BA Senior Showcase 2025
For many years, students in the BA Acting Program have expressed the desire for a cumulative performance at the end of their studies. After successful BA Showcases in 2022, 2023, and 2024, we are proud to present our BA Senior Showcase for 2025, which took place on May 1st at USC.
Jewel Abdo
(she/her)
602-526-7580
Jewel Abdo is an actress and singer originally from Scottsdale, Arizona. She is currently pursuing a dual degree in Acting and Public Relations at the University of Southern California. Over the past few years, she has focused primarily on film performance, appearing in a range of short films both on and off campus. Her recent credits include Favors, Murder Uncorked, and Wrong Number. In addition to her on-screen work, Jewel is classically trained in musical theatre vocal performance as a soprano. She has recently developed a growing interest in voiceover acting and looks forward to exploring opportunities in this field post-graduation. Outside of performance, Jewel works in content creation and social media management. Most recently, she served as Social Media Manager for the dessert company Gato Dates, where she led user-generated content campaigns and helped drive follower growth and engagement across platforms (primarily Instagram and TikTok). When she’s not creating or performing, you’ll likely find her exploring hidden gems in LA’s food scene or discovering her next favorite piece in a secondhand shop.
Stefany Arroyo
(she/her)
424-157-972
Stefany Arroyo is a Senior student training in the Acting Emphasis Program at the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts. Throughout her years at USC, Stefany has participated in multiple MainStage Productions including playing “Maria Salgado Ruiz” in the Culture Clash play, They Never Called It Chavez Ravine!, and more recently, playing “Celia Willbond” in Jessica Swale’s Blue Stockings. She recently finished her semester training at the British Academy of Dramatic Arts where she played “Natasha” in Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters. Stefany is immensely full of joy with her undergraduate journey at USC, grateful for her amazing supportive parents and is so honored to have found her own little corner of community in SDA.
Gianna (Gigi) Calcagno
(she/her)
773-931-3709
Gianna (Gigi) Calcagno is an actress based out of Los Angeles, California and Chicago, Illinois. She is so excited to share the stage with her wonderful peers at USC one last time before graduating with a BA in Theatre (Emphasis in Acting) in two weeks! Her performance experience has been primarily in theatre, but she hopes to branch out into film and television work, as well. Recent credits include: As You Like It: A Musical Adaptation (Celia, USC School of Dramatic Arts), Twelfth Night (Olivia, British American Drama Academy), Ghosts of USC: An Immersive Haunt (Ghost of Artemisia, USC School of Dramatic Arts), and The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily Cardew, USC School of Dramatic Arts). She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this showcase, for the incredible cast and crew who brought it to life, and for everyone in the audience who came out to support.
Haley Carolan
(she/her)
201-988-5546
Haley Carolan is a bicoastal actress graduating from USC with a BA in Theatre (Acting Emphasis) and an Entertainment Industry minor. She is thrilled to be performing in this showcase and would like to thank everyone for being here. Recent theatre credits include: Blue Stockings (Maeve Sullivan, USC School of Dramatic Arts), Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (Ensemble, Los Angeles Theatre Initiative), The Wolves (#2, Brook Arts Community Center Players), and Twelfth Night (Maria, British American Drama Academy). Recent film credits include: Dream Catcher (Lead, USC School of Cinematic Arts), What Are You Thankful For? (Supporting, USC SCA), and Broken Heart (Lead, USC SCA). In her free time, she likes to sing, dance, and birdwatch. She would like to thank the cast and Impulse Theatre Company for their hard work, talent, and dedication, as well as her friends and family for their love and belief in her.
Vanessa Cardona
(she/her)
803-517-2887
Vanessa Cardona is a BA Theatre major with a double minor in Entertainment Industry and Marketing. She is a Colombian American, fluent in Spanish, who enjoys singing Mariachi as well as musical theatre. She is from South Carolina and has come across the country to study acting. She enjoys theatre and film/television acting, but also has a passion for writing for both screen and stage!
Lilly Casiraghi
(she/her)
203-705-8783
Lilly Casiraghi is a graduating senior at USC, majoring in Theater with a minor in Cinematic Arts. Originally from Connecticut, she’s an East Coast girl at heart, but has come to love Southern California and plans to stay in Los Angeles after graduation to pursue acting and comedy. This summer, Lilly is headed to Scotland to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. During her time at USC, Lilly played Romeo in a London production of Romeo and Juliet, starred in the immersive improvisational show Ghosts of USC, and appeared as Brandy in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. She also recently performed as a cast member in USC Trojan Vision’s 10th season of Comedy Live. Lilly continues to hone her comedic craft through training at The Groundlings Theater. Bringing a playful charm to every role, Lilly is passionate about using humor to tell authentic, engaging stories.
Briant Chen
(he/him)
720-350-2798
Briant Chen is a Chinese-American actor known for his emotionally grounded performances and versatility across screen and stage. He has starred in independent films such as ANTHO and Life Through a Lens, and appeared in the experimental short Mindscape. On stage, Briant has portrayed diverse roles including Felix in The Odd Couple and Addelin in The Thread Men. Trained at Berg Studios and the University of Southern California, he brings a foundation in scene study, on-camera technique, and improvisation. Fluent in English and Chinese, Briant also brings skills in martial arts, piano, and public speaking—enhancing his dynamic presence on set.
Beau Goodman
(he/him)
310-993-1511
Beau Goodman is an LA native who’s spent his collegiate years studying drama and history in Ohio, London, and here in Los Angeles. Beau recently played the role of Danny in John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at USC. He’s appeared in over a dozen short films across the United States as well as Netflix’s Outer Banks. His favorite film is Alexander Payne’s Sideways. He is an avid guitar player and horseman.
