Since its inception in the Fall of 1964, the College of Marin Theater Arts Department has produced some of the most exciting and provocative theater seen in Marin County. Literally thousands of students have attended the College’s Theater Arts classes and our alumni have been successful in all fields of theater and allied arts. Among these distinguished alumni are: Robin Williams, David Dukes, Kathleen Quinlan, Kurtwood Smith, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Guest Artists David Ogden Stiers and John Houseman, to name a few. Currently we have students all over the country working in repertory, film and television, directing on and off Broadway, voice overs, teaching theater in high schools, conservatories and universities as well as attending such institutions as Julliard, North Carolina School of the Arts, and New York University. In 2015, College of Marin’s Drama Department received a State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition for 50 years on stage from Senator Mike McGuire.
Highlights and Distinctions
2003
The Theater Arts Department presented an original play - Eleven Variations on Friar John’s Failure - by one of its students, which is subsequently published by Playscripts and given a full run at the College.
1997
The entire campus participated in an interdisciplinary study of the 1960s (politics, arts, culture) culminating in a production of HAIR which featured 2 directors, 2 choreographers and 2 music directors, all faculty members. The 600 seat theater was sold out every night.
1984
Nicholas Nickelby is the first college production to win a Bay Area Critics Circle Award.
1983
A round-the-clock reading of Shakespeare’s complete works featured Robin Williams performing A Comedy of Errors as a solo piece. The Bard-a-thon was organized by Ronald Krempetz. People came in from all over the world to be a part of this event.1971
Taming of the Shrew, wild west style, was invited to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It won the Best Production and a command performance was given for Princess Margaret.
Former Students Who Work Professionally in the Field
- Robin Williams, Four time Academy Award-winning films, and TV actor and comedian. He also received five Grammys, four Golden Globe Awards, two Emmys, and one Oscar.
- Kathleen Quinlan, Golden Globe Nominated performance and two-time Academy Award Nominated Film and television actress
- Joel Blum, two-time Tony Award nominee
- Daniel Stewart Sherman, multiple on and off Broadway credits, as well as film and TV actor
- Wendy Robie, Stage, film and television actress (TWIN PEAKS, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Canada)
- Paul Schoeffler, Broadway actor (Capt. Hook in PETER PAN)
- The late David Dukes, Two-time Tony-Award nominated stage, film and TV actor
- Grant Albrecht, stage and film actor
- Steve Barclay, Lecture agent
- Yuri Baronovsky, Playwright (Most performed play – 11 VARIATIONS ON FRIAR JOHN’S FAILURE)
- Ishiah Benben, Film actress
- Sharon Boucher, Actress and community theatre director
- Bart Braverman, TV actor
- Kale (David) Brown, TV actor
- Dena Burke, College Professor
- John Chapot, Film and theatre grip
- Mark Clark, Artistic Director, Novato Theatre Company
- Patti Colombo, Broadway Choreographer (PETER PAN)
- Robert Cooper, Screen writer, puppeteer and creature maker
- Vikki D’Orazi, Local actress
- Bob Dickey, Film and TV actor
- Dodds Delzell, Actor and art director
- Deborah Faw, Professional singer
- Patrick Faw, Art Director, television
- Anthony Fusco, Stage and TV actor, Company member ACT, San Francisco, Marin Theatre Company
- Danny Mastrogiorgio, Stage, Film and TV Actor (Sopranos, Law & Order, Elementary, Bluebloods). Voice over in Grand Theft Auto video game
- Heather Gordon, Miss Marin County 2008 and Bay Area actress, graduate of Harvard’s ART program, a regular on Turner Classic Movies
- Kristen Greer, Stage actress
- James Harper, Stage, Film and TV actor
- Leaza Haydock, Lighting Technician
- Leslie Hendrix, Stage and TV Actress (Regular on LAW & ORDER)
- Richard Howard, Actor, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
- Steve Irish, Professional actor
- Jeffrey Josephson, Film actor
- Kent Kay, Professional TV set designer
- The late Denise Kirchner, Professional properties and costume designer
- Karen Kizer, Drama Instructor and local actress
- Anni Long, Actress and former local President of the Screen Actors’ Guild
- Joe Lucas, Professional actor and teacher
- Lee Ann Manley, Professional stage actress
- Dakin Matthews, Guest Artist, College Professor, professional actor and playwright, Broadway, TV, film
- John McDill, Professional actor, singer
- Howard McMaster, Professional actor
- K.B. Mercer, Artistic Director, Traveling Lantern Children’s Theatre, San Diego
- Judy Navas, Chair., Sonoma State Drama Department
- Judy Nichols, Artistic director, community theatre, Bremmerton, Washington
- Soren Oliver, Stage actor
- Gregg Olsson, 3D computer graphics artist, scenic artist, Pixar Studios, Elaine Orth, Professional dancer
- Elaine Orth, Professional dancer
- Marcia Pizzo, Stage, TV and film actress and voice-over artist
- Matt Randall, Community College Theatre Instructor, East Coast
- Alice Rorvik, Professional actress
- Pat Ryan, Film and theater grip
- Kathrine Selig, Stage Manager, Joffrey Ballet
- Barry Sherman, Stage and film actor
- David Silverman, Director and choreographer
- David G. Smith, Drama Instructor, Drake High School
- Christy Strahan, Television producer
- Sandra Tanner Mack, Choreographer, Dance Instructor
- Kim Taylor, Theatrical publicist
- Ted Weiner, Radio host and program director
- Alissa Welsch, Drama teacher
- Robert A. Williams, Jr., Sound Engineer
- Karl Wolfesberger, Union Stage Hand
- James Young, Stage actor
- Jonathan Zeichner, Actor and screenwriter
- Susan Zelinsky, Professional singer and stage actress
- Greg Zinger, Playwright and film maker