MEET OUR Current MFA Graduate Students!

Carson Carter

Carson Carter is a graduate student in the MFA Theatre Performance program here at FAU. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. He was most recently working in the Chicago area. He spends his free time cooking, playing video games, and relaxing by the beach or pool. Being from northern Minnesota he never anticipated living in south Florida but is enjoying it immensely and is extremely grateful to be a part of the program here at FAU. Instagram: @CarsonTCarter

Karen Cohen

Karen Cohen is excited to be joining this year’s cohort of MFA students. Regional credits: Clara in Memphis, Maggie Jones in 42nd Street and Molly MacGregor in The Full Monty (LPAC); Nun/Ensemble in Sister Act (MNM); Steffy in I Ought to Be in Pictures (WBTC); and Fräulein Kost in Cabaret (PPTOPA). Karen previously worked as a drama teacher and has directed many student productions, including Willy Wonka, Shrek, Seussical and The Wizard of Oz. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and English from La Salle University in her hometown of Philadelphia, PA, though she has called South Florida home for twenty-six years. Outside of the theater, Karen enjoys maintaining her Wordle streak, and traveling with her husband and three children.

Sadie Corley

Sadie is thrilled to be joining FAU's MFA Performance program. In May 2024 she graduated from Wagner College on Staten Island, NY with her BA in Theater Performance. Sadie has most recently been in Wagner College Theater's productions of Plano (Anne), Songs for a New World (Woman #2), Cabaret (Kit Kat Girl swing), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Lysander). In recent summers past, Sadie performed in her home state of Colorado at Arvada Center for the Arts' educational productions of Chicago (Velma Kelly) and Sweeney Todd (ensemble). She recently directed a production of Hamlet at Wagner and the short play, Seam Route, at the 2023 International Human Right's Festival in NYC. You can follow her on instagram @sadiecorley. 

Gustavo Garcia

Gustavo Garcia is a multidisciplinary South Florida theatre artist with experience in Acting, Directing, Lighting and Sound Design, and the founder and Artistic Director of Think Now Theatre Co., whose inaugural production of Fool For Love was mounted in August of 2024. He received his BFA in Performance from FAU, and is thrilled to be returning to further his training as an MFA Performance candidate.  Select Performance Credits: Eddie (Fool For Love) with Think Now Theatre Co., Fred/Present/Pat Williams (A Christmas Carol) with New City Players; Himself/various (…Lotta People Ball) with StoryMakers; the Porter/Malcolm (Macbeth) with COTU; Preacher (Violet), Pridamant (The Illusion), and Edward IV (Richard III) with FAU; Actor II (The Roaches), Jason (TDTA), and Ms. Trunchbull (Matilda) with Barclay Performing Arts.  

Follow him on Instagram: @gusantgaractor & @thinknowtheatreco

Robert Koutras

Off-Broadway- Sessions (Original Cast), Tours- Full Monty, Grease. Selected Regional Credits include Daniel’s Husband (Daniel) at Plays of Wilton. Cabaret (Ernst Ludwig) & Next To Normal (Dr. Madden) (Carbonell nom.) at Zoetic Stage, Bonnie & Clyde (Clyde), Camelot (King Arthur), Rock of Ages (Lonny) & Bright Star (Jimmy Ray Dobbs) at TheatreZone. Love! Valour! Compassion! (Gregory) & Rotterdam (Josh) at Island City Stage. Head Over Heels (Basilius) at Slow Burn, Mamma Mia! (Bill) at The Wick. Parade (Leo Frank) (Carbonell nom.) & How To Succeed… (Bud Frump) at Broward Stage Door. Fun Home (Bruce Bechdel), & Matilda (Miss Trunchbull) at Spotlight Repertory Theatre. Annie Get Your Gun (Frank Butler) (New Hampshire Theatre Award nom.), Shrek (Shrek), & Les Misérables (Thénardier) at Weathervane Theatre. Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) & The Wizard of Oz (Tinman) at Northern Stage. Film and Television Credits include Nickelodeon’s Team Umizoomi, and I Remember, an independent short film currently in the festival circuit. His original musical, The End, is currently in development. AEA. BFA Ithaca College. www.robertkoutras.com

Jonathan Leslie Palmer

Jonathan Leslie Palmer is a dynamic and dedicated actor with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Morehouse College. His passion for the stage ignited in middle school when he won the award for Most Comedic Actor at the Folger Shakespeare Theater Festival for his portrayal of Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This early success set the stage for a flourishing career in theater, where he has since brought to life a range of compelling characters, from the authoritative Lord Capulet to the soulful Reverend Lee in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson. With each performance, Jonathan continues to captivate audiences with his energy, versatility, and unwavering commitment to his craft.