Ian Grady
(he/him)
541-690-9953
Ian Grady is an actor and improv comic from the tiny town of Jacksonville, Oregon. He is graduating with a BA in Theater (Acting Emphasis) and a Cinematic Arts Minor. He was recently seen in USC’s “Machinal” and performs weekly with USC’s premier long-form improv troupe, Second Nature. Ian also studied with the British American Drama Academy, a semester-long London conservatory program culminating in his performance as Sir Toby Belch in “Twelfth Night”. Ian enjoys practicing impressions, putting on sunscreen, and getting acting tips from soccer players faking injuries.
Alexandra (Lexie) Hastings
(she/her)
858-753-8812
Alexandra Hastings is an actress, director, and creative from San Diego, California studying Theater Acting with a minor in Entertainment Industry. She was recently seen as the lead in USC’s production of “Blue Stockings,” and is receiving the School of Dramatic Arts’ McKinlay Award for Outstanding BA Performance. Alexandra also studied with the British American Drama Academy, a semester-long London conservatory program culminating in her performance as Helena in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." While at USC, Alexandra has also starred in the immersive, improvisational theatre production "The Ghosts of USC" and a number of student films by graduate cinema students. With a passion for working with kids in theatre, she has returned to her community theatre to direct/choreograph summer children's productions like "Tuck Everlasting" and "Les Miserables,” staying true to her musical theatre roots. Her free time consists of teaching herself guitar and watching through her long list of recommended TV shows.
Celia Hidell
(she/her)
781-635-7191
Celia Hidell is an LA-based actor, writer, director and designer originally from Boston, MA. She fell in love with acting after being unwillingly forced into theatre at seven years old as a part of her Montessori school curriculum, and hasn’t stopped since. As she looks to begin a multidisciplinary career in the entertainment industry post-graduation, it seems most natural for her to begin where it all started many years ago. Moving forward, Celia is particularly interested in genre-bending on-screen content and is grateful to be part of a showcase that enables her to do what she loves amongst her wonderfully talented peers as she prepares to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre in the coming weeks.
Halia Lindauer
(she/her)
657-235-7345
Halia Lindauer is an actor, director, and creative from Orange County, California. She has spent the past few years at USC earning her Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts with an Emphasis in Acting. Halia is the president of two theatre companies at the University (Impulse and Aeneid Theatre Company) and has had a tremendous time leading and working with both. Recent credits include Becca in David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole (USC), Trina in William Finn’s Falsettos (USC, MTR), and Sammy in the New York Theatre Festival debut of Chutzpah. She has worked as an artistic director for multiple films, including Apeshit (USC, SCA), Bella and Linda Cross the Pond (USC, SCA), and 80,000 Golden Marriages (USC, SCA), as well as theatrical productions such as Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (USC, ATC) and Give the People What They Want (USC, ATC). She has had the honor of combining her USC training with her years as a student and advisor at South Coast Repertory and cannot wait to see what the future holds for her. To her family and friends - thank you for everything.
Sydney Leanna
(she/her)
774-334-2102
Sydney Leanna is an LA-based actress and is graduating from USC with a BA in Theatre (Acting Emphasis). She is very honored to be a part of this showcase production. Recent film credits include: DoodleTown: Jokes on You (Supporting, Open Kitchen Productions, Dir. Elgin Ravenell), Last Call (Lead, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Dir. Vir Srinvivas), and Misunderstood (Lead, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Dir. Ella Wang). Recent theatre credits include: Spices (Brie, USC School of Dramatic Arts), The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams, The Little Theatre on Broad Street), and We Will Rock You (Oz, QCST). Sydney would like to thank the cast and production crew for this wonderful experience, as well as her friends and family for their endless love and support.
Zoë Poole
(she/her)
206-979-3546
Zoe Poole is a graduating senior from USC’s BA Theatre program. (Watch out, world.) Zoe is originally from Seattle, Washington but will be based in LA post-grad. She hates the rain and gloom too much to go back. Also I guess there’s the acting thing. She likes logic puzzles and bad movies and long drives (except if they’re in traffic on the highway). She’s ready to do great things in film and TV and make a splash. It’s a good thing, too, because she’s like… wow… just inexplicably talented. She’d like to thank her family and friends who somehow manage to inspire and support and push her every day. She wouldn’t be the person she is today without them. Okay that’s all she has to say. Enjoy the show.
Micah Schneider
(he/him)
310-650-8238
Micah is extremely excited to be working with Impulse for the BA Showcase! He loves all aspects of acting and cannot wait to share the stage with these amazingly talented grads. Micah is from Los Angeles, CA, but grew up in Toronto, ON. At USC, he has been seen in Blue Stockings as Ralph Mayhew and Will in Michaela’s Fluent Aphasia. Professionally, Micah has worked with A Noise Within theatre as the Dinosaur in The Skin Of Our Teeth. Micah cannot wait to share everything he’s learned at USC, and he would like to thank everyone for coming out to scout and support!
Samantha Salamoff
(she/her)
818-636-4604
Samantha Salamoff is a Senior BA Theatre Major with an Acting Emphasis, studying at the University of Southern California. While in school, Samantha had the opportunity to perform in a variety of Mainstage Productions produced by USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, Independent Student Productions, and MFA film students’ short films. Some of the roles she’s played include “Herald’s Shadow” in Marat/Sade, “Shaker” in Chavez Ravine, and recently, “Minnie/Lady in Cafe” in Blue Stockings. Reflecting on her years of study, Samantha is deeply grateful for her fruitful journey at USC and is excited to hit the ground running once she graduates. She is proud to take part in this showcase and honored to share the stage alongside cherished classmates and friends she’s made over the years.