Summer Institute : Theater : Faculty
The People + Faculty
The Theater program is administered by working professionals from the New York Broadway stage, the faculty of the University of the Arts, the alumni of UArts, the vibrant and active Philadelphia arts community, as well as other specialty artists.
Artistic Director
Sally Mayes will visit us this summer from NYC where she works as an actress and singer. The New York Times calls her "a singer of incandescent ebullience, deliciously saucy." People magazine describes her as "the kind of rich theatrical voice that elevates a show tune." And Time magazine says, "Sally Mayes renders songs as richly nuanced as one-act plays."
Sally Mayes made her Broadway debut in Cy Coleman's "Welcome to the Club." Her performance won critical praise along with a Theatre World Award and Outer Critics Circle nomination as one of Broadway's outstanding newcomers. On Broadway, Sally is perhaps best known for her performance in the Roundabout Theatre revival of "She Loves Me" for which she won Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations. "Urban Cowboy" garnered her another Drama Desk nomination, (Featured Actress in a Musical), and she most recently appeared in "Steel Magnolias."
She has also starred in several Off-Broadway productions, including "Closer Than Ever" (Outer Critics Circle nomination), and "Das Barbeque," "Pete N' Kelly" (Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical). She drew raves as Mae West in the National Tour of "Dirty Bonde." Film and television credits include "City Hall" and "Bye Bye Birdie," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," "Sex and the City" and "The Job." Sally also appears on countless cast recordings, including "Closer Than Ever," "She Loves Me," "Das Barbeque," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Lost in Boston," "Unsung Musicals," "Unsung Sondheim," "Night of the Hunter," etc. Sally has four solo albums, "The Dorothy Fields Songbook," "Our Private World: The Comden and Green Songbook," "The Story Hour," "Boys and Girls Like You and Me," and her latest release "Valentine."
Her rare and much anticipated nightclub appearances have garnered her rave reviews from coast to coast and she has been nominated for 12 Manhattan Association of Cabaret (MAC) awards and has won two Bistros for excellence in Cabaret and recording.
Sally attended the University of Houston.
Faith Prince
Guest Artist/Master Instructor
Faith Prince has been dazzling Broadway audiences since winning the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Ms. Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls." In 2008, she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for "A Catered Affair." Other Broadway credits include "The Little Mermaid," "Bells Are Ringing" (Tony, DD, OCC noms), "Nick & Nora" (OCC Award), "Jerome Robbins’ Broadway" (Tony, DD noms), "Little Me," "The Dead" and "Noises Off." She also starred in the world premiere of Terrence McNally’s "Unusual Acts of Devotion." Most recently, Faith starred in the national tour of the Broadway hit "Billy Elliott."
Faith currently recurs on Lifetime’s hit series "Drop Dead Diva" as Brooke Elliott’s mother, Elaine. She was a series regular on Showtime's "Huff" starring as Kelly Knippers, the love interest of Oliver Platt, and recurred for five seasons on "Spin City." Other television credits include "A Gifted Man," "Happy Endings," "Ugly Betty," "Grey’s Anatomy," "CSI," "Faith," "House," "Medium," "Sweet Potato Queens," "Monk," "Now and Again," "Welcome to New York" and "Law and Order." Film credits include "Our Very Own," "Picture Perfect," "Dave" and "My Father the Hero."
Faith works often with the Boston Pops, Utah Symphony, Cincinnati Pops and Philly Pops, and recently starred in the Orlando Philharmonic’s concert version of "Sweeney Todd." Faith toured her show "Moving On" in Australia to rave reviews, and also toured in "Over the Rainbow," a concert celebrating the centennial of Harold Arlen. Faith’s new album, "Total Faith," was recorded at the Royal Room in the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach and will be released soon. Her award winning album, "A Leap Of Faith," was recorded at Joe's Pub and is available on DRG records.
Actress Romy Rosemont has the face that is instantly familiar. Recently she is most recognizable as Finn’s mom, Carole Hudson, on Fox’s Emmy-nominated hit series "Glee." Time magazine praises her performance as "…a brilliant bit of characterization through small moments." Romy loves this role as a widowed mom who recently married Kurt’s dad, Burt Hummel (played by Mike O’Malley).
Rosemont is proud of her reputation as a gifted go-to character actress and has numerous film and television credits on her impressive resume. She was featured alongside Catherine Keener in "Please Give" and also appeared with Jennifer Aniston in director/writer Nicole Holofcenter’s "Friends with Money." She recently co-starred in Lifetime’s "A Taste of Romance" with Teri Polo and Hallmark’s "Drew Peterson: Untouchable" alongside Rob Lowe. Romy has had recurring roles on "CSI," "Justified," "Brothers & Sisters," "Prison Break" and "Swing Town." She has guest-starred on countless television series including "Castle," "Up All Night," "Law & Order: SVU," "CSI: Miami," "Private Practice," "Grey’s Anatomy," "Harry's Law," "Big Love" and "Drop Dead Diva." She has also created the web series "Bitter Party of 5" with her castmates from Downwardly Mobile, a pilot she shot last year starring Roseanne Barr and John Goodman. They are hoping to move BPO5 from the web to television in the future.
