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Articles of Interest
l Enrollment is growing
l KD Studio receives
"Exemplary" Status!
l Scholarships available
l Graduates and former
students are everywhere!
l KD Studio faculty makes
local appearances
l Summer Camps popular
l Special programs:
Black Box Operations
l Dallas theatres are full of
great choices
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Graduates! Please let us know about your most recent work.
See the latest update.
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"We love to hear from our graduates, especially when they have something exciting to tell us."
--Kathy Tyner, KD Studio President
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Producing Becomes a BIG Professional Opportunity for Graduates
Graduates and former students of KD Studio have been trained to take advantage of opportunities as they come into the world of entertainment. Producing, for example, working behind the camera, instead of in front of it, is one of those opportunities.
 That’s true of Robert B. Martin, Jr., KD Studio trained, who recently produced two films, one a full-length autobiographical film, Hip, Edgy, Sexy, Cool, and second shorter, Nice Guys Finish Last. These artistic presentations have gained professional attention and the second won the Audience Award at its world premiere in Utah at the Nodance Film Festival.
KD graduate from September 2001, Easton Zubiate, has produced his first film American Reich. He also wrote and directed the film.
Two of his classmates, Holly Martin and Mark E. Howell appeared in the film. Easton has also written, directed, and produced another film, Vertigo Summer.
Another graduate, Darren Wadyko, has been actively involved in television where he has produced sixty-five episodes of Spyder Games for Lynch Siderow Productions in Los Angeles, which aired on MTV.
Tracey Allred is another KD graduate who has found a sweet niche in producing. Her credits include Maid! Madonna! Whore! and The Break. Besides producing, she is working her way into writing and directing to add to her film credits. It certainly pays to be versatile!
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Fall Enrollment is Growing!
Traditionally, students think of enrolling in college in the fall. Students attending KD Studio are no different. Although there are class starts throughout the year, students seem to prefer the fall start.
Applications are being taken now for the Career Acting program that begins on September 27th with an Orientation for the day classes Evening classes for Career Acting will hold an orientation on Tuesday,October 24th.
“Based on the number of calls we have been receiving as a result of our television commercials, we expect to see a large class in the Career Acting degree program starting in September,” reports Kathy Tyner, KD Studio President.
Each year representatives from the college visit high schools throughout the area to talk with students who are interested in the exciting world of entertainment. Questions about employment opportunities and professional activities are among those most often asked.
“We are fortunate that so many of our graduates have developed successful careers, which allows us to benefit from their experiences when they come back to address our current classes,” Ms. Tyner added.
“Students can expect to receive ‘real world’ classes with lots of opportunities to perform when they attend KD Studio.”
Students planning to attend the college this fall are encouraged to register soon in order to have the auditions and the necessary paperwork accomplished.
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Scholarships Are Available for High School Graduates
 KD Studio is a member of the Career Colleges & Schools of Texas, a state association that distributes $6,000,000 worth of scholarships to high schools throughout the state to be used by high school graduates wishing to pursue an education that leads to a career.
Four $1,000 scholarships are given to each high school’s guidance counseling department for distribution to interested students.
These scholarships can be used at KD Studio. Any high school senior, wishing to attend KD Studio, who is approaching graduation, should speak with his/her guidance counselor and indicate a desire to be considered for one of the scholarships.
For other scholarship ideas, see the KD Studio Financial Aid Department.
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KD Studio Receives Exemplary Status from the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
After conducting an on-site review of KD Studio, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has determined that the institution has earned its “Exemplary” status and is considered by the Board to be a “model program.” In order to be rated exemplary, the institution must meet and exceed most of the Board’s standards.
“We are thrilled to have this special recognition from the Coordinating Board,” said Kathy Tyner, KD Studio founder and president, “It is an indication of the contribution being made by our outstanding faculty and the members of our advisory board.”
Founders Kathy Tyner and Kim Dawson, who had already reached celebrity status for their work in discovering, training, and representing the leading modeling talent in Texas, were determined to create an institution where new theatrical talent could be nurtured and polished: KD Studio was the result.
