Florida State University alumna Christiani Pitts has earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her performance in Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). 

Nominations for the 79th Annual Tony Awards were announced Tuesday. Winners will be announced June 7 at Radio City Music Hall during a ceremony broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. 

The nomination drew praise from faculty in Florida State University’s School of Theatre, where Pitts developed the foundation for a career that has taken her from campus productions to leading roles on Broadway.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate alumna Christiani Pitts’ Tony nomination,” said Brad Brock, director of the School of Theatre. “As a student, she was a force in our program — leading with heart, a fierce work ethic and a collaborative spirit. None of us are surprised to see her carrying that same generosity, passion and commitment to the craft to Broadway.” 

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate alumna Christiani Pitts’ Tony nomination. As a student, she was a force in our program — leading with heart, a fierce work ethic and a collaborative spirit. None of us are surprised to see her carrying that same generosity, passion and commitment to the craft to Broadway.

— Brad Brock, director of the School of Theatre

The evening before learning of her nomination, Pitts was in New York supporting the next generation of Florida State performers at the university’s Senior Showcase.

Held at the Ailey Citigroup Theatre, the annual event gives graduating music theatre students from the College of Music and School of Theatre the opportunity to perform for agents, casting directors and other industry professionals. For Pitts, who once stood in their place, the evening underscored the connection between FSU’s training programs and the professional stage. 

Pitts, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre from the FSU School of Theatre in 2015, is among nominees that include Sara Chase (Schmigadoon!), Stephanie Hsu (The Rocky Horror Show), Caissie Levy (Ragtime) and Marla Mindelle (Titanique). 

Her nomination marks a significant milestone in a career spanning stage, television and film. Pitts made her Broadway debut in A Bronx Tale: The Musical, later stepping into a leading role in the production, before starring as Ann Darrow in Broadway’s King Kong. Prior to her Broadway success, she built her foundation at FSU, appearing in productions including Cabaret (Fraulein Sally Bowles), Company (Marta) and Ragtime. 

“What continues to inspire us most,” Brock said, “is not only her talent, but the environment she cultivates around her — one grounded in collaboration, integrity and a sincere dedication to uplifting the communities she engages with. Christiani exemplifies the highest ideals of an FSU Theatre graduate. We are delighted to see her receiving the recognition she has long earned and eager to watch the impact she will continue to make across the industry.” 

In addition to her stage work, Pitts has appeared in television series including Power Book III: Raising Kanan, The Good Fight and Blue Bloods. She also starred in the Netflix film Resort to Love, produced by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. 

Pitts is the daughter of Byron Pitts, anchor of ABC’s Nightline, and began her theatre career in Atlanta and New Jersey before moving to New York City after graduating from FSU. 

Her nomination adds to a distinguished legacy of FSU alumni recognized on Broadway. Notable music theatre graduates include Montego Glover (‘96), a Tony nominee for Memphis, and producer Darren Bagert (‘92), a five-time Tony Award winner whose career has spanned more than three decades. 

Pitts’ nomination highlights both her emergence as a major talent on the stage and Florida State University’s longstanding success in preparing artists for careers across Broadway, television and film.

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A Florida State University student is one of 16 talented undergraduate artists from across the nation selected for NASA’s Psyche Inspired program.  

Julia Stephens, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art and a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing, has produced a series of artworks relating to a current NASA mission as part of this prestigious internship.

Established in 2017, Psyche Inspired is a program that brings undergraduate students from any discipline or major together to share the excitement and innovation of NASA’s mission to visit, map and collect data on Psyche, a metal-rich asteroid roughly the same size as the state of Florida. Stephens and her fellow interns use their artistic skills to showcase scientific and engineering content with the public in creative new ways.

According to the agency’s mission overview, exploring the asteroid could help provide valuable information about the history of our solar system and even Earth’s own core. A van-sized probe launched as part of the mission in 2023 is currently en route to enter Psyche’s orbit in August 2029.

Stephens brings a lifelong interest in space and passion for science to her work as an artist and writer. As a Psyche Inspired intern, she is helping NASA tell the mission’s story and communicate complex ideas to the public.

 “I think connecting this research into artistic practices is very important, and it’s something that I want to keep doing within my personal art practice,” she said. “Being a part of something greater than myself — making art with other people that contributes to a greater whole — is one of the best parts of Psyche.”

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Florida State University School of Dance associate professor nia love has received a 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship in Choreography for her work “Floating Metal: UNDERcurrents in My Father’s Garden.”  

“Receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship is a significant national recognition and a meaningful acknowledgment of the impact of nia love’s creative work,” said James Frazier, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “This award is among the most prestigious honors that an artist may receive during their career. Her selection reflects both her individual excellence and the strength of the arts at Florida State University.” 

love’s ties to FSU and the College of Fine Arts run deep. Since receiving her Master of Fine Arts degree from FSU in 1992, she has built a career as a highly regarded artist and choreographer in New York City. She has been recognized with three Bessie Awards, a Fullbright Fellowship and a Herb Alpert Award, among many other honors. In 2024, she returned to FSU as a faculty member, following in the footsteps of her father, Ed Love, a renowned sculptor and 1987 Guggenheim Fellow, who served as an FSU Visual Arts professor from 1990 until his passing in 1999.  

For the artist, dance has long been a way to maintain a connection with her father, and this relationship stands at the center of her work.  

“Dance has been a way to breathe in unbreathable spaces, a way to be held by people who are no longer here, whispering states of unconditional love,” she said. “I remember when I was 5, my favorite place to improvise my dancing moves was down the grocery store aisles. It was there, under my father’s gaze that he first told me to ‘do the dance.’ Now here without him 27 years later, I continue to ‘do the dance.’”   

“Floating Metal: UNDERcurrents in My Father’s Garden” is an expansive project that is personal for the artist and explores her connection to her father through their art, examining inheritance and memory and reflecting on the still-lingering impacts of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the Middle Passage.  

Part of this Guggenheim-winning work will be a large-scale exhibition, scheduled to open in August at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts. It will encompass three galleries and feature a dialogue between love’s performance work and her father’s sculptures, paintings and photographs.  

love was selected as part of the 101st class of Guggenheim Fellows from among more than 5,000 applicants. She joins 223 artists, scholars and scientists, representing 55 distinct fields. She is the third current FSU School of Dance faculty member to achieve this honor, joining colleagues Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (2009 Fellow) and Gwen Welliver (2025 Fellow).   

For more information about the FSU School of Dance, visit dance.fsu.edu.  

To learn more about upcoming exhibitions at the FSU Museum of Fine Arts, including “Floating Metal: UNDERcurrents in My Father’s Garden,” visit MoFA.fsu.edu or follow the museum on Instagram, at @fsumofa.  

Editor’s Note: Per the artist’s request, the name nia love should appear in all lowercase letters. 

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The Florida State University School of Dance will present its annual “Days of Dance” performances this month, featuring two distinct programs, each with a collection of works choreographed and performed by students and faculty.   

For more than 50 years, “Days of Dance” has been a hallmark of the season for FSU Dance, offering the Tallahassee community an opportunity to experience the breadth and caliber of work being created and performed in the studios and on the stages of Montgomery Hall.  

“We are incredibly excited to share our 2026 Days of Dance performances,” said Helanius J. Wilkins, Chair of the School of Dance. “The incredible range of the programming, including Tap, Ballet, African-Diasporic and Contemporary works, showcases the multitude of voices and perspectives that make up our School of Dance. There’s something for everyone who loves dance, so please come join us, and enjoy both programs if you’re able.”      

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The Florida State University Department of Art will host an opening reception for its annual Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition on April 17, celebrating the work of graduating students in the BFA Studio Art Program.

The collaborative exhibition, entitled “A New Paradigm,” features artwork by eight graduating BFA students: Alex Davidoff, Addison Ellis, Audrey Femia, Audrey Lendvay, Antonia Pretelt, Joanna Godfrey, Leah Linkogle and Mari Mitchell.

Each student’s artistic practice uses a variety of media, including ceramics, digital fabrication, drawing, installation, painting, papermaking, photography, printmaking and sculpture. The exhibition considers the shifting societal frameworks the students see within the present day. The title describes the culmination of their journey at FSU as they embark on their careers.

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The Florida State University School of Theatre presents “The Play That Goes Wrong,” a comedy by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, opening Friday at The Richard G. Fallon Theatre.

The show follows a troupe of actors who prove that even when their play unravels into a theatrical symphony of disasters, the show must go on.

“The School of Theatre ends the season with a bang … or in this case, perhaps a well-timed thud … as ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ leans wholeheartedly into its delightfully chaotic spirit,” says Brad Brock, director of the School of Theatre. “The show’s charm is undeniable. Everything just clicks — the writing is sharp, the set ‘mishaps’ are a puzzle the audience gets to enjoy and the cast brings such energy that you can’t help but get swept up in it. We want people to laugh so hard they leave with happy tears.”

The cast features FSU students Jacob Ost (Chris), Gabriel Martinez (Jonathan), Onyekachi Anyagaligbo (Roberta), Camryn Overstreet (Denise), Amanda Holton (Sandra), Adam Fuller (Max), Mckenna Brooke Noel (Annie) and Steffen Lawrence Robinson (Trevor).

