Illinois Wesleyan School of Theatre Arts

Dusting off the feed for something special ✨

Please join us in welcoming our incredible incoming first-year class! Give them some love y’all! We can’t wait to meet you in person in the Fall💚

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Kaity Jones was awarded her BFA in Acting at Sunday’s commencement ceremony. Kaity is a member of the JM7* Improv Troupe and has worked at the front desk of both SoTA’s Mainstage Box Office and IWU’s Campus Safety. She is also the Senior Content Creator for the Official SoTA Social Media Team. (Hey, wait a second…) Kaity completed the Disney College Program in Fall 2024, where she worked at the theme park’s iconic Haunted Mansion. She has written and produced two short films while at IWU, one of which she also had the privilege of directing. Good luck out there, Kaity! We know you’re going to do great things.

- Logging out. ✌🏼

Headshot Photography: Brandon Dahlquist

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Jack Klein received his BFA in Music Theatre at yesterday’s commencement ceremony. Jack is the Artistic Director of the Student Choreographed Dance Concert, Secretary/Social Media Manager of the Quickies sketch comedy group, Historian/Social Media Manager for SoTA’s Music Theatre Society, and was part of directing/choreographing many student-led productions. Jack can also be seen working at the on-campus Coffee Shop. We’re gonna miss you, Jack! Always remember your SoTA family.

Headshot Photography: Brandon Dahlquist

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Liam-Cecilia Killian will be receiving their degrees in International and Global Studies and History with a minor in Theatre Arts at the end of this semester. They have presented historical research on the Black Panther party’s influence on post-Stonewall LGBTQ liberation struggles. Liam-Cecilia was also selected as a member of the Peace Fellows, an on-campus human rights fellowship. They are also involved in Resident Student Organizations such as the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity, Historia Society, and Model UN. They have also held a variety of jobs on campus, serving as a Multifaith Ambassador and as the Artistic Director / Cartoonist for the Argus student news organization. In addition to all of this, Liam-Cecilia also studied abroad, completing archival work in Europe, community engagement in Japan, and studying human rights in South Africa. Wow! Keep up all the amazing work, Liam-Cecilia! SoTA misses you already.

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Sam Landt will be receiving their BFA in Acting at the end of this semester. Fantastic work, Sam! We couldn’t be more proud of you.

Headshot Photography: Brandon Dahlquist

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Gabriella Rosen will be receiving her BFA in Acting at the end of this semester. Gabriella is the Co-Director of the JM7* Improv Troupe, and she also completed a Study Abroad program with an Acting Intensive in Ireland during Summer 2025. Way to go, Gabriella! SoTA is so proud of everything you’ve accomplished.

Headshot Photography: Brandon Dahlquist

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Terria O’Neal will be receiving her BFA in Music Theatre at the end of this semester. She is the Artistic Director of SoTA’s Music Theatre Society, Co-Artistic Director of the Shringara Theatre RSO, and a former member of the Quickies Sketch Comedy Troupe. Terria also works between classes (and jam sessions) in the Music Theatre Library. We’re so proud of you, Terria! Your SoTA family is excited to see you grow.

Headshot Photography: Brandon Dahlquist

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Malea Niesen will be receiving her BFA in Music Theatre at the end of this semester. Offstage, they also tried their hand at Assistant Wig Design and have assisted with Swords classes. She’s even SAFD certified. Congrats, Malea! Your SoTA family is always cheering you on.

Headshot Photography: Brandon Dahlquist

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Kate Cuznetova will be receiving her BFA in Acting at the end of this semester. She is an international student from Moldova. Fun Fact: Kate successfully completed an Independent Study during her time at IWU, in which she explored the nuances of translation with Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya”. Let’s go, Kate! We can’t wait to see what you do next.

Headshot Photography: Brandon Dahlquist

SENIOR SHOUTOUT! Jack Berleman-Paul will be receiving his BFA in Music Theatre at the end of this semester. Jack is a member of the Quickies Sketch Comedy Troupe, the Phoenix Student Theater Board, and IWU’s Music Theatre Society. He works outside of class in SoTA’s Costume Shop and will also be completing a Senior Capstone Project with a production of Tarrytown! Way to go, Jack! We’re so excited to see where your career takes you.

Headshot Photography: Brandon Dahlquist