Metropolitan School of the Arts Alumni Shine on Broadway and National Stages

Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) is proud to announce a slate of recent alumni achievements, with graduates appearing in major Broadway shows, national tours, and renowned dance companies across the country. Go to www.metropolitansarts.org.

“We are incredibly proud of these talented individuals who are making their mark on the professional stage,” said Sara Hart, executive director of Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, Virginia. “Their success is a reflection of their hard work, dedication, and their comprehensive training. We can’t wait to see what they do next,” said Hart.

Metropolitan School of the Arts celebrates the following alumni for their professional accomplishments:

• Naja Bates (Alexandria, MSA Class of 2021), a recent graduate of Shenandoah University’s BFA Musical Theatre program, is currently serving as a Swing and Dance Captain on the National Tour of Mrs. Doubtfire.
• Abigail Aziz (Alexandria, MSA Class of 2021), who recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA in Musical Theatre, is a Principal Cover for the First National Tour of the Tony Award-winning musical Suffs.
• Georgia Monroe (Vienna, MSA Class of 2016), a Pace University graduate, recently made her Broadway debut as a Vacation Swing in Sunset Boulevard. She is also appearing in Arena Stage's Damn Yankees.
• Ellen Roberts (MSA Class of 2020), who recently graduated from Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Music Theatre, has been cast in the National Tour of Beauty and the Beast.
• Ben Cherington (MSA Class of 2016), a Carnegie Mellon School of Drama graduate, is performing as Officer Ivey in the National Tour of Parade.
• Kyra Smith (Alexandria, MSA Class of 2015), a graduate of Point Park University, is on the National Tour of & Juliet as Titania, a Swing, and Associate Dance Captain.
• Roxy King (Alexandria), a highly sought-after tap performer and teaching artist, is a company member of Chicago Tap Theater.
• Hank Von Kolnitz (Alexandria, MSA Class of 2015), a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, has appeared in several recent shows at Signature Theatre. Von Kolnitz plays Sasha on Fiddler on the Roof at Signature Theatre.
• Ellie Guzzano (Fairfax, MSA Class of 2020), a graduate of Oklahoma City University’s BFA Dance program, is an Apprentice with M.A.D.D. Rhythms and a company member with Chicago Tap Theater.
• Ben Cook (Lorton, Va, MSA class of 2016) is performing in Damn Yankees at Arena Stage. Cook made his Broadway debut in Ragtime. He also appeared in other Broadway shows to include: Billy Elliot, Tuck Everlasting, Mean Girls and Illinoise. He also played Riff in the Broadway revival of West Side Story.
• Mary Spinelli (Alexandria) has been promoted to Company Member at Ballet Texas.

As a non-profit organization, Metropolitan School of the Arts relies on the generous donations of sponsors and the community. Metropolitan School of the Arts approach to the performing arts is designed to develop independent, self-motivated and skilled learners. The studio offers a post-high school graduate/gap program as well, for those students who desire an extra year to prepare for admittance into a performing arts university.

ABOUT METROPOLITAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (MSA) Alexandria, Va.-based Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA), a 501 (c) 3 organization, is a performing arts studio in Alexandria, Va. that’s taught dance, music and theater to 10,000+ students since 2001. Noted for its world-class instructors, MSA offers high quality performing arts training in a groundbreaking, holistic learning environment that cultivates creativity, builds community and empowers students. Many MSA students perform in prestigious arenas including Broadway, National Tours, The Julliard School, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Washington Ballet, The American Academy of Ballet, Universal Ballet Academy, The Kirov Ballet, The Hartt School, Marymount University (New York), Ford’s Theater and Mark Morris Dance Company. MSA offers a performing arts studio, a youth tap ensemble, a youth ballet, a MetroImprov company, a jazz company, and a musical theatre program, as well as adult fitness and dance. Call 703.339.0444 visit www.metropolitanarts.org or @metropolitan_arts.