Class Notes

CAST & CHARACTERS: Alumni who made Musical Theater Workshop part of their undergraduate experience returned to campus this spring to celebrate the success of the program over more than 30 years.

The weekend-long event, which culminated in a production in Lower Strong Auditorium, was a tribute to the program’s founders: Kim Kowalke, a professor of music in the School of Arts & Sciences and a professor at the Eastman School of Music, and noted Rochester director David Runzo.

Kowalke—who along with Runzo founded the program in 1987, organizing a student-driven, Broadway-style revue nearly every year—is retiring this spring from his position at the University.

Joining Kowalke and Runzo (seated at the top of the stairs) were—from the back (left to right)—Zachary Peterson ’16E (MM), Ben Thorburn ’05, Daniel Israel ’05, Matthew Myers ’11 (T5), Justin Maldonado ’18, Tess Troha-Thompson ’06, Sarah Seider ’08, Cory Clines ’01, Sarah Heximer Klompstra ’05 ’06S (MBA), Jeff Kalpakis ’03, Matt Hall ’03, Jason McCool ’97E, Heather Good ’07 (T5), Benjamin Schudel ’03, James Zino ’11, Clive Onyango ’21, Max Denler ’03. In the middle row: Brooke Brehm ’16, Caroline Ferguson ’15, Miranda Gauvin ’04, Kristine Wadosky ’09, Syanis Vargas ’21, Melissa Markley Claar ’01, Hana Abrams ’12 ’14E (MM), Colby Dayton ’19, Mel Balzano Gumina ’12, and Lisa Conlon ’02E. In the front row: Andrew Polec ’12, Colleen Parker McMahon ’00, Jennie Fagen ’07, Kary Haddad ’04 ’06E (MM), Jody Cutler ’89, Lee Wichman ’91, Paul Aiello ’96, Angela Cucci Rice ’03, Michael (Tuba) McKinsey ’02 ’02E, and Rob Weinstein ’02 ’04 (MA).

—Jeanette Colby