Alumni Updates

Thanks for letting us know about important changes in your life – like a career move, marriage, baby, community work, etc. We will review your submission, and, space permitting, it could appear in a future Humboldt Magazine, on department websites, or in other HSU publications. If we need more information, we’ll contact you.

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Matt Edwards

Matt Edwards, 1986 Theatre, returns to Humboldt precisely 30 years later to pursue a single subject teaching credential.  After graduation he received an MFA from The Old Globe Theatre / University of San Diego and lived in NYC for 25 years as a classical actor; working on Broadway, Off-Broadway, daytime TV and regional theaters around the nation.  “I’m excited to return to Humboldt.  I parked at my old house off sunset and made the same walk up to Founders Hall after a 30 year hiatus!  Since I’m a New Yorker now, I cut 3-4 minutes off my commute!  All my teachers are great and I really trust them.”

James Donlon

James Donlon, 1970 Theatre & History, has had a 47 year career as an internationally-known performing artist presenting his original physical theatre work throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America, having just returned from Cuba. Donlon has been a master teacher in many national and international acting conservatories like the Yale School of Drama, American Conservatory Theatre, and at UC Santa Barbara. Donlon has also been a film movement coach for Oscar winners Kathy Bates and Javier Bardem, and film star Benjamin Bratt.

Kyle Ryan

Kyle Ryan, 2011 Theatre, moved to Chicago with only a suitcase and lived in a one-bedroom apartment with four other Humboldt grads. Ryan was accepted into Second City’s Conservatory Program and then was hired to perform sketch comedy and improv aboard Norwegian Cruise lines for The Second City. Ryan has performed all over the world, and is currently performing for The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. He currently works at a digital media arts college giving workshops to high school artists all over the midwest.

Louis A. D’Aria

LOUIS D’ARIA, 1969 Broadcasting and 1977 Theater Arts and Teaching Credential, has more than 40 years of experience in commercial broadcast journalism, the majority of which was in San Francisco (NBC, ABC). During his professional life, he won seven Emmy’s for photography, editing, lighting and producing. He has also won first place in the National Press Photographers feature category and first place at the New York Film Festival for best documentary, in addition to numerous other national and regional awards.

 

Ronald G. Davis

Gave a number of lectures in Canada on “Ecological Aesthetics” at York University Toronto, another at Concordia University in Montreal .

Finishing a rewrite of my Dissertation on “Ecological Aesthetics “ and recently wrote the script for an Oratorio on “Glacial Melt and Sea Level Rise : (There are no solutions) to be done with chorus and band. Classical composer Joyce Todd of Berkeley will turn the script into a performance piece for a 16 women’s chorus.

 

Robert “Robin” Huber,

Robert “Robin” Huber, 1971 Theatre Design M.A., went on to earn a Ph.D. in Theatre History from the University of Southern California. He is recognized as the foremost authority on The Merced (1870), Los Angeles’ first permanent professional theatre. Huber retired simultaneously from both the California State University and Community College systems in 2009. He had taught at CSULA, Dominguez Hills, Golden West, and Cerritos colleges. While at Humboldt he was “adopted” by Marine Biology professor Gary Brusca, his family, and fellow professors. Huber is now embracing that Humboldt natural sciences spirit by working as a volunteer in natural resources at Chino Hills State Park near his home in Yorba Linda. 

Jason Isaac Esquerra

After graduating with a degree in Theater I worked as an actor in Los Angeles, New York, and The Oregon Shakespear Festival.

M. Scott Grabau

M. Scott Grabau joined the Irvine Valley College Theater Department full-time faculty this semester.  His professional design credits include: ‘da Kink In My Hair [NAACP Award], Don Quixote, Aint Misbehavin, The Goat, Long Story Short, and Superior Donuts (San Diego Repertory); The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dreamgirls, Annie Get Your Gun, Me and My Girl (Moonlight Stage); Romeo y Julieta (Old Globe/CECUT); The Book of Liz, The Santaland Diaries, Pageant, Curse of the Starving Class [Pattè award], Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (Cygnet Theatre); No Way to Treat a Lady, The Smell of the Kill, Dracula [Pattè award], Back to Bacharach, The Chosen, A Thousand Clowns, and Romeo and Juliet (North Coast Repertory). He received his MFA degree from UC San Diego and has assisted on shows at South Coast Repertory, ACT in Seattle, Sacramento Music Circus and the La Jolla Playhouse. Visit his website at http://www.mscottdesign.com.

