Performing Arts Center

Alumni Before and Behind the Stage Lights

By Mimi Ko Cruz

Counted among the many successful Cal State Fullerton performing arts graduates are famous opera singers, popular producers and sought-after stage and movie actors. Here are a just few of the alumni making their marks in the performance arena.

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Jennifer Hubilla earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in 2002 and, upon graduation, was cast as the lead in the U.S. national tour of "Miss Saigon." Today, she continues her role as Kim in Cameron Mackintosh's production of Boublil and Schönberg's "Miss Saigon" as it tours the United Kingdom.

Carlos "John" Santana, a host on K-MOZART 105.1-FM, holds two degrees from CSUF -- a bachelor of music degree in 1976 and a master of music degree in 1981 -- both in performance-composition. A composer and conductor, Santana hosts K-MOZART's popular "Evening Concert" program from 8 to 10 p.m. and can be heard live on the classical radio station from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Baritone Jubilant Sykes' career has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera in New York, some of the biggest music festivals in Europe and concert halls throughout the U.S. The CSUF alumnus -- bachelor of music degree in performance in 1979 -- has a wide-ranging repertoire that spans from Copland's "Old American Songs" to Mendelssohn's "Elijah," Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9" and Mozart's "Requiem." He has performed concert versions of Bizet's "Carmen" with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and Cavalli's "Calisto" with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and recorded two CDs -- "Wait for Me" (2001) and "Jubilant" (1998). In "Wait for Me," he sings songs by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Brian Wilson, Leadbelly, John Hiatt and Rodgers & Hammerstein. The Wall Street Journal called the recording "gorgeous" and "a painfully tender masterpiece." Sykes currently is touring with guitarist Christopher Parkening throughout the U.S., Japan and Korea, and the duo are collaborating on a recording of American and Brazilian music.

Ray Thompson, who earned his B.A. in theater arts in 1977, is the recipient of four Emmy Awards for Achievement in Lighting Direction for a Drama Series for "The Young and the Restless," where he has served as lighting director and designer since 1982. Thompson's honors include the 1997 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Lighting and the 1997 DramaLogue Award for Lighting -- both for his work on the stage production "Steaming." He also won the 1995 DramaLogue Award for Lighting for "The Fox," another stage show.

Thomas Patrick Wilkins is a production designer and art director working in film, television and commercials. The 1983 graduate worked in a variety of fields from theme parks to theater before he found his way into the film world in 1986. Some of his credits as an art director include "Rumor Has It," "Spiderman 2," "Men in Black 2," "Fargo," "Stuart Saves His Family," "Beverly Hills Cop 3" and "Space Above and Beyond." His production design credits include "Go, Secret Agent Man," "Boogie Boy" and commercials for a variety of directors.