UNCSA Scene magazine

The latest issue of Scene magazine is here. Read on for stories about UNCSA students, alumni, faculty and staff. The new issue includes a look at how UNCSA alumni are impacting the worlds of theater and opera, how alumni have helped fuel the return of live entertainment, a focus on episodic storytelling in the School of Filmmaking, and so much more. Explore stories from the current issue below, or view the magazine in its print format.

Recent Scene Stories

From the world's stages to Winston-Salem, René Barbera's global career is propelled by UNCSA

UNCSA alumnus René Barbera has appeared on the stages of the world's major opera houses and concert halls. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2016, and has been delighting audiences at Teatro alla Scala, Paris Opera, Palau de les Arts, Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, and Dutch National Opera, among many others.

Gregg Mozgala harnesses theater to open dialogue — and authentic opportunities — for actors with disabilities

Art has an unmatched capacity for opening the door to critical conversations. Gregg Mozgala (H.S. Drama '96) has come to rely on that in his work as an actor and artistic director of his own theater company, The Apothetae.

Serial entertainment: shifting paradigms for an evolving industry

Thanks to the advent of online streaming, the audience for serial entertainment has exploded. In 2021, a record 559 shows debuted on screens across the U.S. and Canada. In a reflection of these industry trends, creating work for the small screen is now an important part of the training at the School of Filmmaking.

Student Spotlight: Marina Zurita

It's not easy for Marina Zurita (B.F.A. Drama '22) to pinpoint the moment she fell in love with theater and directing. All she knows is that she's always loved creating, especially with other people.

Backstage: Endalyn Taylor

Endalyn Taylor has the broad-spectrum experience necessary to lead the School of Dance at UNCSA in today's rapidly evolving dance world. A former principal dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), Taylor also appeared on Broadway and served as director of the DTH School and associate professor of dance at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign.

Ask the expert: Bill Ellis

In 1999, alumnus Bill Ellis co-founded Candela Controls Inc., a company specializing in lighting system integration and control, where he has been able to apply his UNCSA training in lighting and audio to a range of projects, from theme parks to museums and more.

A Season of Change

The 2021-22 performance season was filled with rich programming that underscored the university's commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB). The arts schools showcased works by underrepresented voices, invited a variety of guest artists to our stages, and told compelling stories that help broaden our view of the world.

Student Spotlight: Jett Lecamu

When Winston-Salem native Jett Lecamu first asked his mom to take him to dance classes at the age of five, he fell in love with the art form and has never looked back. After four years of ballet training, he enrolled in the Preparatory Dance Program and was immediately drawn to UNCSA.

Soundbite: Zach Seivers

Alumnus Zach Seivers has worked on sound design or as supervising sound editor for everything from television documentaries — he won a Primetime Emmy for his work on the History Channel's "Gettysburg" — to the Best Picture Oscar-winning "Nomadland."

A Whole New World — Alumni bring Broadway back to life with hope for the future

UNCSA alumni are back on the boards, bringing both classics and new works to audiences on Broadway, and beyond.

Alumni Reveal The Secrets Of Producing With New Book

Filmmaking alumnae Jennifer Haire (B.F.A. '02) and Gilana M. Lobel (B.F.A. '05) unlock the inner workings of the film and television production office with their new book, "Keys to the Production Office" (Routledge/Focal Press), available now.

A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at UNCSA celebrates its 20th anniversary

Since its official launch in 2002, the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute has flourished, presenting two fully staged operas a season in coordination with the School of Design and Production, and bringing in a who's who of opera greats to work with Fellows, including Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, Sherrill Milnes and Anthony Dean Griffey.