play staring Will Geer)
• "Middle of the Night" ('56-57, composer of incidental music for this Tony-nominated play starring Edward G. Robinson)
• "Fanny" ('54-56, musical director and vocal arranger of this play starring Florence Henderson)
• "Wonderful Town" ('53, won Tony Award as Best Conductor and Musical Director; music composed by Leonard Bernstein, starring Rosalind Russell)
• The Gilbert and Sullivan Season ('52, '53 Tony winner for Best Conductor and Musical Director for five productions that played in repertory, all under his musical direction — "The Pirates of Penzance," Trial by Jury," "H.M.S. Pinafore," "Iolanthe," "The Mikdao")
• "Bless You All" ('50-51, musical director of this Tony-winning play starring Pearl Bailey)
• "The Wisteria Trees" ('50, musical arranger; starring Helen Hayes)
• "The Consul" ('50, '51 Tony Award winner for Best Conductor and Musical Director)
• "Anne of the Thousand Days" ('48-49, composer of incidental music for Tony-winning play starring Rex Harrison)
• "Streetcar Named Desire" ('47-49, won the '49 Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director; starring Marlon Brando, Jessica Tandy and Karl Malden)
• "Macbeth" ('41-42, composer and conductor, starring Maurice Evans and Judith Anderson; another revival in '48; then turned into a famed 1954 television production)
• "The Shoemakers' Holiday" ('38, composer of incidental music; produced by Orson Welles)

Kevin McCollum, CCM ’84
Producer. (Read his views about theater, as shared with CCM students.)

• "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo" ('11, 2011 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Play, starring Robin Williams)
• "Ragtime" revival ('09-10, Tony and Drama Desk nominee, Best Revival of a Musical, composed by Stephen Flaherty, CCM '82, and starring Savannah Wise, CCM '06)
• "West Side Story" revival ('09-present, Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee for Best Revival of a Musical)
• "In the Heights" ('08-present, won a total of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was a Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Musical)
  
• "The Drowsy Chaperone" ('06-07, won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical plus six other awards out of 14 nominations, plus 13 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical)
• "Avenue Q" ('03-09, won Tony Award for Best Musical)
• "La Boheme" ('02-03, both Tony and Drama Desk nominee for Best Revival of a Musical)
• "Private Lives" ('02, won both Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Revival of a Play)
• "De La Guardia" ('98-04, Drama Desk nominee for Unique Theatrical Experience)
• "Rent” ('88-96, won both Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Musical)
• "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992" ('94, Tony nominee for Best Play)
• "Damn Yankees" ('94-95, both Tony and Drama Desk nominee for Best Revival of a Musical)

Also ...

• "A Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo" (expected to open March 2011)
• "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" ('08 and '09)
• "[title of show]" ('08)
• "High Fidelity" ('06)
• "What's Wrong With This Picture?" ('04)
• "45 Seconds from Broadway" ('01-02)
• "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" ('94)

Watch video of McCollum discussing "Drowsy Chaperone."

Karen Olivo, CCM '97
Actress who won a Tony, a Drama Desk Award and the '08 Fred & Adele Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer on Broadway. See her TV credits and her movie credit. (Watch Olivo win '09 Tony.)

• "West Side Story" revival ('09, Tony winner, "Best Performance by a Featured Actress" in the role of Anita; also received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations; show produced by CCM grad Kevin McCollum)
• "In the Heights" ('08, played Vanessa; received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance; play produced by Kevin McCollum, CCM '84) Watch Olivo perform a song from the show.
  

Also performed in:

• "Hair" ('07, 40th anniversary concert)
• "Brooklyn" ('04-05, creating the role of Faith)
• "Rent" ('96-'04, produced by Kevin McCollum, CCM '84)
  (Read Playbill's rave review of and interview with Karen.)

Stephen Flaherty, CCM ’82
Composer, working with Lynn Ahrens. Read more on the UC Magazine musicians page. Visit Flaherty's website. Read how one of his plays inspired New Orleans youth through a film documentary. Watch video of Flaherty performing one of his songs.

• "Ragtime" revival ('09-10, Tony and Drama Desk nominee, Best Revival of a Musical, produced by Kevin McCollum, CCM '84, HonDoc '05, and starring Savannah Wise, CCM '06)
  
• “Ragtime” ('98, won both Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Original Musical Score, plus three other Tonys among 13 total nominations)
• “Dessa Rose" ('05 Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Music)

• “A Man of No Importance" ('03 Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Music)
• “Seussical" ('01 Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Music)
• “Once on This Island" ('91 Tony Award winner for Best Original Musical Score)

Also ...

• "Rocky," the musical version of the movie, opens in Germany in November 2012 and aims for Broadway in 2013.
• "Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life"

Michele Pawk, CCM ’85
Tony-winning actress, musician. Received a Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her Off-Braodway roles in "A Small Fire" ('11) and "The Paris Letter" ('06) (Watch video interview with Pawk.)

• “Hollywood Arms” ('02-03, as Louise, Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actress in a Play)
• “The Paris Letter" ('06 Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play)
• “Cabaret" ('98-99 revival, as Fraulein Kost, Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical; also played banjo and accordion with the Kit Kat Band)
  
• “Crazy for You" ('92-96, as Irene Roth, Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical)

Faith Prince, CCM ’79, HonDoc '09
Tony-winning actress. See TV credits and movie credits.
(Read her lessons learned from being on stage. Watch video of Prince talking about her "Little Mermaid" role.)

