Opera Chapman Receives Prestigious National Awards for 2024–2025 Productions
Congratulations to Opera Chapman for its outstanding achievements in prestigious national competitions across the United States. These honors not only highlight the strength of the program, but also affirm, as Opera Chapman Director Marc Callahan notes, “the care, imagination, and discipline that went into each production—and the collaborative spirit that runs through the Conservatory and
Chapman Dancers Open for Complexions Contemporary Ballet in New York City
Eight Chapman dancers received the special opportunity to open for the world-renowned Complexions Contemporary Ballet at the iconic Joyce Theater in New York City. This journey began with an audition in the spring semester, continued into rehearsals throughout the fall, and concluded with performances at both the Musco Center for the Arts and the Joyce
Recent CoPA Graduate Ariya Selvakumar Assists with Center Theatre Group's Production of American Idiot
Ariya Selvakumar (BA Theatre, Psychology minor), a Chapman University College of Performing Arts (CoPA) graduate in the class of 2024, continues to display Chapman’s values as she pursues her passions in the performing arts. Recently, Ariya had the opportunity to apprentice and assist with the projection design for Center Theatre Group’s production of Green Day’s
CoPA Alumna Kavita Rao’s Multifaceted Career in the Arts
Alumna Kavita Rao (‘05) studied Dance and Communications with a PR emphasis and continues to use the skills she learned at Chapman University in her career as a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, artistic director, and business owner today. Kavita has experienced many professional evolutions throughout her career. After graduating from Chapman in 2005, she used
Celebrating Faculty Excellence: Music Professor Dr. Nicholas Terry and His Ensembles Receive Prestigious Awards
The College of Performing Arts is proud to celebrate the recent achievements of Music professor and Director of Percussion Studies Dr. Nicholas Terry, whose leadership in music continues to shine on local and national stages. Brightwork Ensemble, a musical project that Dr. Terry helped establish 12 years ago, is a regular performer at Monk Space,
CoPA Theatre Student Brings Love for Performance to Life at Disneyland
We had the opportunity to chat with current sophomore Tehani Kekuawela (BFA Theatre Performance, Anthropology minor), who balances her time between classes at Chapman and performing as a cast member at Disneyland. She shared with us how her cultural roots inspire her passion for performance and future goals. This interview has been edited and condensed.
CoPA Professor John Benitz’s Documentary “Behind the Lines” Wins International Acclaim
We’re thrilled to celebrate the success of Behind the Lines, a powerful documentary directed by John Benitz, a professor in CoPA’s Theatre department. The film was recently awarded Best Documentary at the Croatia International Film Festival, a momentous achievement for a project that originated right here at Chapman. The documentary—narrated by Annette Bening and featuring
CoPA Theatre BA student expands her summer research into Senior Thesis
Theatre BA, Karli Jean Lonnquist, spent her summer as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow at Chapman’s Center for Undergraduate Excellence. In her exploration of how contemporary adaptations of historical plays help modern audiences respond to conflict, she developed a dual practice-as-research and qualitative methodology. Karli’s eight-week fellowship program included researching the process of theatrical adaptation
Screen Acting Grads Land Talent Representation After Showcase
Within three weeks after their Industry Showcase on May 7, nine graduating seniors from the Screen Acting Class of 2025 have secured professional representation—a remarkable achievement as they take their first steps into the entertainment industry. This exciting milestone reflects not only the talent and dedication of these emerging actors, but also the support and