Standing Ovations

Honoring our 2020 Graduates and all the work they have done to make the Performing Arts Department and our productions a success.

2020 graduating senior Angela Alexander

Angela Alexander

Rachel Brough

Rachel Brough

Hayley Emerson

Hayley Emerson

Hayley Emerson
Major in Psychology

Performance Credits: Heathers: The Musical, Village Blackbox, Fall 2016, Cast n’ Crew; Expecting Isabel, Beaumont Pavilion, Spring 2017, All Student Theatre; China Revue, Beijing and Shanghai, Spring 2017, Performing Arts Department; Reclamation, Emerson Auditorium, Fall 2017, Student-run; Vagina Monologues, Holmes Lounge, Spring 2018, Student-run; Noises Off, Beaumont Pavilion, Spring 2018, All Student Theatre; Legally Blonde: The Musical, Edison Theatre, Fall 2019, Performing Arts Department; The Blank Monologues, Holmes Lounge, Spring 2020, Student-run; Twins: The Musical, Clayton Community Theatre, Spring 2020, Center Stage Productions

Hayley Emerson is a senior at WashU from Los Angeles. While her major is Psychology, she has also dedicated her time to taking drama, business and film classes. Hayley jumped into performing at the start of her Wash U career, taking Acting 1 with Jeffery Matthews as well as performing in Heathers: The Musical, a student theatre show where she first became a part of the student theatre community. Hayley was exposed to the PAD community for the first time when she performed in the China Revue with Jeffery Matthews, Gail Hintz and Provost Thorp. The China Revue consisted of a group of eight WashU students who traveled to Shanghai and Beijing to perform for Chinese WashU alum as well as new WashU students. Hayley not only loved performing “For Good” from Wicked with her twin sister, Taylor, but they also wrote a song, “We’re Not So Far Away,” for the China Revue, which was about bringing together Chinese and American shared values. Hayley continued her route with student theatre, acting in plays, as well as performing in socially impactful shows such as Vagina Monologues. Hayley continued studying musical theatre at WashU for two semesters, but had less time to do the big shows due to other commitments. However, in her senior fall, Hayley made the time to do the PAD musical and was cast as Margot in Legally Blonde: The Musical. This was her favorite semester at WashU. She loved working with the incredible cast and crew, and was grateful to perform in one of her favorite musicals under the direction of Annamaria Pileggi. At the end of senior fall, Hayley took on the biggest challenge with her twin sister: to produce their own musical (Twins: The Musical) under the temporary student theatre group, Center Stage Productions (CSP). As President of CSP and director/co-writer of the musical, it was Hayley’s busiest semester, but one of the most rewarding, as she worked with such a dedicated and talented group of WashU students. While the show was canceled due to COVID-19, Hayley and Taylor brought the cast and crew together to share a video tribute to the show. The theatre community, especially the PAD department, have been incredibly supportive throughout this time. Hayley plans to work in the entertainment industry starting this fall at the talent agency, Creative Artist’s Agency, where she hopes to continue pursuing her passion for film and theatre.

Favorite Memory: During our final Saturday night performance of Legally Blonde, I remember right before I went on stage for the graduation scene at the end of the show (song: "Find My Way/Finale"), Taylor Emerson, Jamie Hendler, Max Shteiman and I got emotional because we knew this was our last musical at WashU. When we came out on stage and sat opposite from each other, my eyes teared up while I was singing the backup to Jamie’s final solo; we couldn’t believe we would be in our own graduation soon, and that this was our final performance together. We looked at each other singing and felt gratitude in those moments. I reflected on how incredible this supportive and talented community of theatre students has been. I felt like an older sister to the first year students and became closer to my senior friends. I loved being the Greek trio with Taylor and Leighanne. Doing a final show is hard because you become so close to a family of people who you know will all go on to their own paths, so this was a final moment where we were all singing together, truly being present, and feeling grateful for what theatre and music has brought to us in our lives. Every time I hear the final song of Legally Blonde, I tear up thinking of that moment.