Born in New York, Romy moved with her family to Los Angeles when she was 9 years old. She spent much of her time "growing up on set" as her father, Norman Rosemont, is an Emmy-winning producer. During the summers, Romy worked as a P/A, stand-in, extra, costumer and a number of other jobs on her dad’s productions. Her time behind the scenes has given Romy a unique perspective on the industry and respect for the entire filmmaking process.
Romy attended Northwestern University where she studied theater and developed a love of improv. Romy was the first woman to direct the university’s popular comedy improv "The Meow Show." After graduation, Romy worked as an assistant at both ICM and CAA, two of the entertainment industry’s powerhouse agencies, before starting her own personal assistant business. Although Romy made her feature film debut in the horror picture "Bad Dreams," it wasn’t until she had a role in "My Life," starring Nicole Kidman, that Romy made the decision that she would either "make a living as an actress or starve."
Romy is married to another of the industry’s finest character actors, Stephen Root, and was extremely excited when the two of them got to appear together in an episode of "Fringe" this past fall. She is extremely proud of her 24-year-old stepson, Cody, who is a talented drummer and fitness trainer and also of her other two "children," Bazooka Joe, the photogenic dog she rescued, and Purdy, the equally photogenic but decidedly undisciplined pup she and her husband recently added to the family.
She is active with the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and looks forward to raising money and walking the 39.3 miles each year.
Forrest McClendon is a Tony Award nominee for his Broadway debut as Mr. Tambo in "The Scottsboro Boys," first created at the Vineyard and Guthrie Theaters. Post-Broadway, Forrest reprised the role at the Philadelphia Theatre Company (Barrymore Award) and will appear in the London premiere at the Young Vic this fall.
Forrest is currently playing "Othello" at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre and conducting workshops in local high schools. Last fall, he played Friar Lawrence in "Romeo and Juliet" at the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival.
Forrest also teaches for the Ira Brind School of Theater at the University of the Arts and the Esther Boyer College of Music & Dance at Temple University. Forrest is a UConn graduate.
Kate Galvin is a freelance director and associate producer for 11th Hour Theatre Company. Prior to joining 11th Hour, Kate spent seven years as casting director at Walnut Street Theatre, where she cast over 70 productions.
Recent directing projects include Vincent in "Brixton" (Walnut), "Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson" (11th Hour), "Princess Ida" (UArts), "Devotedly, Sincerely Yours" (Philly Fringe) and "Proof" (Walnut/National Tour). She is co-creator of the musical "Austentatious," which has been produced in London, Philadelphia, New York and Calgary, and is published by Playscripts, Inc.
She holds degrees in Musical Theatre from NYU and Goldsmiths, University of London.
Megan Nicole O'Brien, co-founder and resident director of 11th Hour Theatre Company, is a University of the Arts alumna and a three-time Barrymore nominee.
Directing credits include "Blues in the Night" and "The Bombitty of Errors" (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), "An Infinite Ache" (Theatre Horizon), "Little Shop of Horrors" (11th Hour/Theatre Horizon), "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" (Barrymore Nomination), "Reefer Madness" (11th Hour/Montgomery Theater), "Rent" (11th Hour Theatre Company/MPIRP at Drexel University), "The Marvelous Wonderettes," "Rooms," "Avenue X" (Barrymore Nomination), "The Bombitty of Errors" (Barrymore Nomination), "tick, tick...BOOM!" (all for 11th Hour Theatre Company), "The Irish...and How They Got That Way" (Walnut Street Theatre/The Kimmel Center), "High Fidelity" (University of the Arts) and "Adding Machine: A Musical" (University of the Arts.)
Megan has assisted such directors as Mark Clements, Aaron Posner, Walter Dallas, Richard Parison, Jr., Joe Calarco and Pam MacKinnon. Megan has served as a teaching artist for 11th Hour Theatre Company, the Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre Company and Theatre Horizon. She also teaches drama to adults coping with autism.
Michael is an actor, director, producer and teaching artist. As an actor, he is a three-time Barrymore Award nominee, winning the award for Leading Actor in a Musical in 2009.
Regional credits include Milwaukee Rep, TUTS, the York Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center. Favorite Philadelphia credits include "Plaid Tidings," "Grand Night for Singing," "Les Miserable," "Godspell" (Walnut Street Theatre); "Sweeney Todd," "Parade" - fall 2013 (Arden Theatre); "John & Jen" (Act 2 Playhouse); "Rooms," "Rent," "Avenue X," "Ordinary Days," and many more (11th Hour).
He is also the producing artistic director and co-founder of 11th Hour Theatre Company in Philadelphia.
