UNCSA Drama 2023

Next in our Senior Spotlight series is…. GRACE HOY!!!

Grace Hoy is a proud midwestern actor. She loves long walks in the freezing snow and cozy campfires. Her passion for the arts started when she would sit in on her siblings rehearsals at the ripe age of six. And hasn’t stopped since.

Her whole life has been immersed in the arts. From her dad painting to her mom and brother singing and her sisters dancing, she can’t seem to get away from it. Needless to say, a stable income was never in the cards for her. Oh well. When she is not attempting to shoot hoops or making chunky jewelry, you can find Grace curled up listening to Roberta Flack with a kitty. (More specifically Oasis because it is perfect).

Grace’s goal in life is to bring people together and dive into the depths of the human experience. She loves the good, bad and ugly of living. Every part of it. In her eyes, life is the most incredible thing and we get the opportunity to share it through art. (She’s a bit of a hippy. Or so she has been told.) She particularly loves outdoor theater. A chance to connect with nature while exploring something bigger than ourselves…forget about it.

At UNCSA she’ll be seen as Desiree in “A Little Night Music” and Antoinette “Toni” Lafayette in “Appropriate.” She is whole heartedly grateful to a part of both of them.

Next up in our Senior Spotlight series we have… DAVID KAID!! David Kaid is a New York-based actor, singer, and songwriter of Puerto Rican and Irish descent. Diagnosed with PDD-NOS at a young age, he overcame early challenges in communication and social development through a deep passion for the arts.

At UNCSA, David has appeared as Mr. Erlanson in “A Little Night Music,” Grandpop in “Elliot, a Soldier’s Fugue,” Andrey in “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” and Louis XVI in “Marie Antoinette.” In the spring, he will be portraying Francois “Franz” Lafayette in “Appropriate.”

Outside of acting, David is a musician who plays piano and guitar, writing both the music and the lyrics for his own original work. He has released two songs, blending his skills as a songwriter, producer and performer. During the pandemic he created a video concert project which was distributed to senior care facilities nationwide, bringing comfort and connection, and joy to the elderly during a time of isolation.

David is passionate about telling stories that move, challenge, and inspire. He brings a unique perspective and emotional depth to each role, with work that explores resilience, identity, and self-expression, connecting audiences through both heritage and heart.

Next up in our Senior Showcase Series we have…. MAGDA RIHA!!!!

Magda is an actor and multimedia artist from Austin, TX. She was raised by and around a community of artists, and holds creativity and storytelling as some of her highest values. She strives to color the world with optimism so that people around her feel safe to explore. Magda hopes to be remembered as a deeply honest actor that always does the characters and stories she is a part of justice. She believes in equitable and positive working environments, and lives by her father’s mantra “have fun and be kind.”

When she’s not acting, Magda spends her time scratching her creative itch in other ways. She makes jewelry, clothing and music — hobbies that she hopes to integrate into her career path someday. She has loved getting to explore every aspect of herself at UNCSA, including costume designing three shows in the Patrons Series, and is proud to be part of the class of 2026. Her most recent credits include Yvette Long-Pre in “Les Belles-Souers” and Agnes in “The Mai,” both directed by alumn Acadia Barrengos. She’s excited for her role as Cassidy in the upcoming production of “Appropriate” in the spring.

riha

Welcome to SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS!! We’ll be highlighting members of our class every day for the next month, leading up to our first showcase stop in Chicago!!

First up, we have ARI KHAVIN!!!

“How long have you been 17?”
“...A while.”
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Just kidding! That’s pushing it.

Ari Khavin is an actor, writer, and vampire-flick lover from New York City. He was meticulously and haphazardly brought up by a psychiatrist and a documentary filmmaker. Ari wishes to thank them for his innate curiosity, love for storytelling, and wry Jewish humor. He subsequently apologizes for his various antics.​
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Ari’s first professional stage appearance was in Central Park. And by that, he means just OUTSIDE of the Delacorte, collecting cash in a guitar case and singing his little teenage heart out. He is always searching for his next adventure — whether that be an exciting acting role, where he acquires a new skill (currently, he is learning to play the violin), or the phenomena he experiences as a tour guide in downtown Manhattan.​

This spring, Ari is looking forward to playing Rhys in “Appropriate” and premiering his first full-length play, “Rosenfeld’s Attractions.”

Help the School of Drama’s 4th-year class close out the season of love on February 17th at our (post-) Valentine’s Cabaret!

This fundraising cabaret will feature acoustic songs celebrating love and togetherness, inside a relaxed & inviting café-environment.

Join us at Chad’s Chai in Downtown Winston-Salem from 5:30-6:30 on the 17th for a chance to connect amidst the wintry weather!

We can’t wait to see you there!!

LOBBY HERO IS POSTPONED!!! STAY TUNED FOR NEW DATES!!

KEYS TO THE KINGDOM PRESENTS…. LOBBY HERO!!!

Come see Lobby Hero written by Kenneth Lonergan and directed by 4th year film student Cody Victor!

Performances are in 626 Jan 31st at 8:00PM and February 1st at 2:00PM and 8:00PM!

Ticket link in bio! We can’t wait to see you there!!

If love brings infinite possibilities, how can we ever be complete?

INTRODUCING OUR NEXT KEYS TO THE KINGDOM PIECE…. COMPLETENESS!! Completeness is written by Itamar Moses and directed by 3rd year Breylyn Brown!

Catch the show in 626 Jan 23rd at 10pm, Jan 24th at 7:30pm, and Jan 25th at 2pm!

Join the UNCSA drama class of 2023 for a virtual evening of Sondheim this Wednesday at 7pm! We’ll be streaming the UNCSA drama 2023 Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to have your company ;)