Taylor Emerson

Taylor Emerson

Taylor Emerson
Major in Psychological And Brain Sciences

Performance Credits: She Kills Monsters, Village Black Box, Spring 2017, Cast n’ Crew; Musical Revue, China (Beijing and Shanghai), Summer 2017, Performing Arts Department; Letting Go with Karen Coburn, Edison Theater, Fall 2017 and Fall 2018, First Year Center Orientation Program; The Date, Graham Chapel, Fall 2018, First Year Center Orientation Program; Vagina Monologues, Holmes Lounge, Spring 2018; Student-Run Mx. WashU Talent Show, Edison Theater, Fall 2017; Legally Blonde, Edison Theater, Fall 2019, Performing Arts Department; Blank Monologues, Holmes Lounge, Spring 2020; Twins: The Musical, Clayton Community Theater, Spring 2020, Center Stage Productions

Taylor Emerson is a WashU senior from Los Angeles. Her major is Psychological & Brain Sciences with a concentration in Business, Social Justice, and Film Studies. Taylor first stepped into the theater world at WashU in She Kills Monsters with Cast n Crew, playing the supporting role of Lily/Lilith. Taylor was fortunate enough to go with Jeffery Matthews and Holden Thorp along with seven other WashU students to China where they performed a revue of songs in Beijing and Shanghai. The latter included a song called "We're Not So Far Away" composed by Taylor and her identical twin sister, Hayley, about uniting American and Chinese values. Additionally, Taylor performed “The Vagina Workshop" and “Angry Vagina” in the Blank (Vagina) Monologues. She also performed a song she wrote with a diverse group of women about the #metoo movement called "It's All on You.” Taylor played Serena in Legally Blonde directed by Annamaria Pileggi. After that, Taylor took on the biggest theater project yet with her better half, Hayley, by producing Twins: The Musical, a six-year project in the making inspired by their lives as identical twins. Taylor was A.D., played the role of Stacey, and took the position of V.P. and Marketing Chair of Center Stage Productions (a student theater group created for this musical). The show would have taken place April 17-19. Due to COVID-19, the production was never seen through. However, the Emerson twins released a tribute video to their musical with their cast and crew that can be seen on their social media, the PAD website, Ampersand, and this week's Record (4/27). Taylor also took part in fundraising for City Faces as a Mx. Wash U candidate, performing “Goin’ Back to Hogwarts” from A Very Potter Musical with a cappella/theater friends, as well as First Year Orientation events including playing Samantha in The Date and performing in Karen Colburn’s “Letting Go” program for parents. When Taylor is not performing, she is a co-Case Competition Coordinator for Management 100. She was a WashU Tour Guide, a WUSA, and is a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. One of her favorite semesters was studying abroad in London where she was fortunate enough to see many shows, explore the city, and take theater and psychology courses. Finally, Taylor’s biggest accomplishment was organizing a T-Rex Race on the Francis Field track just before winter break of 2019 (article in StudLife).

Favorite Memory: As a Freshman: My favorite memory is that I once got punched in the face during a fight scene in Cast n' Crew's Saturday night performance of She Kills Monsters. In the next scene, I had to kiss my lover and proceeded to get blood all over her face...it was a whole mess, but we got through it! My mom got the whole scene on tape, so once in a while when I'm feeling down in the dumps, I watch the video to remind myself that no matter what happens in life, the show must go on. :)

As a Senior: My favorite memory was our first rehearsal for Legally Blonde. I think I was in the "I still can't believe I'm here" phase since this was my first musical in college. I remember we focused on the opening number, and while we had our ups and downs, it was such a positive experience. I learned so much and got to step into my character for the first time. I felt this abundance of nerves and enthusiasm I recognized I had when I did theater as a kid. It was a three-hour rehearsal that felt like five minutes. Walking home from the first rehearsal, I smiled to myself because I knew that I had fallen in love with the cast, the crew, and the whole production. Yet, I also realized I wanted the process to slow down. Flash forward to closing night where I cried during the final graduation scene with some of my senior friends. I thought back to the first rehearsal. How happy I was then, but how much happier I am now. Being in this show had incredibly positive effects on my mental and physical health. First-semester senior year is one of my favorite semesters at WashU because of Legally Blonde. I think that after the first rehearsal, I wanted to take in every moment of being in this production because when it came to closing night, I would have to make a choice. That choice being: Will I continue doing what I love after college? Today I can say I love it too much to stop. I have never been happier and more alive than when I am doing theater.