The Coordinating Board’s review identified particular elements of the institution that justified the “exemplary” rating. For example, the Board found that:
- Students receive more than expected from an acting performance program and leave the school with significant experience.
- Throughout the curriculum, students are immersed in the industry (where they will use the skills they are learning).
- Because the faculty are also working professionals, they bring firsthand experience into the classroom.
- The faculty and administration have done an excellent job of integrating the technical and academic courses while maintaining the integrity of the academic content.
- The college provides excellent exposure and job search preparation for their students, within the confines of the Texas Talent Agency Act.
- The advisory committee is a diverse representation of the entertainment industry and is very active on behalf of the institution.
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Graduates and former students are everywhere!
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Teresa Garrett writes to report that she has been busy auditioning and working. She has appeared in H.E.B. and Puritan’s Pride Vitamins TV commercials. She also had a principle role in an industrial video for RadioShack. She has made guest appearances on the popular show, Walker, Texas Ranger and Justice Delayed. Then, in addition, she has been appearing daily on the Discovery Channel in a show called, Your New House, where she appears as Teresa Garrett, the "do it yourself lady".
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Timothy Walter has signed with Kim Dawson and has been featured in commercials for Lowe’s and Golden Corral. He has appeared in Final Call, Slogan Ad, and Cut! Print!
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Shon Fuller has appeared at the Dallas Children’s Theatre and is currently on tour in African Tales of Earth & Sky.
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Oscar Contreras is represented by the Mary Collins Agency. He has had a number of television commercials, as well as the lead in the television production of True Love. Audiences have enjoyed his performances at the Diamond Hill Theatre, Black Box, as well as on the KD stage. He has been seen in RadioShack, Texas Lottery, and Circuit City Commercials.
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Kina Bale was seen in Fit To Be Tried, a Bucket Production, for the Festival of Independent Theatres. She recently completed two short films, a voice-over for a College Station radio station, and the farce, Move Over Mrs. Markham with ITC Mainstage.
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Julie Lancaster has appeared in a variety of film and television projects, including a featured role in the film Stepmom, starring Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon and Ed Harris. Julie has co-starred in episodes of Law and Order and Thieves on television, and had recurring principal roles in both As the World Turns and All My Children.
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Cheronka Michaels signed with the Mary Collins Agency
following the September 2001 KD Studio industry night. She immediately booked a Captain D’s and a Texas Lotto commercial. She also appears on the Texas Lotto Billboard and newspaper.
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Sandie Dillard is represented by Page 214 Agency and has recently closed the play Fit to be Tried at The Bath House. She was seen as Johanna in the Pocket Sandwich production of Sweeny Todd.
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Rhianna Mack was the lead dancer in a production of PMS It’s a Man Thang for Solja Entertainment. Besides being a graduate of KD with an Associate Degree in Acting Performance, she also has an AA in Computer Animation from The Art Institute of Dallas.
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Amy Lawhorn writes that she has appeared in a national commercial for 7- 11, on a Coke™ Billboard in Atlanta, and in a commercial for Wal-Mart. And, she finds time to dance at Dallas Mavericks games.
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Julio Cedillo has had a very successful career already! This is a scene from Two for Texas. Julio on the far right is shown with (l to r) Scott Bairstow, Kris Kristofferson, and Rodney Grant. Julio has also appeared in All the Pretty Horses with Matt Damon and in On the Borderline with Eric Mabius, Lew Temple, and Bill Sage.
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Randy Allen has signed with the Collins Agency, and he
has booked his first commercial for Village Jewelers which ran for six months. He had the principal role. Randy also appeared in Spy Kids II, and look for him in the new Dell Computer ads.
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George Eads, star of the popular TV series CSI, was featured in Walter Scott’s Personality Parade feature in Parade Magazine, which is distributed nationally. And People Magazine selected him as one of the 50 Most Eligible Bachelors in America. Watch for George’s starring role in A Walk in the Park on the Lifetime Channel in August.
