UA News

Stefanie Brown credits UA for preparing her with skills to beat out audition competition.

University of Arizona School of Theatre Arts alum Stefanie Brown will be joining the national tour of the highly acclaimed Broadway musical "Wicked."

Brown was chosen to serve as standby for the role of Glinda, a very demanding part both vocally and as an actor. In addition, Brown will be a member of the ensemble, performing in every show.

Brown leaves for New York for costume fittings on Monday and will then head to Louisville, Kentucky for rehearsals in preparation for the show's opening in Appleton, Wisconsin on February 10.

Brown, who graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theatre in the spring of 2008, didn't expect to garner such a coveted role so quickly.

"After graduation, my main goal was just to work as a professional actor, and eventually I would make it into a Broadway show or national tour," says Brown. "This is all such a dream come true for me."

Brown's participation in the UA School of Theatre Arts unique auditions program, the Showcase of Talent, provided the connection that eventually led to her selection for "Wicked."

"The Showcase of Talent is such a wonderful event that the UA School of Theatre Arts does for the BFA (bachelor of fine arts) program. It opens so many doors and allows you to make connections with top of the line talent agencies and casting directors," Brown said.

UA professor of theater arts, Harold Dixon said the program "prepares students to compete at the highest level of our profession."

Dixon added: "It is a difficult profession but we can ensure that you are ready when the break comes. You have to remember she is just six months out of school."

Brown's roles at the School of Theatre Arts included Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet," Cunegonde in "Candide" and Hope Cladwell in "Urinetown." She is currently part of the tribe, as well as understudy for the role of Sheila, in Arizona Theatre Company's production of the musical "HAIR."

She credits the courses she took at the UA for "making students a triple threat for auditions."

"The UA's musical theater classes prepared us as performers not only in singing but also acting and in movement," Brown said.

She had been accepted to two other universities and chose the UA for its proximity to her hometown in Phoenix and upon "falling in love with campus on my first visit," she added.

"We work our students very hard and we are seeing this type of success often enough to know that their success is not a fluke. It is definitely a credit to our program and certainly Stefanie's talent," Dixon added.