Conservatory of Performing Arts Receives National Recognition Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Point Park University is ranked No. 8 on Playbill.com's list of the Top Colleges Currently Represented on Broadway, ahead of schools such as the Boston Conservatory, UCLA and Florida State.

This ranking comes on the heels of Point Park's No. 3 ranking on OnStage's list of the Top 10 BFA Dance Programs in the Country for 2016-2017.

"These rankings are a testament to Point Park University's commitment to the performing and cinematic arts," said Ronald Allan-Lindblom, artistic director of Point Park's Conservatory of Performing Arts. "The recognition also is a direct result of our students' talent, as well as the dedicated work of our faculty of artist educators and the national guest artists we are privileged to work with each year."

Playbill.com's ranking is based on its own research, which only includes Broadway shows currently open, along with some shows that have announced casting for the 2016-2017 season.

The list of Point Park alumni recognized by Playbill.com includes:

• Mike Cannon, "Aladdin," Woodside, N.Y.
• Shonica Goodwin, "Cats," Atlanta, Ga.
• Ahmad Simmons, "Cats," Fort Worth, Texas
• Callan Bergmann, "Cats," Gowanda, N.Y.
• John Magaro, "Front Page," Munroe Falls, Ohio
• Megan Sikora, "Holiday Inn," New York, N.Y.
• Amy Van Norstrand, "Holiday Inn," Hyde Park, N.Y.
• Candi Boyd, "Jersey Boys," Gibsonia, Pa.
• Rory Max Kaplan, "Jersey Boys," New York, N.Y.
• Ross Lekites, "Kinky Boots," Louisville, Ky.
• Sarah Meahl, "Paramour," Orlando, Fla.
• Bruce Weber, "Paramour," Melrose, Mass.
• Jennifer DiNoia, "Wicked," Meriden, Conn.

Alumni of Point Park's Conservatory of Performing Arts also have found success behind the scenes on Broadway. "Wicked," Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's "Bright Star," and the first national tour of "Hamilton" are among the more recent productions that have had Point Park alumni working as assistant stage managers and production assistants.

"The immersive, hands-on education our students get in the technical areas of production gives them the kind of real-world experience they need to succeed in the fast-paced environment of Broadway," Lindblom said. "As a result, hundreds of graduates of our programs are working on stage and behind the scenes all over the world."

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