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Mandy Cornett is currently a freelance publicist for an independent casting director at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles, although she still lives in Dallas, commuting back and forth until her daughter is through with her assignment on Barney. She and her daughter have both signed with the Ivette Stone Agency.
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Blacken Blue Theatre’s production of Acts of Love features a current KD Studio student, Gayle James in a featured role. The show ran in July at the Dallas Museum of Art and in August at the African- American Museum.
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Chico Loud has had three principal roles in The Pawn Ticket, Politics, and A Mesh of Sundays.
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Martin J. Salisbury has been working almost continuously since graduating from KD in ‘95. He has been seen in Walker, Texas Ranger; Sons of Thunder; Hit Man; Wishbone; Rough Riders; Scary Texas Movie; and Leftovers. He was seen in the lead of Daddy’s Dying… at the Palestine Community Theatre.
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Joel Black, a third semester student at KD, has been cast in a featured role in the Pocket Sandwich Theatre’s production of Trailer Trash from Outer Space.
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KD Studio Faculty Shine
on Local Stages
Each month you can find some member of the KD Studio faculty family treading the boards on one of several of the stages in the Dallas area.
Theatre Three’s current production of The Great Sebastians, stars Elizabeth Rothan in the leading role of Essie Sebastian. Critics loved her, “...the reason to see this The Great Sebastians is Ms. Rothan. She puts on an outrageous Cockney accent. She mugs and does double takes with shameless abandon. In fact, she hams it up all night gloriously.” Ms. Rothan has agreed to direct Dreaming on a Summer Night for the Fig Theatre.
Trinity River Arts Center Center’s production of A Matter of Blood, which runs from August 8 through the 25th, will feature KD School Director, T.A. Taylor, who regularly appears in local productions around town.
Nathan Cole has two local directing assignments; Fit To Be Tried, which is Bucket Productions’ entry into the 2002 Festival of Independent Theatres; as well as And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson, for Black Box Operations.
Laura Yancey appeared in Bad Roof at the Bath House.
Terri Ferguson produced Cloud Nine for the Echo Theatres.
Sherry Raymond is on leave this semester to work in LA.
Lynn Mathis appeared as King Henry for the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas.
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Summer Camp Grows in Popularity
KD’s Annual Summer Film Camp, a two-week romp for kids between the ages of 7 and 11; and for teens between 12-16, was a huge success.
Hundreds of aspiring young actors have been enrolled in this exciting experience, such as, Erik Per Sullivan, who hit the big-time as Dewey in the popular series, Malcolm in the Middle.
Students receive experience working in television commercials; camera acting techniques, as well as learning acting terms and opportunities to practice improvisation.
"This is the highlight of the summer for us,” reports KD Director,T.A. Taylor.
There are plans to repeat this schedule in 2003 when even more young actors will enroll.
Black Box Operations
Black Box Operations was created to give KD Students an opportunity to direct and act in a professional theatrical atmosphere. The program is currently sponsored by KD Faculty members; Nathan Cole, Terri Ferguson and Elizabeth Rothan.
2002 Season
AND THEY DANCE REAL SLOW IN JACKSON
Directed by Nathan Cole
August 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24
EDEN
Student directed by Delona Grace
October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER Directed by Nathan Cole and Elly Lindsay December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14
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Have you seen any good plays lately? Dallas theatres are full of great choices with new offerings every month.
 One of the benefits of studying theatre in a community like Dallas is that there are so many theatrical venues where good theatre can be seen and experienced.
“Dallas has become one of the truly active locations for people interested in seeing all kinds of theatrical presentations,” said T.A. Taylor, KD Studio Director. “There are small, local theatres that specialize in experimenting with new plays, for example. And there are other locations that cater to traveling companies that bring name talent to the city. Every month audiences can expect to see something very special at Trinity River Arts Center, Theatre Three, Water Tower, Dallas Theatre Center, Irving’s Lyric Stage, and the Garland Arts Center,” he added. Students can sometimes get complimentary passes by serving as ushers at productions like these.
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