MacKenzie Mulligan, 2014, B.A. Theatre, is currently working full-time at the historical Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Va. where she serves as the Stage 2 electrician, and one of two lighting designers for the Barter Players. In her time at Barter, MacKenzie has worked with the electrics team to bring about some incredible shows including the first regional premiere of Mama Mia!, A Night with Janis Joplin, and the US debut of Peter James' The Perfect Murder. Before working for Barter, MacKenzie worked with Rhino Staging and Productions as a lighting technician and stage hand on many large scale tours as they passed through the Denver area, including Lady Gaga, Aerosmith, Train, Bruno Mars, and Cavalia's Odysseo.
Grady Soapes, 2009, B.A. Performing Arts, is a choreographer, teaching artist, and performer based out of Denver, Colo. Notable choreography credits include As You Like It, Drag Machine, and Lord of the Butterflies (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), as well as associate choreographer for The Music Man, directed by Otis Sallid (Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp). Former choreographer-in-residence at CSU, Grady choreographed the 2016 Colorado Shakespeare Festival's Comedy of Errors. His performance credits include five seasons with 3rd Law/Dance Theater, the International Festival of Contemporary Dance in Merida, Mexico (choreographed by Chung-Fu Chang), the Illinois Ballet, and David Taylor's American in Paris and Seasons. Mr. Soapes currently resides as an instructor with Belliston Ballet, and as the artistic coordinator and teaching artist for the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
Anna Haschke, 2014, B.A. English Since I graduated from CSU, I have taught at two different schools (and districts) teaching freshman, sophomore, and junior level English courses. I am currently live in Castle Rock, CO and teach at Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, CO. In addition to the courses I teach, I also help with student council and the school's marching band, which is under the direction of my best friend, Megan O'Connor, another CSU alum. When I'm not teaching or helping with marching band, I spend my time enjoying the great outdoors and touring craft breweries with my boyfriend, Evan Johnson.
James Baumgardner, 2009, B.A. Music After completion of a Master's program at the University of Colorado, has built an international career spanning three continents. In 2008 and 2009, James was an apprentice with Central City Opera and then joined the apprentice artist program in Santa Fe for their 2010 season where he covered the role of Nathanael in The Tales of Hoffman. After Santa Fe James and his wife Lindsey moved to New York City where he sang the roles of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte, Il Conte di Almaviva in Barber of Seville, and Tonio in The Daughter of the Regiment, among other roles with a number of New York based companies. James also sang the role of Tonio in Opera Fort Collins’ 2012 season. In 2013, James was given the privilege to perform his European debut in Vienna, Austria as a member of Opera Moderne and Klangforum Wien’s production of Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis. After three wonderful years in New York, James and Lindsey were given the greatest gift of their first baby, Caleb, and decided to move back to beautiful Colorado. Since then, James has worked with choirs of all levels and as a local voice teacher as well as continuing to sing regionally in large concert works and with the Central City Opera education programs. Most recently, he was the tenor soloist for the Jefferson Symphony’s Verdi Requiem. He also performs with the internationally recognized gospel quartet, Legacy, which toured South Korea for the seventh time this past November and will release their Christmas album recorded at Paragon Studios in Nashville this coming October.