Jamie Hendler

Mona Jahani

Mona Jahani

Mona Janahi
Double majoring in Drama, and Psychology And Brain Sciences

Performance Credits: Men on Boats, Edison Theatre, Spring 2020, PAD- Assistant Costume Designer, Legally Blonde, Edison Theatre, Fall 2019, PAD- Costume Designer; Melancholy Play, Brookings Quad, Spring 2019, All Student Theatre- Production Manager; Angels in America, Edison Theatre, Spring 2019, PAD- Costume Designer; Deep Water (WUDT), Edison Theatre, Fall 2018, PAD- Costume Designer; The Rocky Horror Show, Edison Theatre, Fall 2018, PAD- Assistant Costume Designer; Noises Off, Brookings Quad, Spring 2019, All Student Theatre- Costume Designer; August: Osage County, Edison Theatre, Spring 2019, PAD- Assistant Costume Designer; Refuse (WUDT), Edison Theatre, Fall 2017, PAD- Costume Designer; Urinetown, Edison Theatre, Fall 2017, PAD- Assistant Costume Designer; Expecting Isabel, Brookings Quad, Spring 2017, All Student Theatre- Assistant Costume Designer; Macbeth, Edison Theatre, Spring 2017, PAD- Assistant Costume Designer; Passing Strange, Edison Theatre, Fall 2016, PAD- Assistant Costume Designer

Mona Jahani is currently a senior at Washington University in St. Louis studying Drama & Psychology. She has had the pleasure of costume designing and assistant designing various productions during her time at WashU, production managing for her student theatre group, and working as a stitcher in the university costume shop. She has also spent her time in St. Louis working as a stitcher and member of wardrobe crew for various companies around town including The Muny, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Winter Opera, and the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Mona will be attending Michigan State University in the fall to pursue her MFA in theatre design. She would likely to thank the faculty and staff for their endless support over the last 4 years but would like to especially mention Nikki Glaros, Sean Savoie, and Sallie Durbin for their guidance and encouragement.

Favorite Memory: So many of my favorite memories have been with the PAD but specifically I think of opening night for Legally Blonde. I just couldn't be more proud of this show where all the hard work and endless hours finally paid off to bring to life a production that had challenged me more than anything else I'd ever worked on. It really warmed my heart to hear praise and congratulations from friends and faculty after opening night, but more than that I am so grateful for the support I felt in the weeks and months from those same members of this department. It meant the world to know that I was being supported not only as a theater artist, but also a a person, a student, a friend.

2020 graduating senior Sarah James

Sarah James

Sarah James
Major in Drama with Minors in Music and Psychology And Brain Sciences

Performance credits: Frank Goodman/ Mr. Asa, Men on Boats, Edison Theater, Spring 2020, Performing Arts Department; Ensemble, Legally Blonde, Edison Theater, Fall 2019, Performing Arts Department; Frances, Melancholy Play, Brookings Quad, Spring 2019, All Student Theatre; Janet Weiss, The Rocky Horror Show, Edison Theater, Fall 2018, Performing Arts Department; Josephine Strong, Urinetown, Edison Theater, Fall 2017, Performing Arts Department; "We Are Family," musical revue, Shanghai and Beijing, China, Summer 2017, Performing Arts Department