• "A Catered Afair" ('08, as Aggie, Drama Desk nominee for Best Actress in a Musical) (See photo below with Leslie Kritzer.)
  
• “Bells Are Ringing" ('01, both Tony and Drama Desk nominee for Best Actress in a Musical)
• “Guys and Dolls” ('92, as Miss Adelaide, won both Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Actress in a Musical)
• “Jerome Robbins' Broadway" ('89, both Tony and Drama Desk nominee for Best Actress in a Musical)

Tom Viola, CCM '76

In 2010, Viola won a Tony Award for Excellence in the Theatre for his work as executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the nation's leading industry-based not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. At that time, BC/EFA had raised more than $175 million for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families nationwide since its founding in 1987.

See Viola receive his Tony Award, plus a bio video on him.

Leslie Kritzer, CCM '99
Actress.

• "Rooms: A Rock Romance" ('09, Outer Critics Circle Awards nominee)
• "A Catered Affair" ('08, as Jane Hurley, Drama Desk nominee, Outer Critics Circle Award nominee)
  
• "Legally Blonde" ('07, as Serena, Actors' Equity Clarence Derwent Award as the "most promising female performer on the New York metropolitan scene")
• “The Great American Trailer Park Musical" ('06 Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical)

Also performed in:

• "Sondheim on Sondheim" (spring ’10, w/Vanessa Williams)
• "Hairspray" ('04)

Martin Vidnovic, CCM ’71
Actor.

• “Baby" ('83-84, as Nick Sakarian, won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical)
• "Brigadoon” ('80-81, starring as Tommy Albright, both Tony and Drama Desk award nominee for Best Featured Actor in a Musical)
• “Oklahoma" ('80, starring as Jud Fry, Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical)

Also ...

• "Footloose" ('98-00, as Rev. Shaw Moore)
• "King David" ('97, starred as Saul)
• "A Grand Night for Singing" ('93-94, starring role)
  
• "Guys and Dolls" (mid '90s)
  
• "The King and I" ('97-98, as Lun Tha)
• "Home Sweet Homer" ('76, as Antinous)

Lee Roy Reams, CCM ’64, MA (CCM) ’82, HonDoc ’98
Actor. Hailed by the New York Times as "Broadway's song and dance man nonpareil." See his TV credits and his movie credit. (Watch video of Reams explaining how he got the role in "42nd Street.")

• “42nd Street” ('81, as Bill Lawlor, recieved both Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Musical)
  

Also performed in Broadway productions of:

• "The Producers" (as Roger DeBris)
• "Beauty and the Beast" (as Lumiere)
• "La Cage aux Folles" (as Albin)
• "Applause" (as Duane Fox)
• "Lorelei" (as Henry Spofford)

Marla Mindelle, '09
Actress.

• "Sister Act" ('11, nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award as Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Sister Mary Robert)
• "South Pacific" ('08-10 revival)

See Mindelle's funny backstage video.

Ashley Brown, CCM '04
Actress.

• "Mary Poppins" ('11, reprising her role as Mary Poppins)
• "Mary Poppins" ('06-08, as Mary Poppins, '07 Drama Desk nominee)
• "Beauty and the Beast" ('05-06, starred as Belle)

In '09, Brown released "Speak Low," her first solo CD, featuring music heard on her PBS special. Visit her website.

Josh Prince, CCM ’96
Choreographer. Actor. See article on Prince.

• "Shrek the Musical" ('08-10, choreographer, '09 Outer Critics Circle Award nominee for Best Choreography)

Also performed in:

• "Saturday Night Fever" ('99-00)
• "Little Me" ('98-99)

Read Prince’s listing as a choreographer.
Watch Prince in a video about "Shrek" choreography.

Pamela Myers, CCM ’70
Actress. Read "UC Magazine" stories about Myers. And see her TV credits.

• “Company” (’71, Tony Award nominee for Best Featured Actress in a Musical)

Also performed in the Broadway production of:

• "Into the Woods" ('02)
• "Company" revival ('93)
• "The Selling of the President" ('72)

Jason Graae, CCM '80
Actor. See his TV and musician credits. Visit his website.

• "Coup de Graae" ('06, won New York Nightlife Award For Best Musical Comedy)
• "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" ('93, Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Actor in a Musical)

Also performed in:

• "A Grand Night for Singing" ('93-94)
• "Falsettos" ('93)
• "Stardust" ('87)
• "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" ('82)

Tony Yazbeck, CCM ’99
Actor. Visit his website. (Watch video of Yazbeck singing.)

• "Gypsy" revival (Drama Desk nominee, as Tulsa, '08-09)

Also performed in:

• "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" ('09-10, produced by Kevin McCollum, CCM ’84)
• "A Chorus Line" revival (as Al, '06-07)
• "Never Gonna Dance" ('03-04)
• "Oklahoma!" revival ('02-03)
• "Gypsy" revival ('89-91)

Justin Bohon, CCM '00
Actor.

• "Oklahoma!" revival ('02-03, starring as Will Parker — Received the Drama Desk Award and Theatre World Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical; the Astaire Awards also named him Best Male Dancer.)
  

Also performed in:

• "The Book of Mormon" ('11, from the creators of South Park)
• "9 to 5" (Dolly Parton's musical comedy, '09)
• "Les Misérables" revival (' 9, 2006 - Jan 6, 20
• "All Shook Up" (original production, '05)
• "Something Good" (concert tribute starring Bohon, '02)
• "The Producers" (original production, '01)
• "Miss Saigon" (original production, prior to graduation)

Watch Justin Bohon as Freddy In "My Fair Lady."