Christopher Woodward (he/him/his)
Department of Art & Art History
Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Photography
Hometown: Taylorsville, Utah
Three words that describe you: Creative, Motivated, Curious
Most impactful class or professor: It would be unfair to pick just one professor as I had so many incredible teachers. The photo program is filled with incredible faculty who helped guide me through my experience at the University. Jaclyn Wright is a beacon of the contemporary art world in the program and always supported and pushed me to strive for my strongest work providing incredible insight into each project and pushing me to make art, not just assignments. Ed Bateman kept me curious, always posing questions for my questions and drove me to discover, and Laurel Caryn provided me a safe creative outlet for new skills and would always actively work to help me get answers. There were many many more incredible faculty that deserve to be acknowledged for their impact on my time at the university: Moses Williams, Wendy Wischer, and Beth Krensky among them.
A CFA moment you’ll never forget: The first student town hall meeting helped me to understand the complexity of the institution and made me motivated to insert myself into a role of navigating and information collecting to be able to discuss and advocate for myself and my peers.
What inspires you: Curiosity keeps me moving. I am constantly excited by the things I don't know, and love to discover. People who see things differently than I do keep me thinking and challenging my views. These kinds of people are so important to me as they keep me learning and inspire me to be open. Nature also is a huge part of my life, the poeticism of the world itself keeps me striving to work with and about the environment.
Major accomplishments: During my time at the U, over the last year two years, I was exhibited in: The 35 x 35 exhibition, Gittins Gallery, The Alfred Lambourne Prize Exhibition, Writ and Vision, and the sculpture exhibition “Conflux: Blind Date”, and I was published in "Anthotype Emulsions Volume 2." Additionally, I was able to start up and co-run a student-led group called the Soap Box Committee, a platform created to elevate student perspective in the fine arts program and navigate supporting students through their time in the program. I co-hosted a series of student town halls in conjunction with Soap Box to give students and faculty a safe platform to discuss ways to move forward and grow within the program. I was also able to begin discussions for my current project with scientists from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and arrange two visits to the non-public wildlife management area, Gunnison Island on the Great Salt Lake, to work on one of my current ongoing art projects. I was an artist assistant for Joe Marotta in his ascorbic acid research project and am currently an artist assistant for Jaclyn Wright in her preparation for her upcoming exhibition at Filter Photo Gallery.
Leslie Jara Ortiz (she/her/ella)
School of Dance
Modern Dance
Hometown: West Valley City, Utah
Three words that describe you: Persistent, Altruistic, Phenomenal
Most impactfulclass orprofessor: Satu Hummasti and Daniel Clifton have had an enormous impact on my career. They have been there for me through all the ups and downs of starting my own dance crew and have inspired me to become a better human. I am greatly inspired by their teaching styles which involve seeing each and every one of their students. I greatly appreciate all that they have done and continue to do for me. I owe a lot of my success to them because they believed in me when I didn't believe in myself.
A CFA moment you’ll never forget: The most unforgettable moment with the CFA was being involved in Stephanie Garcia's Modern Dance MFA Thesis in 2022. I'm grateful to have taken part in this piece as I feel it has made a huge impact in our community.
What inspires you: I'm greatly inspired by seeing other people succeed. When I see others achieve their dreams, it motivates me to pursue a whole new goal. I'm inspired by the people in my community who share similar backgrounds with me and are making history in their own way. I'm inspired by the idea of "Aloha Leadership" which was taught to me by my mentors: Richard Kaufusi and Latu Kinikini.
Summary of major accomplishments onoroff campus:
- Performed in PDC in Fall 2020 in Christine McMillan's "Shift and Flux"
- Performed in Austin Hardy's "Cyber Synesthesia" in December 2021
- Auditioned and made Boom Crew in January 2021
- Worked extensively with Stephanie Garcia for her grad thesis and traveled to Los Angeles twice to present several of her works; performed in "From the Borderlands"
- Founded Allegiant Dance Crew in September 2022
- Produced my first show for Allegiant Dance Crew at the Hayes Christiansen Theatre in April 2023
- Put together a week-long dance intensive in Lovell, Wyoming with Lovell High School Drill Team in July of 2023
- Executive produced "Tale of Two Kingdoms" for Allegiant Dance Crew at the Utah Creative Chamber in November 2023
- Choreographed and Performed in "The Giver" which was my senior proposal in December 2023
- Performed in Roxanne Gray's graduate thesis proposal "Faldeo" in December 2023 and February 2024
- Choreographed and Performed in my senior final "The Gift" in March 2024
- Joined Fem Dance Company for their 2024 season
- Taught dance classes at Utah Dance Artists, Utah Dance Institute, and Dance Tech Studios
- Choreographed several competition routines for Granger High School, Willowcreek Middle School, Viewpoint Middle School, and Lovell High School
Riley Mortenson (she/her)
Department of Film & Media Arts
Film & Media Arts
Hometown:Salt Lake City, UT
Three words that describe you:passionate, driven, and thoughtful
Most impactfulclass or professor:I'm going to bend the question a smidge and name two professors who have had a positive impact on me: Trent Harris and Kevin Hanson. Both have given me the opportunityto make plenty of mistakes in their classes and I know I have emerged as a better filmmaker because of it. Kevin in particular has been an incredible mentor this past school year—learning how to shoot 16mm film has been the highlight of my experience at the U, and I am deeply appreciative of Kevin's knowledge and excellent guidance throughout that process.
A CFA moment you’ll never forget:Shooting my latest film (title forthcoming) on 16mm film alongside my co-director Sunday Kinslow and our incredible cast and crew!
