ALUMNI SNAPTSHOTS
Alumni current or most recent projects (that we know of)
SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE PROGRAM
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Cassandra Marie Nuss, WSU Alumnae (2007/ BFA Theatre Performance & Dance)
Shining the light on the goings on with current students, faculty, staff and alumni
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cassandra (or Sandy as she is more commonly known) is currently working at Prather Entertainment in Fort Myers, FL on Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helpng at the company's Off-Broadway Palm Theatre. She is a multi-disciplinary artist specializing in musical theatre, theatre, commercials and modeling. She is SAG Eligible and a proud Actor's Equity Membership Candidate. She has modeled with over 50 photographers since her move to Los Angeles in early 2008. Prior to and following graduation, she performed professionally at several theatres throughout the Midwest including Timber Lake Playhouse in IL, Thin Air Theatre Company in CO and The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre in IA. She performed at the Lyric Theatre of Los Angeles and works regularly with Plan-B Entertainment (another LA-based company with which she did RENT! in 2008 and a touring production called Jingle Bell Rock in 2009 and 2010).
Sandy was born on Vandenberg Air Force Base in Northern California, but did the majority of her growing up in Wichita, KS. She never intended to study theatre or do it professionally. "For me, it was just a hobby, something I loved to do. I was less than 6 months from graduating high school when I decided that's what I wanted to go to college for." She started off in the Musical Theatre program at WSU, but switched to Theatre Performance and Dance after her Freshman year. "I wanted more classical training. Acting and dancing were my weaker spots, so I opted to really focus on those while at WSU." She studied acting under former Director of Theatre Drew Tombrello who put a strong emphasis on honing skills through "on the job training." Cassandra booked her first paid gig in 2006 doing Summerstock in IA. "My first year of Summerstock literally changed my life. Having to craft a role in less than 10 days, while doing another show at the same time forces you to face your fears and your weaknesses. I didn't have time to worry over my choices, I had to make them and make them confidently. I think all actors should be required to do it!" She did two seasons of Summerstock and worked at the Crown Uptown Professional Dinner Theatre and with former Stage One during her 41/2 years at WSU. While at WSU, she performed in Secondstage musicals Romance, Romance and Tick, Tick...Boom!, and on the Mainstage in The Tempest, Holy Ghosts, and her personal favorite The Last Hotel for Women. She also secured modeling jobs with Beauty First and shot several commercials for Wichita businesses through her representation with The Gregory Agency.
Six weeks after graduating, Sandy moved to Los Angeles. For her it was a terrifying but exhilarating experience. "I'd never been there before I moved out there. I'd always thought I'd end up in New York, but that was the door that opened. I met a coach through my Wichita agent and he was the one who talked me into it. I did a lot of growing up out there. More importantly, I realized that acting is really what I want to spend my life doing, and that definitely isn't going to be an easy road for the long haul!" LA also opened the door for her to start modeling and persuing a film career. "I want to do it all. There are so many facets to this profession. There's no rule that says you can only do one thing!" And she's done just that. In the last year Sandy has worked on a varied palette of projects: she shot with 27 photographers, shot two commercials, an industrial training video for Koch Industries, a music video for Wichita band Livy High, sat for a set of painters in Oklahoma and premiered three musicals including Dirty Rotten Schoundrels at Crown Uptown Professional Dinner Theatre.
If you ever have questions about anything, please dont' hesitate to contact her. You can find a link to her e-mail on her website http://CassandraMarieNuss.com and on Facebook. " I'm an open door. I want to see as many of my friends and colleagues succeed at possible!" Finally, she offers a little bit of advice: "If you want this, I mean really want it, then go for it. Find what you love and passionately persue it. There will be sacrifice and it's not going to be easy, but if it's what you love and you can't see yourself doing anything else, then it's worth it. Good times and bad, I wouldn't trade a second of my life and career so far for anything."
Sandy was born on Vandenberg Air Force Base in Northern California, but did the majority of her growing up in Wichita, KS. She never intended to study theatre or do it professionally. "For me, it was just a hobby, something I loved to do. I was less than 6 months from graduating high school when I decided that's what I wanted to go to college for." She started off in the Musical Theatre program at WSU, but switched to Theatre Performance and Dance after her Freshman year. "I wanted more classical training. Acting and dancing were my weaker spots, so I opted to really focus on those while at WSU." She studied acting under former Director of Theatre Drew Tombrello who put a strong emphasis on honing skills through "on the job training." Cassandra booked her first paid gig in 2006 doing Summerstock in IA. "My first year of Summerstock literally changed my life. Having to craft a role in less than 10 days, while doing another show at the same time forces you to face your fears and your weaknesses. I didn't have time to worry over my choices, I had to make them and make them confidently. I think all actors should be required to do it!" She did two seasons of Summerstock and worked at the Crown Uptown Professional Dinner Theatre and with former Stage One during her 41/2 years at WSU. While at WSU, she performed in Secondstage musicals Romance, Romance and Tick, Tick...Boom!, and on the Mainstage in The Tempest, Holy Ghosts, and her personal favorite The Last Hotel for Women. She also secured modeling jobs with Beauty First and shot several commercials for Wichita businesses through her representation with The Gregory Agency.
Six weeks after graduating, Sandy moved to Los Angeles. For her it was a terrifying but exhilarating experience. "I'd never been there before I moved out there. I'd always thought I'd end up in New York, but that was the door that opened. I met a coach through my Wichita agent and he was the one who talked me into it. I did a lot of growing up out there. More importantly, I realized that acting is really what I want to spend my life doing, and that definitely isn't going to be an easy road for the long haul!" LA also opened the door for her to start modeling and persuing a film career. "I want to do it all. There are so many facets to this profession. There's no rule that says you can only do one thing!" And she's done just that. In the last year Sandy has worked on a varied palette of projects: she shot with 27 photographers, shot two commercials, an industrial training video for Koch Industries, a music video for Wichita band Livy High, sat for a set of painters in Oklahoma and premiered three musicals including Dirty Rotten Schoundrels at Crown Uptown Professional Dinner Theatre.
If you ever have questions about anything, please dont' hesitate to contact her. You can find a link to her e-mail on her website http://CassandraMarieNuss.com and on Facebook. " I'm an open door. I want to see as many of my friends and colleagues succeed at possible!" Finally, she offers a little bit of advice: "If you want this, I mean really want it, then go for it. Find what you love and passionately persue it. There will be sacrifice and it's not going to be easy, but if it's what you love and you can't see yourself doing anything else, then it's worth it. Good times and bad, I wouldn't trade a second of my life and career so far for anything."
