Sage Cantu (She/They)
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2023 Acting & Directing Senior Showcase
Meet Our 2023 Graduates
See videos, resume, and more about the artist by selecting their image.
Makalya Elissa (She/Her)
Allison Giles (She/Her)
Sharif Goodlette (They/Them)
Abigail Faith Langlais (She/Her)
Rachael Lund (She/Her)
Brandon McCormick (He/Him)
Joshua Mcmahan (He/Him)
Gabriel Mullen (He/Him)
Lillian Newsom (She/Her)
Rylie Patrick (They/Them)
Sarah Wolsky (She/Her)
Johanna Grace Wylie (She/Her)
About the Houston Senior Showcase
The Houston Senior Showcase provides a transitional opportunity for graduating Acting/Directing and Musical Theatre majors to showcase in front of the Houston Theatre Community. We’re pleased to present our graduating BFA Theatre emphasis in Acting/Directing and BFA Musical Theatre majors in their Houston Showcase hosted at Stages Theatre on May 8th at 6pm. Thank you spending time with this next generation of theatre artists.
Sage Cantu
Sage Cantu is a 21-year-old transgender Actor, Director, and LGBTQ+ activist who grew up in San Antonio and is a soon to be graduate with a BFA in Acting/Directing at Sam Houston State University. Sage has recently directed a production of This is our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan. She’s also been in productions such as Airness by Chelsea Marcantel and Men on Boats by Jacklyn Backhaus. Other recognizable works include hosting the KCACTF national festival at the Kennedy Center. She is looking to continue her work in theatre both on and off stage while continuing to include social equality and diversity within her practice.
Makalya Elissa
Makayla Elissa (She/her) discovered her intense love for the art of performance at a very young age and has continued to perform ever since. She is currently a candidate to receive a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Acting/Directing for Spring 2023 at SHSU. Collegiate credits include: She Kills Monsters (Lilith/Lilly), Once on This Island (Ensemble), Men On Boats (Powell), Detroit ‘67 (Bunny Understudy), Memphis (Ensemble), Antigone (Chorus), 365 Plays 365 Days Hole Cycle (Writer). She’s very excited to enter the professional landscape of theater and to continue to follow her art wherever it may take her.
Allison Giles
Allison Giles is a performing artist based out of Houston. She has always wanted to be onstage and was inspired by the impact a production can have on someone. At Sam Houston, she has had the opportunity to play Mother and Ensemble in 365 Days/365 Plays: HOLE Cycle by Suzan-Lori Parks and The Nina in Airness by Chelsea Marcantel. At other institutions, she’s played Pip Price in Things I know To Be True and Lydia Emmerson in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. When she’s not singing every second of the day, you can find her watching movies with her friends and fine-tuning some playwrighting ideas so she may one day have the chance to impact an audience herself.
Sharif Goodlette
Sharif Goodlette is a native Houstonian who has a love for all parts of theatre! When they’re not in the shop building sets, they’re on stage soaking in the lights. Credits include Marcus in White Card (Fade To Black-The Match), Link in Detroit 67', Peter in The Pavilion, Swift Mark and Ramon in All in the Timing, Guy in "in a word" And Ensemble in Sonnets for an Old Century (all at Sam Houston State university). Looking to the future they are looking to audition for shows and theatres in the Houston area and applying for scenic technician jobs as well.
Abigail Faith Langlais
Abigail Faith Langlais will be graduating in May 2023 with a BFA in Acting & Directing from Sam Houston State University. Her collegiate acting credits include the role of Eurydice in Antigone, an Actor/Ensemble Member in The Laramie Project, and an Actor/Ensemble Member in A Christmas Carol: Radio Play. Her collegiate directing credits include Fade. After graduation, Abigail plans to pursue acting, directing, and any other girl boss artistic journey she may take on. One of her goals is to include the color pink in any project she works on.