Sarah James is a current senior from Woodside, California studying Drama, Music, and Psychology. Over the past four years, Sarah has been extremely grateful to call the Performing Arts Department her home on campus. In addition to the memories made in classes, rehearsals, performances, and the PAD lounge, she never could have imagined she would get to travel to China and study at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. Her most meaningful and rewarding experiences here at WashU have all taken place alongside the creative, generous people in the PAD and Student Theatre communities. This summer, Sarah is returning to the Bay Area as an assistant costume designer at Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory for the third year before moving up to Chicago in the fall to pursue performing professionally. She would also like to thank the following professors from the bottom of her heart for helping her become a better performer and person, and for allowing her to have all of these wonderful opportunities: Andrea Urice, Annamaria Pileggi, Bill Whitaker, Christine Knoblauch-O'Neal, Jeffery Matthews, and Henry Palkes.

Sarah's favorite memory in the Performing Arts Department is without a doubt playing Janet in The Rocky Horror Show. She has never grown so much as a person and had more fun in a role, and she owes that incredible experience to the fabulous, supportive, hilarious group of people that were part of it. She still get a bit teary thinking about that electric, sold-out Saturday night show when everyone in the Edison stood up and did the "Time Warp" along with the cast.

2020 graduating senior Kentrell Jamison

Kentrell Jamison

2020 graduating senior Madison Lee

Madison Lee

2020 graduating senior Dwayne McCowan

Dwayne M. McCowan III

Ella Rosenkranz

Ella Rosenkranz

Gabrielle Samuel

Gabrielle Samuel

Gabrielle Samuel
Major in Dance with Double Minors in Archaeology and African & African American Studies

Performance Credits: Enclosed Encounter, Olin Studio 1, Spring 2020, Student production (choreographer, dancer, co-director) WashU Dance Theater, Edison Theater, Fall 2016 - 2019, Performing Arts Department (dancer) WashU Dance Collective, Edison Theater, Spring 2019, Performing Arts Department (choreographer) WashU Dance Collective, Edison Theater, Spring 2017, 2018, Performing Arts Department (dancer) MFA Dance Concert, Edison Theater, Spring 2018, Performing Arts Department (dancer) Student Dance Showcase, Mertz Studio Theater, Spring 2017, 2018, Student production (choreographer, co-director) The Rocky Horror Show, Edison Theater, Fall 2018 (stagehand)

I am from San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. In August of 2016, I left home to be part of WashU’s Class of 2020. I entered WashU as a Dance and Archaeology double major, but by sophomore year I decided to major in Dance and minor in Archaeology and African and African American Studies. Over the years, I studied Horton, Ballet, Dunham, West African and other contemporary dance techniques. I performed in some of the most challenging and enjoyable dances I have ever done in the Dance Theater and Dance Collective shows. I developed a choreographic voice through creating work for Dance Collective, Student Dance Showcase and my own Senior Project. I even studied dance in Accra, Ghana for an entire semester! Outside of school, I engaged in dance programs that allowed me to further my training and invest in my interest in Africanist dance. The faculty and staff at the PAD have helped me grow my passion, find my niche, hone my technique and courageously pursue a professional career in dance and dance education. I am thankful to have had such a strong program and supportive community surrounding me!

Favorite Memory: I have to cheat and make a list. In no particular order: 1.) Singing Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" while getting ready backstage for WashU Dance Theater 2.) Watching Ashley's and my Senior Project "Enclosed Encounter" beautifully come to fruition, and receiving so much support from professors, friends and fellow dancers 3.) Working backstage for Rocky Horror and feeling essential to a show in a totally different way. (And repeatedly being left behind when the crew got instructions through their headsets and failed to relay them to me, a lowly stagehand without a headset.) 4.) Dancing in Land of 1000 Dances by Raja Feather Kelly in WUDT 2018 5.) Doing the American Musical Theater class my final semester 6.) ALL the funny moments with Cecil!

