Alumni Spotlight Interviews
AN AFTERNOON WITH TAFFY BRODESSER-AKNER '97
NYU Tisch Alumni Relations sat down with Taffy Brodesser-Akner ’97 (BFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing), acclaimed journalist and author of "Fleishman is in Trouble" and the recently released "Long Island Compromise", for a candid conversation amidst the chaos of life and deadlines.
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A CONVERSATION WITH ‘SUFFS’ PRODUCER RACHEL SUSSMAN ‘12: HER JOURNEY OF BRINGING THE SUFFRAGISTS TO THE STAGE
When she was young, Rachel Sussman '12 (BFA, Drama) developed a deep interest in the Women's Suffrage Movement, a decades-long protest that won women in the United States the right to vote. This interest laid the foundation of what would become Broadway's newest hit show, Suffs.
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SAL PEREZ ’06 ON PRESERVING SESAME STREET’S LONG LEGACY OF REPRESENTATION
Sal Perez '06 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) is the first Latinx Executive Producer for 'Sesame Street'. NYU Tisch Alumni Relations spoke with him to learn more about his time as a student and his journey into the role.
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How Cornelius Smith Jr. '07 Found his Voice as Frederick Douglass
Cornelius Smith Jr. '07 started his career as an actor on the stage, and after many years on camera, he has returned to his roots as Frederick Douglass in Charles Randolph-Wright's 'American Prophet'.
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Dan Erickson '10 and the 10 Year Journey to Creating Severance on Apple TV+
When Dan Erickson '10 was living and working temp jobs in LA, he found himself wishing he could just fast forward through the work day. Ten years later, he turned that one idea into the new AppleTV+ smash hit, 'Severance'.
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A 30 Year Almost Romance, Sparked at NYU Tisch
Nancy Balbirer ’87 and Howard Morris ’86 met as Tisch Drama students, where they developed mutual unspoken crushes. Nearly 30 years later, the pair finally married. Nancy recently published her memoir 'Almost Romance', detailing the journey.
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Natalie Jasmine Harris '20 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV)
As Natalie Jasmine Harris ’20 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) began to envision and write her thesis film as a senior in NYU Tisch’s Film & TV department, she had no way of knowing how this film would propel her career after school, nor the events that would unfold over the next two years.
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Alle Hsu '16 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)
Alle Hsu’ 16 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film) is no stranger to a good story. Hsu, a graduate of the final class to go through Tisch Asia, is the great-granddaughter of famed romantic Chinese poet, Xu Zhimo 徐志摩. Today, Hsu is a director and producer living in Orange County, CA, looking to tell her own story while still maintaining ties to her family history.
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Hinda Miller ’76 (MFA, Design for Stage & Theater) & Polly Smith ’75 (MFA, Design for Stage & Theater)
In 1977, alumnae Hinda Miller and Polly Smith created one of the most revolutionary athletic garments for women - the sports bra. Miller, Smith, and their co-creator Lisa Lindahl will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2022. Read their interview with NYU Tisch Alumni Relations.
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Mark Traub '80 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV)
Mark Traub ’80 (Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) was the beloved Stage Manager for The Today Show for 35 years. NYU Tisch took a moment to catch up with him in his retirement.
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Nick Wootton '94 (BFA, Dramatic Writing)
Nicholas Wootton ’94 (BFA, Dramatic Writing) was awarded the Mentor of the Year Award for his dedication to mentoring alumni through the Tisch Office of Career Development and Office of Alumni Relations.
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Damon Cardasis '06 (BFA, Drama)
Damon Cardasis '06 is an actor, producer, writer, festival director, and more! Read his interview with NYU Tisch Alumni Relations to find out what brought him to Tisch, and how it helped him grow.
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Leah Thomas '00/'11 (BFA, Drama/MA, Arts Politics)
For producer Leah Thomas '00/'11, it was always her intention to use film as a medium with which to inspire change. Read her interview with NYU Tisch Alumni Relations about how her time as a student here helped shape that path.
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Otto Cedeno '07 (BFA, Kanbar, Film & TV)
Otto Cedeno, the owner of "Otto's Tacos", talks about his education at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and how that helped him build a thriving brand.
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Richie Jackson '87 (BFA, Drama)
Tisch alumnus Richie Jackson ’87 (BFA, Drama), Executive Producer of "Nurse Jackie" and Co-Executive Producer of "Shortbus", has established a fellowship program in conjunction with the Tisch Office of Career Development to assist alumni make the transition from the classroom to a life-long career in the arts. Richie sat down with the Tisch Alumni Relations Office to talk about his career in the arts, and why it’s so important to give back to alumni who are just starting out.
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