In the Loop
Alumni News : Dec 5, 2016

SOTD alumnus finds success in the Big Apple

By Francesca Levy

UF School of Theatre + Dance alumnus Emmanuel Brown (BFA ‘04) is doing big things. Recently, Brown received the Phoenix Rising Star award at the 2016 Urban Action Showcase. Since moving to New York City to pursue a career in theatre, Brown has recorded many voice-overs, appeared on two episodes of the TV series Gotham and was an original cast member of the Broadway production Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark.

Brown credits part of his success to the training he received as an acting student at UF. While at UF, Brown was involved in everything from main stage shows to Florida Players productions to graduate one-acts and student films. Brown says his experiences at UF gave him a solid foundation to pursue his career goals after graduation.

While Brown admits that being an artist in New York is certainly challenging, he feels that there is nothing more rewarding than being able to get paid to do what he enjoys.

“I feel as if I get paid to grow as an artist,” said Brown. “You really can’t beat that.”

Brown’s advice to UF students looking to pursue a similar path?  Work hard, don’t give up in the face of rejection and always be improving.


To keep up with Emmanuel, follow him on Facebook.