Motifs: January 2023

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Janet Eilber (IAC/NMC 62-64, 66-68; IAA 64-69; IAC/NMC Fac 70, 72) recently celebrated 50 years with the Martha Graham Dance Company. The company’s current artistic director, Eilber, joined the company as a dancer in 1972. Eilber’s Interlochen Arts Academy classmate and friend Peter Sparling (AS 64-69, IAA 66-69, IAC/NMC St 70, IAC/NMC Fac 72) shared a tribute to Eilber during her 50th anniversary party.

Richard Eisenberg (IAC/NMC 69-72) received the Presbyterian Senior Services 2022 Impact Award for Leadership in Positive Aging in May 2022. The award honors his work to inspire people 50 and older to live with passion and purpose.

Margot Marlatt (IAA 78-80, IAC St 82) premiered Allen McCullough's Sonata for Cello and Piano, which was written for her, with pianist Haewon Yang. The sold-out performance was hosted by the Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society in Lafayette, Indiana.

Dermot Mulroney (IAC/NMC 79) will star in the forthcoming neo-western crime thriller, The Man in the Long Black Coat.

Ed Helms (IAC 91) will star opposite Jennifer Garner in the Netflix comedy Family Leave. The film, which will be directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol (known professionally as “McG”), is based on the book Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

Matthew Kraemer (IAC 93) was recently appointed the new Music Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Kraemer will begin his role in July and will be formally introduced in mid-September.

Ryan Spahn (IAA 95-98) portrays “Frances” in the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Jane Anger. The comedy, which opened Dec. 13, 2022 at the Klein Theatre in Washington, D.C., is directed by Jess Chayes and stars Michael Urie as “William Shakespeare” and Amelia Workman as “Jane Anger.”

Michael Arden (IAC 99, IAA 99-01) directed Get Happy: A Judy Garland Centennial Celebration, which was performed at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 12, 2022. The program, which featured Broadway stars Jessica Vosk and Andy Karl, celebrated Garland’s life and legacy through live performances of selections from Garland’s songbook and rare footage of Garland performing.

NBC News Correspondent Josh Lederman (IAC 00-01, IAA 02-03) won the 2022 News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Breaking News Coverage for NBC's coverage of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Lederman reported live on air from the Capitol throughout the attack.

Sara Ptak (IAC 00-02) launched Miss Sara’s Music Room, a children’s YouTube series that explores social and emotional learning through songs and stories.

Evan Kuhlmann (IAA 00-02) recently joined the Colburn School’s Community School of Performing Arts as an instructor of bassoon. Kuhlmann was appointed contrabassoon of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2018.

Erik Finley (IAA 01-02) will join the Minnesota Orchestra as the Leni and David Moore, Jr. Vice President of Artistic Planning on Jan. 30, 2023.

Collin Baja (IAA 01-04) was one of two actors who portray "Sven the Reindeer" in the national tour of Frozen the Musical. Baja recently shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the character comes to life through the assistance of a 50-pound puppet and chatted with the San Mateo Daily Journal about his journey from dance to acting, auditioning for the role of "Sven," and more.

Ashley Park (IAC 03) partnered with Rent the Runway to create a holiday clothing collection. The eight party-ready silhouettes were inspired by Park’s personal holiday style.

Tove Danovich’s (IAA 04-08) debut nonfiction book Under the Henfluence: Inside the World of Backyard Chickens and the People Who Love Them is a heartfelt mix of memoir and reporting about Danovich's flock and how humans and chickens have both been changed by the birds' domestication. It will be released by Agate (U.S.) and William Collins (U.K.) on March 28, 2023.

Jerreme Rodriguez (IAA 06-07) portrayed "Bob Cratchit" in Pittsburgh CLO’s 31st annual production of A Musical Christmas Carol. The show, which starred Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris, ran Dec. 9-23 at the historic Byham Theater.

Nic Weinfeld (IAC 09, IAA 10-12) was recently named one of Forbes’ “30 under 30” in the Marketing & Advertising category. Weinfeld is the founder of Five to Sixty, a creative agency that has worked with brands such as Starbucks, Pepsi, and L’Oreal. Weinfeld recently won a 2022 Bronze Cannes Lion and a 2022 Ad Agency Creative award for his work for Popeyes.

Madison Douglas (IAC 10-11, IAA 13-15), who performs under the name Rett Madison, opened for Elle King, Sheryl Crow, and Melissa Etheridge over the summer. She will tour with St. Paul and the Broken Bones in January and February of 2023.

Chloe Geller (IAA 13-17) is currently serving as the music assistant for the Broadway production of Some Like It Hot, which opened Dec. 11, 2022 at the Shubert Theater. Geller is also studying at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, the premiere training ground for emerging musical theatre composers, lyricists, and librettists.

Livi Dillon (IAC 14-16, IAA 15-17) performed with McKenna Grace on The Today Show on Dec. 1, 2022.

Grace Baer (IAC 15, IAA 15-17) signed a publishing deal with Matter Music in November 2022.

Claud (IAA 16-17) opened for rock band Paramore during their fall 2022 tour, which took place from Oct. 2 to Nov. 19 and included 17 performances in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Kate Hamann (IAA 16-18) released her second album, Momentary Beauty, on Nov. 18, 2022. Featuring Hamann on trumpet, flugelhorn, and vocals, Momentary Beauty tells a love story from its giddy beginnings to its heartbreaking final moments.

Josey Long (IAC 21-22), who releases music under her stage name, Josey Indigo, released her debut EP Bird Songs on streaming platforms on Dec. 9, 2022. Josey finds poetry and music in everyday objects and experiences. She often infuses personal emotions into her songs, writing about self-doubt and sorrow as well as subtle teenage angst.