Students and alumni from Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts BFA in Performance Making traveled across Romania, Scotland, Italy, Croatia, India, Japan, and Greece this past summer to study, create, and perform on international stages. According to the university, these global engagements highlight how the newly revamped program—which unites the former Acting BA and Directing BA programs ahead of its Fall 2026 launch—prepares artists for cross-continental collaboration.
Sands Alumni Shine at the Sibiu Festival of Theatre in Romania
In June, Sands alumni presented work at the Sibiu Festival of Theatre and Cultural Management Universities in Romania, recognized as the third-largest theater festival in the world. The project originated from the Night of Original Work (NOW), the program’s capstone project where seniors adapt a short story for the stage. Liadin Stewart ’25 directed an adaptation of Karen Russell’s short story The Prospectors, featuring fellow students Ava Escobado ’25 and Avery Loving ’25 as performers and creators.
Performed alongside another Sands alumni production titled We Men of Science, the pieces ran under the shared title Eulogies for the Living. Stewart stated that her directing classes at Pace helped her lead a creative team with a cohesive vision. “At Pace, I learned what my viewpoint was. It is where I found my voice,” she said.
Associate Professor and Performance Making Program Head Adrienne Kapstein and Clinical Assistant Professor Ianthe Demos guided the students during their transition to the international stage. Additionally, Adam Scott ’25 credited his required semester abroad at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona with providing the foundation needed to tackle We Men of Science alongside Gannon Ripchik ’25. Isabel Dirk ’24 served as production stage manager for both productions, noting that her experience with limited-budget ensemble pieces at Pace helped her navigate logistical constraints.
Following the festival, Stewart, Escobado, and Loving are scheduled to showcase The Prospectors this fall at the Circle Theatre Festival at the AMT Theatre.
Did You Know? The capstone project that birthed The Prospectors required students to find a short story they loved and adapt it for the stage as part of their training in devising original work.
International Studies in Italy, Scotland, and Croatia
Beyond Romania, current student Sebastian Cromwell ’28 spent June and July at the Embodied Poetics School in Padua, Italy, studying the Lecoq physical theater approach. Cromwell noted that his training at Sands prepared him for the intensive training in Padua. Faculty member Adrienne Kapstein, who had trained at the Jacques Lecoq International Theater School in Paris, helped facilitate the connection.
In August, alumna Melissa Ingle ’20 directed the original one-man show Time Travel Postman at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Ingle worked alongside frequent co-collaborator Alex Church Gonzales ’20, who designed costumes for the production and for Ingle’s theater company, Devon Loves ME! Productions. Meanwhile, Layla Izabela ’23 completed an apprenticeship in July with the Contemporary Performance Practices program in Dubrovnik, Croatia, focusing on devised theater, immersive work, the Suzuki method, and Viewpoints training.
Global Residencies Through One Year Lease in India, Japan, and Greece
Four alumni and one student traveled from mid-June to mid-August with the One Year Lease (OYL) professional theater company’s International Residency Program. Led by Clinical Assistant Professor, founding member, and artistic director of OYL Ianthe Demos, the residency spanned Varadenahalli Village in India, Lake Nojiri in Japan, and Papingo, Greece. Demos stated that the BFA program prepares students to handle the intensity of ensemble work alongside 25 other artists from day one.
In Greece, Ricardo Delgado ’21 participated in process-driven and collaborative performance work at the archeological site of ancient Corinth. Delgado described the program as an opportunity to reconnect with the craft of theater-making and reignite his creative energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BFA in Performance Making at Pace University?
It is a newly renamed and revamped program offered through Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts that combines the former Acting BA and Directing BA programs, officially launching in Fall 2026.
Which international festival featured Sands alumni in June?
Sands alumni presented their capstone works at the Sibiu Festival of Theatre and Cultural Management Universities in Romania.
How do faculty members support these international opportunities?
Faculty members such as Adrienne Kapstein and Ianthe Demos utilize their professional networks and international training backgrounds to connect students with overseas institutions, festivals, and residency programs like One Year Lease.
How do you think early international exposure alters the trajectory of a young theater artist’s creative voice?