The production is directed by Joz Vammer, with scenic design by Sophie Smrcka, lighting design by Naiomy Pérez Del Valle, sound design by Alroy Harry and costume design by Makenzie Vaughan.

Performances will run Friday, April 10, through Sunday, April 19, at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre.

Tickets are available at tickets.theatre.fsu.edu. For more information on the FSU School of Theatre’s 2026-2027 season and academic programs, visit theatre.fsu.edu.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is presented by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service under license from Mischief Worldwide Ltd.

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The Florida State University Department of Art and Museum of Fine Arts will open an exhibition this April showcasing the work of the department’s ten graduating MFA studio art students. “Decentered Reframed” offers a collection of contemporary artworks spanning installation, sculpture, print, video and performance projects.

The exhibition represents the professional debut of these artists following their time in the Department of Art’s MFA in studio art. As an intensive three-year program, it is designed to offer the students the discipline, training and artistic understanding required for life as a practicing artist and professional.

“In my 13 years at FSU, I have witnessed the evolution of our Studio Art MFA program and its students’ culminating exhibitions,” said Rob Duarte, associate professor and director of the graduate program. “The work in this year’s show represents some of the most thoughtful, considered and engaging artwork that has been produced through our program. The artists have worked extraordinarily hard to arrive at this point, and I can’t wait to share in this final celebration of their efforts as MFA candidates.”

The show highlights the growth and development of these featured artists throughout the three-year MFA program. In this collaborative exhibition, Alexia Benavent-Rivera, Ysabel Flores, Hannah Glaser, Moey Hewitt, Kea Kamiya, Amarachi Odimba, Keilicia Parker, Kyle Smith, J Woltz and Jay Yue each examine the power structures that shape our culture, environment and relationships.

The exhibit will run from April 10 through May 2, with an opening reception April 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The artists also invite the public to a meet-and-greet followed by a series of artist talks from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Museum of Fine Arts. Additionally, there will be artist-led workshops available to the public.

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The Florida State University School of Dance will launch a one-of-a-kind certificate program this fall, providing formal training for musicians interested in working in the dance field.

Created in partnership with the College of Music, the new Dance Accompanying Certificate is designed to develop the skills, experience and musical adaptability needed to work alongside performers and choreographers in academic institutions, conservatories and professional studios.

“This certificate offers students a rare hands-on opportunity to develop both the musical and collaborative skills needed to work with dancers,” said Daniel Smith, School of Dance assistant professor and director of the certificate program. “Dance accompanying is a sophisticated musical practice that requires creativity, artistic awareness and a deep sensitivity to movement.”

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Students at Florida State University fused human creativity with modern technology during a recent 24-hour Create-a-thon. The design sprint, hosted by FSU’s Innovation Hub, challenged participants to celebrate Tallahassee’s community spirit by building interactive experiences that cultivate a lasting sense of belonging and connection.

The event served as a feature of the 2026 Festival of the Creative Arts (FCA), an initiative led by the FSU Office of Research that highlights the voices and talents of students and faculty across the university.

“Events like this Create-a-thon provide our students with a space where creativity is the primary driver of discovery,” said Ken Baldauf, founding director of the Innovation Hub. “When we bring together dancers, engineers, musicians, writers and scientists, we aren’t just making art, we are developing a universal language for problem solving that leverages the latest technologies.”

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The Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA) and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Center (NAIS) partnered to welcome Seminole artist Wilson Bowers to the museum for a collaborative painting event.  

Students, faculty, staff and community members came together on Feb. 27 to complete a colorful patchwork-inspired painting, which will be displayed at NAIS, in the Greene-Lewis House at 525 W. College Ave., following its completion.  

“We are honored that the museum is able to serve as a place where artists like Wilson Bowers can come together with the community, share their work, and form lasting and meaningful connections through events like this,” said Kaylee Spencer, Museum of Fine Arts director. “It’s wonderful to know that this piece of art will remain here on campus, where the creative experiences it generates become woven into the memories and placemaking of our community. We are deeply grateful to Wilson for inspiring this moment and for so generously sharing his creativity and knowledge with us.”  

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Florida State University’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC) is celebrating a milestone as the first cohort of graduates completes its Master of Science in entrepreneurship with a major in creative arts entrepreneurship.

The innovative program represents a significant step forward in interdisciplinary arts education at FSU, bringing together resources from the College of Music, the College of Fine Arts and the College of Motion Picture Arts to support creators who want to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.

The program is designed for experienced creatives who want to enhance their professional practice by adding entrepreneurial strategy and business insight. Students will complete online courses, providing flexibility for those already working in their field. Cohorts typically include individuals who specialize in fields such as music, film, visual and performing arts or creative writing.