Daniel Reid

I’m now studying architecture at the University of Oregon, and my wife Monica & I have just welcomed our first child, Stella Evelyn Reid.

Gary

After knocking around the U S Army for some 30 odd years, a few teaching gigs, a couple of academic administrator runs, I closed out my working career in Tucson, AZ with IATSE Locals 415 & 485, returned to California, remarried, and now reside in Erie, PA along the shore of Lake Erie...ain’t that eerie?

Dr. Bradley W. Sabelli

BRADLEY W. SABELLI, 1970 Theatre, Film & Dance, writes that Humboldt is his favorite program of the five he has graduated from. “Bless Richard Rothrock!” Rothrock was Sabelli’s advisor and mentor during his stay as the ATD in the scene shop. Since then Sabelli has had a wonderful career in the theatrical world. Thanks to this department he has made a successful living at “pretending and make believe.” Sabelli recently retired from the department of theatre and dance at George Washington University where he held the rank of University Professor Emeritus; having served as chair, TD, and senior designer. Sabelli has designed in professional, academic and military venues and career highlights include: former chair of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Chesapeake region; published intro to theatre texts and served on numerous editorial boards.

Allison Castner

Allison Castner, 1994 Theatre, Film & Dance, has been teaching drama at a K3-12 grade Christian school in the San Fernando Valley for the last 18 years. Castner writes that she is grateful that Humboldt’s Theatre Arts program allowed her to take a wide variety of classes. In a small school the drama program director is the play producer, director, technical director, production stage manager (training new stage managers every show), scenic designer, lighting designer, sound designer, props procurer, costume procurer, publicity crew, house manager, and trainer of all the actors and technical crew, usually with less than 3 days for tech week.

Lou Richards

Lou Richards, ’90 Theatre, moved to Arizona after graduating Humboldt, where he lived for ten years. Richards pursued his long-held goal of joining the Peace Corps. He volunteered in Ukraine from 2005-2008 and in Kazakhstan from 2009-2010. Richards recalls his time in the Peace Corps being his experience of a lifetime and he heartily recommends anyone to join regardless of their age. 

William Roberts

William Roberts, 1967, Theatre Arts, followed his undergraduate education earning degrees from UC Riverside and the University of Manchester, where he took his diploma in Drama in 1969. Roberts spent five years as an actor and director with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival from 1963 to 1972. He has been a resident of Britain and a member of the British Actor’s Equity since the late ‘60s. A broadly experienced actor and voice artiste, he is a frequent reader of American works on BBC Radio and for various audio publishers. He is often heard voicing “heavy” characters in major video games. His film and television appearances include “Behind Closed Doors,” “Infinite Justice,” “Cold Moutain,” and 2015’s “Mission Impossible—Rogue Nation.” Roberts recently published two novellas set on the North Coast, where he was raised. “The Humanist,” a mystery novel, is set in Shelter Cove in Mendocino County. His second book, “An Ill Wind,” takes place in Del Norte County, with scenes set in San Francisco, L.A., and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He is also a private pilot based in London. 

Robert “Robin” Huber

Robert “Robin” Huber, 1971 Theatre Design M.A., went on to earn a Ph.D. in Theatre History from the University of Southern California. He is recognized as the foremost authority on The Merced (1870), Los Angeles’ first permanent professional theatre. Huber retired simultaneously from both the California State University and Community College systems in 2009. He had taught at CSULA, Dominguez Hills, Golden West, and Cerritos colleges. While at Humboldt he was “adopted” by Marine Biology professor Gary Brusca, his family, and fellow professors. Huber is now embracing that Humboldt natural sciences spirit by working as a volunteer in natural resources at Chino Hills State Park near his home in Yorba Linda.