A new series from Columbia College Chicago’s Theatre Alumni Board connects students with industry professionals through conversations, collaborations, and real-world insight into creative careers.

Access to the theatre industry often depends on who you know. At Columbia College Chicago, a new initiative is making those connections part of the student experience. 

Spotlight, launched by Columbia’s Theatre Alumni Board, turns industry access into something tangible: conversations, collaborations, and real pathways into the professional theatre world. 

The series brings students, alumni, faculty, and working professionals into the same room—creating opportunities to connect, learn, and build careers in real time. Each semester, Spotlight partners with a leading artist or organization working with Columbia talent, offering behind-the-scenes insight into building and sustaining a career in theatre and entertainment. 

Building a Bridge Between Campus and Industry 

At its core, Spotlight strengthens the pipeline between Columbia and the professional world. 

The Theatre Alumni Board—recently renamed to reflect this mission—includes working professionals across theatre, film, and television committed to mentorship, collaboration, and opening doors for the next generation. 

The board is co-chaired by Victor Holstein ’04 and Alex Rhyan ’15 and advised by Jimmy Noriega, director of the School of Theatre and Dance, along with faculty members Frances Maggio and Paul Amandes. It continues to grow, recently welcoming Jeff Goldman ’02, an entertainment media consultant, to a network of alumni professionals working across Chicago and beyond. 

Conversations With Industry Veterans 

Spotlight launched with two seperate alumni conversations that brought working professionals back to campus: 

Jeff Perry (March 16)—Co-founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company and a longtime actor across stage, film, and television, Perry shared insights from a decades-long career, including roles on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” and “Nash Bridges.” His return as a former faculty member underscored the program’s deep ties to Chicago’s theatre community. 

Christian Litke (March 18) —A stuntman and actor with more than 100 IMDb credits across “Chicago P.D.,” “Chicago Fire,” and “Chicago Med,” Litke spoke about building a sustainable career in stunt performance and screen acting. Currently stunt coordinating on FX’s “The Bear,” Litke offered a firsthand look at high-level television production. 

Together, the conversations emphasized not just career highlights, but the realities of sustaining creative work—giving students a practical view of the industry. 

A Signature Event With About Face Theatre 

The series continues on April 3, 2026, with “Columbia College Chicago Night at Modern Gentleman,”a collaboration with About Face Theatre centered on the world premiere of “Modern Gentleman,” a new comedy by Columbia alum Preston Max Allen ‘13. 

Held at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., the event brings together a network of Columbia talent. In addition to Allen, at least seven alumni are involved across the cast and production team, including Conchita Avitia ‘18, Mark Brown ‘21, Milo Bue ’16, Emma Fulmer ‘24, Audrey Kleine ‘17, MacKenzie Makurat ‘25, and Jamie Meun ‘17. 

The evening will begin with a reception for networking and community building, followed by the performance—creating a full-circle experience that connects classroom learning with professional production. 

A Community-Driven Future 

The series aims to be a living network aligning Columbia’s theatre community with real industry opportunities. 

Each event reinforces a simple idea: success in theatre is built through relationships, shared knowledge, and a willingness to reach back and pull others forward. 

“Spotlight creates space to celebrate the talent, collaboration, and achievements of our theatre community while building meaningful connections between students, alumni, faculty, and working professionals,” says Alex Rhyan, co-chair of the Theatre Alumni Board. 

• Alum
• Theatre and Dance

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