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Theatre Alumni
Featured Alumni
Alumni Updates
Irma Gill
Theatre, 2019
After graduating with her B.A. in Theatre Arts and a minor in Dance Studies from Humboldt State University in 2019, Irma moved to the rainy city of Portland, Oregon, where she worked with a tiny theatre company as a touring actress. During her time in Portland, she also worked as a stand-in for Netflix's 'Trinkets' and TBS's 'CHAD'. During the 2020 pandemic, she decided to move back to her home state of California and began working on her Master of Fine Arts degree in Television, Film, & Theatre at California State University, Los Angeles. She graduated with her MFA in 2023. After earning her Master's degree, she was promoted and became the assistant manager of The Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. She has also been signed with Rectangle Entertainment, and her television debut was in 2023 when she was cast as Diane Zamora in season 1 of 'Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler'. Irma is now working as a campus admissions specialist at The Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood, CA, and continues to work actively in the film and television industry.
Kyle Ryan
Theatreminor in Dance, 2011
Kyle Ryan, 2011 Theatre, moved to Chicago with only a suitcase and lived in a one-bedroom apartment with four other HSU 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.
Jason Isaac Esquerra
Theatre, 1995
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
Theatre, 1992
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 www.mscottdesign.com.
Lou Richards
Theatre, 1990
Lou Richards, ’90 Theatre, moved to Arizona after graduating HSU, 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.
Louis A Richards
Theatre, 1990
Louis retired and is living the good life in Marina. After a career in the US Navy, service in the Peace Corps and years in other vocations, it's now his time to enjoy a life of relaxation.
Michael Murdock
Theatre, 1989
Michael Murdock, Theatre Arts, 1989, moved back to Los Angeles from the Seattle area to teach high school Drama at a private school for Twice Exceptional (2e) students.
Matt Edwards
Theatre, 1986
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 HSU. 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."
Stacey Powells
Theatre, 1982
Stacey Powells ('82, Theatre Arts) has published her first book, Empty Cupboards. It's a book of personal essays and an "analysis of the breakdown of a commonsensical, menopausing Leo, living in high altitude where oxygen is scant." The book shot up to #1 on the Amazon Mid-Life Essays category when it launched in September of 2022 and is still in the Top 10. Some of the stories have to do with her time at Humboldt, which was a very important time for her.
Joel D. Eis, MFA
Theatre, 1978
Joel Eis, MA, Theatre, '78, just published his 5th book, "Standin' in a Hard Rain, the Making a Revolutionary Life," with World BEYOND War Press in Charlottesville VA. (Available on Amazon.com). It's the life of a radial theatre activist (with an FBI file thick as a small city phonebook) from early teens through the current time. Says Eis, "The atmosphere in the theatre program at HSU in the '70's was a real engine. Risk-taking among a bunch of outlaws who knew their art. Professors with the wisdom to give good advice then get out of your way." Edgy, unbeatable.