India Shelley

India Shelley

Max Shteiman

Max Shteiman

Max Shteiman
Double major in French and Economics/Strategy (Pre-Med)

Performance Credits: Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show, Edison Theater, Performing Arts Department, Fall 2018; Warner in Legally Blonde, Edison Theater, Performing Arts Department, Fall 2019; Ram in Heathers: The Musical, Village Blackbox, Fall 2016, Cast n’ Crew

Throughout the past four years, Max has been very fortunate to have experienced so many different aspects of WashU. A Pre-Med student with a double major in French and Economics/Strategy, his academic interests have been as diverse as his other passions. While having the rich and diverse opportunities to serve as head choreographer and president of WUSauce, WashU's salsa dance team, study public health and Renaissance medical literature in the French Riviera, and develop a unique mentorship program to connect underclassmen Pre-Med students with upperclassmen mentors, Max has always had a strong passion for performing in a theatrical context. As a first-year student at WashU, he was very lucky to have been cast as Ram in Cast N' Crew's Fall 2016 production of "Heathers: The Musical." Through this experience, he quickly became acquainted with the supportive and creative student theater community at WashU.

After taking a break from performing to commit to studying organic chemistry his Sophomore year, Max auditioned for the Performing Arts Department's Fall 2018 production of "The Rocky Horror Show" on a whim. This experience would quickly become his fondest memory of his time at WashU. As a wonderful cap to an unforgettable four years, Max was very fortunate to have been cast in the Fall 2019 production of "Legally Blonde," which proved to be yet another incredibly rewarding performance experience. Max is incredibly grateful for the wonderful people he met during his time with the Performing Arts Department, including his talented and creative fellow cast members. Finally, he wants to thank the brilliant and supportive faculty members that have pushed him to truly become a better performer: Bill Whitaker, Annamaria Pileggi, Andrea Urice, Christine Knoblauch-O'Neal, and Henry Palkes.

Favorite Memory: In 14 years of performing in theatrical productions, Max had never been a part of such a positive and supportive cast as that of the Performing Arts Department's Fall 2018 production of "The Rocky Horror Show." He will never forget the cast's unmatched spirit, energy, creativity, and level of trust.

2020 graduating senior Lauren Slaughter

Lauren Slaughter

Lia White

Lia White

Ashley Yang

Ashley Yang

Ashley Yang
Double Majoring in Biology and Dance

Production credits: WashU Dance Collective (Dancer, choreographer - 2016-2020) WashU Dance Theater (Dancer, lighting designer - 2016, 2018, 2019) Student Dance Showcase (Co-Director, choreographer, lighting designer - 2016-2018) Enclosed Encounter, Dance Senior Project Showing (Co-Director, choreographer, lighting designer - 2020)

Ashley is from San Diego, CA who pursued a double major in Biology and Dance. She has been apart of the Performing Arts Department since her freshmen year. As a freshmen, Ashley joined WashU Dance Theater and WashU Dance Collective. Over the course of her four years she has continued to be apart of these shows and has then performed, choreographed, and designed lighting for them. Outside of the PAD, Ashley has been a part of WashU’s only hip hop team, WashU Hip Hop Union, for fours years and was the co-head choreographer for two years. Ashley has participated in choreographing, lighting, and co-directing the Student Dance Showcase her freshmen and sophomore year. Ashley worked with Gabrielle Samuel for this show and for their senior projects as well. Together they created an evening length performance featuring WashU dancers that took place in the Olin studios. Lastly, she spent time abroad at the University of Auckland in New Zealand where she took a couple dance classes for her degree. Ashley would like to thank her professors, teachers, choreographers, peers, and the PAD faculty for providing the opportunities for her to grow as dancer, person, and artist. She is incredibly grateful for having this supportive and welcoming community and is so proud to have been apart of it.

Favorite memory: There are so many memories that I have from the PAD! I absolutely loved putting together my senior project with Gabby, that was definitely one of the biggest highlights of college. I loved all the dancer bondings we had and just performing with all my friends on stage. And lastly, I loved that after spending so many late nights working on lighting for WUDT, it was always such a gratifying experience to see the final design on stage.