“As someone who is working full time but wanted to continue their education, the Creative Arts master’s program allows me the flexibility to learn valuable skills in my current career and beyond,” says Evan Eisenstark, who works full time as a social media specialist at FSU. “Being a part of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship has also given me the opportunity to meet and learn from other entrepreneurs and take the steps to one day start my own venture.”

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Florida State University research is connecting the arts and humanities to health, healing and human connection, demonstrating how interdisciplinary scholarship can improve healthcare.

Faculty and students from across campus gathered on Feb. 10 at the Claude Pepper Center for the Arts–Health–Humanities Symposium VI, an interdisciplinary forum exploring how creative and scholarly perspectives converge to advance human well-being and healthcare. The symposium is part of the Festival of the Creative Arts, a monthlong celebration of the voices, talents and creativity of FSU faculty and students.

“By bringing together researchers from different disciplines, the symposium creates opportunities to collaborate and expand research across campus,” said Professor Iain Quinn, research fellow in the Arts and Humanities and director of the Festival of the Creative Arts. “The inherently interdisciplinary nature of the event allows us to benefit from the knowledge of other fields and strengthen our own work.”

Now in its sixth iteration, the symposium featured faculty and student researchers from medicine, music therapy, interior design, ethnomusicology, art therapy and the humanities. Presentations, experiential performances and poster sessions highlighted emerging scholarship in arts-based health research and its applications across the lifespan.

For Daejin Kim, associate professor in the College of Fine Arts, principles of architectural and interior design play a critical role in shaping environments that support both physical safety and psychological well-being. Kim’s research focuses on how interior design strategies can help older adults age in place while maintaining independence.

His presentation emphasized how thoughtful design choices, including lighting, spatial layout and material selection, can reduce fall risk while preserving autonomy and dignity. Rather than relying solely on clinical safety standards, Kim stressed the importance of centering the lived experiences of older adults in design decisions.

“Design has the power to support both safety and autonomy,” Kim said. “When we consider the lived experience of older adults, we can create environments that promote independence without sacrificing dignity.”

Several presentations explored the role of the arts in medical education and healthcare practice. Tana Jean Welch, associate professor at the College of Medicine, discussed “HEAL: Humanism Evolving through Arts and Literature,” a creative arts journal published by the FSU College of Medicine. Welch highlighted the journal’s history and its role in fostering reflection, empathy and humanism in medical training.

Music as medicine

Music therapy research featured prominently throughout the symposium, with presentations spanning infancy through adolescence. Adriana Lizardi-Vázquez, a doctoral student in music therapy, opened her presentation by singing a lullaby commonly used by caregivers in Puerto Rico. Drawing from a study of caregivers with infants ranging from newborns to 18 months old, Lizardi-Vázquez documented more than 180 distinct lullabies and identified shared musical characteristics such as simple melodies, slow tempo and repetition.

Her findings highlight how familiar music supports bonding, language development and emotional regulation.

Other research explored adolescents’ use of music as a coping strategy. Doctoral students Parintorn “Pim” Pankaew and Shun Ee “Racheal” Yap presented findings from a statewide survey of Florida adolescents, revealing widespread use of music for stress management, emotional expression and relaxation. Their work explores how these patterns can inform music therapy–informed wellness and mental health interventions.

James E. Riley addressed professional development in music therapy, sharing preliminary findings on entrepreneurship in the field. While nearly 90% of surveyed music therapy students expressed interest in entrepreneurial work, a similar percentage reported receiving little to no formal guidance.

“There’s a disconnect between how students are trained and the professional realities they will face,” Riley said. “Future music therapists must develop professional and entrepreneurial skills alongside clinical training to navigate today’s healthcare and wellness industries.”

In an experiential session, Michael Bakan, professor of ethnomusicology, led participants in a group vocal performance inspired by the gamelan suara, or “vocal gamelan,” of Bali, Indonesia, demonstrating how collective music-making can foster social cohesion, wellness and joy.

Creativity continues

Poster presentations further highlighted student and faculty research at the intersection of the arts and health, with topics including art therapy assessments for PTSD, community music therapy initiatives, and the art-informed study of the experiences of athletes with disabilities.

“In times of shared challenge, the arts remind us that connection is essential,” Bakan said. “They help us build community, process experience and support one another in ways that are fundamental to human health.”

The Festival of the Creative Arts continues Monday, Feb. 16, with a screening of “Nickel Boys,” a film based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, from 6-9 p.m. at the Askew Student Life Center on FSU’s campus.

Visit the Festival of the Creative Arts website for a full schedule of programming.

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