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
CoPA student Logyn Okuda works with acclaimed film composer Michael Giacchino on scoring major motion pictures
Before he even leaves the walls of Chapman, Logyn Okuda is working up quite the professional résumé for a career in music. Logyn is on a fast track to meet his goals of writing music for film and TV, combining his studies in the College of Performing Arts and Dodge College of Film and Media
Three Opera Chapman Productions Nominated for American Prize Contest
Three of CoPA’s productions this season have been honored as national finalists for The American Prize in Opera Performance. Along with this, Director of Opera Chapman, Marc Callhan, has been named a finalist for the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize for Stage Directors for Fright Night! The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing
Music Alum Olivia Mello ('20) Graduates from Yale Law School
CoPA grads go on to apply their skills in all types of fields, even law! Olivia Mello (’20) earned her BM in Piano Performance studying with Dr. Grace Fong, and she recently completed her studies at Yale Law School. Here’s what she has to say about her time at CoPa: “I’m so grateful for my
CoPA Named as a Top Performing Arts School
According to collegefactual.com, CoPA ranks #3 among California schools for performing arts and #11 among the entire country! The individual dance, music, and theatre programs also rank highly, as reported by the same source. Theatre: #2 in CA, #11 in USA Department of Theatre students gain real-world experience from working onstage and backstage with industry
CoPA Student and Alumnus Awarded Leatherby Libraries Research Prizes
Megan Lewandowski, a CoPA student double majoring in Music & Psychology, and Connor Bogenreif, a CoPA alumnus, staff member, faculty member, and Chapman doctoral student, have each won a Leatherby Libraries research prize! Both Megan and Connor participated in The Panther Network Mentoring program this semester, which brings together alumni with current students, and they
CoPA Alumnus William Lü Launches Dance Film Workshop in Taiwan
College of Performing Arts graduate William Lü will collaborate with talented Taiwanese filmmaker, Grace Peng, to establish a dance film workshop in Taipei, Taiwan, this summer. Chapman students have the opportunity to receive scholarships to attend this unique workshop. The duo will host a one-week workshop designed primarily for college students and aspiring professionals. The