What inspires you:Absolutely everything, including (but not limited to): other peoples' passions,greeting cards, songs on the radio, encounters with random strangers, my dreams, and the life and work of the unparalleled David Byrne.
Major accomplishments:
- Directed 10 films while studying at the U
- My film "Blue Bedroom" won the Audience Award at the 2023 F&MAD Film Festival
Isabel Cossa (she/her)
School of Music
Music, Vocal Performance
Hometown:West Valley City, UT
Three words that describe you:Exuberant, Genuine, Committed
Most impactfulclass orprofessor:The most impactful class for me has been Chamber Choir. Dr. Bradford is a spectacular conductor not only because he teachesmusicality, but he also creates a meaningful connection with eachofhis students. In addition, chamber choir has been a safe space for me emotionally, physically, and mentally throughout my degree.
A CFA moment you’ll never forget:My favorite CFA moment is when I got to perform the roleof“Isabel” in PiratesofPenzance in Libby Gardner hall. I absolutely loved my costume made by our amazing costumer, Robin. I thoroughly enjoyed being silly, dancing, and singing the wonderfulmusicofGilbert & Sullivan.
What inspires you:What inspires me is the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures through art andmusic. I’m very excited to see how experiencing other cultures influences mymusicand outlook on life.
Summaryofmajor accomplishments onoroff campus:
- Presser Undergraduate Scholar
- Young Artist at Utah Festival Opera &Musical Theater
- Premierofthe 42 Project by Adrian Dunn
- Black Cultural Center Operation S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Fellow
- UOpera Social Media Coordinator
- RoleofAlice in "A.L.I.C.E," a new opera
Camden Barrett (they/them/theirs)
Department of Theatre
BFA Theatre, Actor Training Program
Hometown:Highland, Utah
Three words that describe you:Curious, Dedicated, Clown
Most impactful class or professor:Advanced Scene Study with Professor Sarah Shippobotham. It was a class that taught me how to truly listen: to not anticipate and tell the story. Sometimes we make things too complicated for ourselves when, actually, it is all about allowing ourselves to be perceived by others in the present. I am tremendously grateful for my several mentors in the Department of Theatre—particularly, Assistant Professors Alexandra Harbold, Robert Scott Smith, and Adjunct Assistant Professor Penelope Caywood; whose generosity, hospitality, sense of play, and dedication to their students continues to influence my practice as a maker and human being.
A CFA moment you’ll never forget:My fellow ATP cohort, Tyler Kline's performance of “Holler War” in the Department of Theatre’s production of "Town Hall" by Caridad Svich.
What inspires you:adrienne maree brown’sEmergent Strategy, Anne Bogart, Eleanor Roosevelt, Julee Cruise’s album, "Floating Into the Night"…and hummingbirds. A most recent inspiration is Grace Jones.
Major accomplishments:
- Co-Founder and Artistic Director of KID SISTER Theatre Collaborative, a non-profit theatre company based in Salt Lake City, UT.
- Director and Assistant Producer of "Radiant Vermin" by Philip Ridley. Previously, an ATP senior capstone last Spring, the project was produced by Salt Lake Acting Company in partnership with Flying Bobcat Theatrical Laboratory Co-Artistic Director/Assistant Professor Robert Scott Smith as the inaugural production of SLAC’s Making Space for Artists Program. The production also served as a donation drive for The INN Between, which provides end-of-life care for individuals experiencing homelessness, and the Fourth Street Clinic.
- Summer 2023 UROP Recipient. “Adapting Rehearsal Room Practices to Accommodate a New Means of Theatre-Making: Exploring Devised Work with Playground Antics.” Research mentor Assistant Professor Alexandra Harbold.
- KID SISTER’s “An Invitation to Play” at the College of Fine Arts’ Arts Bash. KID SISTER was invited to represent the Department of Theatre at the CFA’s Fall celebration in the Library Plaza.
- Director/Dramaturg for a senior capstone project of William Shakespeare’s "KING LEAR" (Spring 2024). A continued collaboration with Multidisciplinary Design Major Angela Rauf and members of the junior and senior Actor Training Program and Musical Theatre Program cohorts.
- Co-Director/Researcher of "The Baltimore Waltz" by Paula Vogel. An independent study in collaboration with Angela Rauf of the Multi-Disciplinary Design Program and co-organizers Assistant Professor of Directing Alexandra Harbold (Department of Theatre) & Assistant Professor Steven Chodoriwsky (Division of Multi-Disciplinary Design) (Fall 2023). Extended research from an initial project in the THEA 3110 Beginning Directing for the Stage course.
- Actor in two DoT mainstage productions: Usher/GOD/Understanding in "Everybody" (dir. Robert Scott Smith), and Rosalind in "As You Like It" (dir. Robert Scott Smith).
- Associate Director and Movement Consultant for Salt Lake Acting Company’s world premiere production of Sarah Shippobotham’s "Can I Say Yes To That Dress?", through SLAC’s Professional Training Program in collaboration with University of Utah Department of Theatre faculty: Written and performed by Sarah Shippobotham, Director Jamie Rocha Allan, and Dramaturg Alexandra Harbold.
- Assistant Director for "A Year With Frog and Toad" (dir. Penelope Caywood) at Salt Lake Acting Company in conjunction with SLAC’s Professional Training Program.
- Assistant Director for four DoT mainstage productions: "The Tempest" (dir. Melinda Pfunstein), "The Old Man and The Old Moon" (dir. Jamie Rocha Allan), "Matilda Jr." (dir. Alicia Washington), and "Storm Still" (dir. Alexandra Harbold).
- Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for THEA 3110 Beginning Directing for the Stage, led by Assistant Professor Alexandra Harbold.
www.camdenbarrett.comandwww.kidsistertheatrecollaborative.org