Rachael Lund
Rachael Lund was raised in Springtown, Texas where only her dreams were big! She found her passion for performance in 2014 and since then her professional credit includes: A Doctor In Spite of Himself (ensemble). In addition to performing, Rachael also loves to film ASMR videos, Paint, and spend time with her cat, Broccoli! After Graduation (December 2022) Rachael plans to pursue a career in performance wherever it takes her. You can find Rachael on her Instagram @Rachaelannalund
Brandon McCormick
Brandon McCormick (He/Him)- is from Lubbock Texas where he fell in love with theatre. He has than pushed himself to learn all aspects of theatre starting from on stage all the way backstage. He has been an Irene finalist the past 2 years in the KCACTF region 6, as well as worked under Penelope Hasekoester as a Teacher Assistant for her Improv class. On Brandon’s free time he loves making a good latte at work. Brandon’s credits include: 365 plays/ 365 days (Editor/ensemble Sam Houston State University); Airness (Shreddy Eddy Sam Houston State University); The Swan (Swan Sam Houston State University); Treasure Island (Jim Hawkins Paris Junior College). Brandon plans to Pursue a career in Performance and hopes to make mini families at any institution he is invited to! You can check out Brandon’s Instagram: @classic_Brandon. Photo by Cara DeGaish
Joshua Mcmahan
Joshua Mcmahan (He/Him)
Resume
Gabriel Mullen
Gabriel Mullen is an actor in the Houston area from Alba, Texas (if you know where it is, I’m impressed). Professional Credits include: It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Male Swing, A.D. Players in Association with Carolina Creek), and White Card (Wally, Fade to Black Theatre Festival at the Match Theater). Gabriel’s collegiate credits include: Sweeney Todd (Judge Turpin); Airness (Facebender); Memphis (Mr. Simmons); Jump (Hopkins); No Exit (Garcin); and The Fantasticks (Henry, The Actor). In addition to performing, Gabriel loves editing films and video, photography, and writing poetry! After graduation, (May 2023), Gabrielplans to pursue a career in performance, directing, and writing (wherever they may be). You can find Gabriel’s poetry and photography on his Instagram @gabethebabymullen, and everything else is on his website: https://gabriellawrence200.wixsite.com/mysite
Lillian Newsome
Lily Newsom has been a lover of the spotlight since before she could walk, so what better career for her than showbusiness! Collegiate credits include Antigone (Ismene) and 365 Days/365 Plays (Mrs. Lincoln/ensemble). She is currently on track to receive a BFA in theatre with an emphasis in Acting and Directing for Spring 2023 at SHSU. Upon graduation, Lily is excited to enter the professional world of theatre and become characters she could only dream of.
Rylie Patrick
Rylie Patrick is a 22 yr old director, actor, and deviser. They are a soon-to-be graduate from Sam Houston State University with a BFA in Theater with an acting/directing emphasis. They recently assistant directed a production of 365 Plays/365 Days by Suzan Lori-Parks at Sam Houston, as well as assistant directed The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie at Unity Theater. Other Sam production include acting in A Doctor in Spite of Himself by Molière, adapted by Christopher Bayes and Steven Epp and Ensemble/Guard US in Antigone freely adaoted by Emily Mann. Rylie is excited to continue their career on and off the stage while promoting diversity, inclusivity, and equity. https://patrickrylie.wixsite.com/mysite
Sarah Wolsky
Sarah Wolsky is thrilled to be graduating from Sam Houston State University, earning a BFA in Theatre. Houston audiences may recently remember her as Featured Dancer/Rebel/Cop/Secretary (Urinetown: Stageworks Theatre), (U/S) Mary Hatch (It’s a Wonderful Life- Radio Play: AD Players), as well as Sumner (Men on Boats), and S. (Town Hall) both at SHSU. Post graduation, Sarahwill be performing in the Fade to Black Festival on June 22-24 at MATCH. She is thankful for the friends and family who have supported her along the way and is excited to continue her theatre journey.
Johanna Grace Wylie
Johanna Grace Wylie grew up in a theatre family and has been performing since she was four years old. Growing up with a theatre teacher for a mother and a love for the stage, turning theatre into a career was something she'd always been confident about! Collegiate credits include Detroit 67’ (Chelle), American Son (Kendra), Men on Boats (Bradley), She kills Monsters (Tilly), 365 Days / 365 Plays, (Moll / Ensemble). Johannalooks forward to bringing her skills to the professional world and wants to also pursue theatre education by one day opening her own children’s theatre with her mother!