FEFFER, STEVE  Iowa City, 1987 
Steve earned his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in August 2003, specializing in Theatre and Drama, with a dissertation entitled "Rhythm Trade-offs," which considers the use of rock, pop, and hip-hop music in contemporary theatre and drama. He also holds an M.F.A. in Playwriting from the University of Iowa and a B.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from New York University (Tisch). He has taught theatre courses including Playwriting at    Wisconsin, County College of Morris (1996-98), Rutgers University (1996), New York University (1994), Iona College (1993-96), Triton College (1991-92), and elsewhere. Steve's one-act plays and monologues have been published in a number of anthologies,    including Plays From the Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon 2000 (Faber and Faber, 2001) and Best American Short Plays 1997-1998 (Applause Books, 2000), and his full-length play The Wizards of Quiz was published by Dramatists Play Service (1994). His plays have been produced by theatre companies around the country, including Stages    Repertory Theatre (TX), University Theatres Mainstage (WI), Ensemble Studio Theatre (NYC), Chatham Playhouse (NJ), National Jewish Theatre (IL), the O'Neill Theatre     Center's National Playwrights Conference (CT), and many others. He has directed or served as dramaturge for over a dozen stage productions, and his academic honors include a Vilas Travel Fellowship (2002) and the Ross T. Quint Scholarship for Academic and    Artistic Excellence (1999-2001).  His playwriting awards include the National Children's Playwriting Award (Houston, TX, 2000), the Jamie Hammerstein Playwriting Award (Ensemble Studio Theatre, NYC, 2000), the Dorothy Silver National Playwriting Award for a New Jewish Play (1997), and the Marc A. Klein National Playwriting Award (Case  Western Reserve University, 1990). He currently teaches at Western Michigan University.

FERRONE, ROD  New York (HOME), 1989-90 
Rod Ferrone is an actor/dancer/singer/hat trickster/choreographer who has danced for the stage, film, and television and has performed with some of the legends of the entertainment world including Jimmy Slyde, Gregory Hines, and Henny Youngman, among others. He was one-half of the comedy duo Hot Foot, whose critically acclaimed show Scorch Marks on the Floor was seen the world over. He has most recently performed on Broadway in the groundbreaking smash hit Urban Tap. He has toured extensively with Cool Heat Urban Beat, a fusion of tap and hip hop, which was critically acclaimed in Scotland, London,  Italy, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Rod contributed some of the choreography to the show. He is also co-star of Feet 2 The Beat, which he founded in 1996. Other tap credits include Dance Umbrella's Jazz Tap Hip Hop, the JVC and Panasonic jazz festivals in NYC, the Colorado Dance Festival, a guest appearance at National Tap Dance Day at Lincoln Center ('96) and at Town Hall ('99), and a guest       appearance with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra in Morton Gould's Tap Dance      Concerto. He has also been involved in the "Meet the Artist" program at Lincoln Center, giving lecture-demonstrations to grade school and high school students. He has taught  master classes and workshops extensively throughout the world, teaching jazz, Latin,    eccentric, and funk/hip hop. Acting credits include Scrooge in the role of the Narrator at the Lamb's Theater in NYC.  Rod is an accomplished guitarist as well.

GARB, MICHELLE  Iowa City, 1988-90; Los Angeles,  2002-present 
One of the hottest comics and most respected lecturers, Michelle Garb created Fat Brain/Skinny Body, a lecture on eating disorder awareness and positive body self-image, as a  result of her own 15-year battle with anorexia.  Michelle has first-hand experience with the personal losses that stem from an eating disorder. She is still active in her recovery and in addition to speaking on the subject; she is in the process of forming Edith Eats, a non-profit eating disorder organization which recently gained support and funding through the NCAA. As a comedian, she works all the major clubs in New York City and Los Angeles and has appeared on the Chris Rock Show.
(www.michellegarb.com/)

GILMAN, REBECCA  Iowa City, 1991-92 
Rebecca's table top theatre pieces such as Mrs. Sock Monkey Doll were No Shame       favorites, and since her graduation from Iowa, she has been recognized as one of the most important new American writers. Her plays, such as Spinning Into Butter, are produced