Paige Rogers

Paige Rogers (she/her) is a versatile, committed artist with experience in acting, managing, directing, and producing theatre. Paige has a B.A in Arts Administration and Theatre from Drury University. She then attended The Actors Conservatory in Portland. Paige was the Managing Director of Staged! and a member of Defunkt Theatre. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of Small Umbrella Theatre Company. Some acting credits include Crimes of the Heart (Tent Theatre), Me...Jane (Oregon Children's Theatre), The Journal of Ben Uchida (Oregon Children's Theatre),  Map of Virtue (Theatre Vertigo), Girl in the Red Corner (Defunkt Theatre), She is Fierce (Enso Theatre Ensemble), and The Amish Project (TAC). Instagram: @paigerogersactor 

Casey Venema

Casey Venema is a performer, director, and intimacy director (certification pending) focused on bringing unheard and experimental narratives to the stage. She received her BA in Theatre and Film and Media from Bucknell University and has been working professionally in Northeast Ohio since 2018. Recent performance credits include White Christmas (Betty Haynes), Jesus Christ Superstar (Pilate), Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney), What's Wrong With Me (Mezzo 1), Jacket of Blue (Francesca), Sweeney Todd (Pirelli), School of Rock (Ms. Bingham/Patty U/S), A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Miss Barley/Woman 3), Cabaret (Fritzie/Fraulein Kost), The Twelfth Night (Sebastian), The Rocky Horror Show (Janet), Sanzaru (Morgan), and When Push Comes to Shove (Hanka).  Follow along with Casey's artistic adventures at www.caseyvenema.com or on Instagram @caseyvenem8.

Natalia Burmeister

Natalia Burmeister, a first-year MFA Design and Technology specializing in Scenic Design. She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelors of Science in Architecture in 2023. After which she worked as a studio designer at an architecture and engineering firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Pursuing a career that can intertwine design and entertainment has been a long time dream of hers. Natalia believes there is an interconnectivity between civilization and architecture. It is our means of navigation, communication, and the overall human experience -- by understanding the multidimensional network we hold with the built environment, we can change the world for the better.

Aurora Colamonici

Aurora Colamonici, born and raised in Rome, Italy, moved to the United States in 2018 to pursue her dreams and career in the arts. She is currently a first-year student in the Master’s Program for Design Technology. Aurora earned her BFA in Drama from Lynn University.  She has experiences as an actress, stage manager, crew, and production assistant.  Aurora has been on the production team for plays and musicals such as Crazy For You, Sweeney Todd, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, and Gigi. A few of her favorite acting credits include Anatomy of Gray (Rebekah), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Gloria) and, Butterflies are Free (Mrs. Baker).

Harmon Casey

Bio not available.

Jason Goetz-Stern

Jason (he/him) is a second-year MFA candidate in Design and Technology concentrating in Technical Direction. He graduated from FAU in History. He worked as a technician and carpenter at Delray Beach Playhouse on various productions including, Somethings Afoot, Noises Off, and Grease. He also helped with the set construction for Lauderdale Performing Arts productions of Its Always Patsy Cline and 42nd Street.
www.jasonwgs.com

Je'Breanne Morgan

Je'Breanne (Je') Morgan is an Audio Technician and Sound Designer from Plaquemine, Louisiana. She graduated with a degree in Theatre from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana in December 2021, and since then has worked regional, off-Broadway, and touring productions. Some of her favorite productions she's had the honor of working on have been   Ain't Misbehavin',    Here You Come Again ,  Poor Yella Rednecks , and  Hadestown.  Je'Breanne is excited to continue her educational  journey here at Florida Atlantic University, and can't wait to make art with the wonderful faculty and students here!