Stephen F. Austin State University

Jack Heifner

We congratulate our colleague, teacher and friend Jack Heifner on the Broadway opening of Vanities, A New Musical, February 26, 2009* at the Lyceum Theatre. Mr. Heifner is SFA’s playwright-in-residence and visiting professor in the School of Theatre, where he teaches playwriting, screenwriting and related courses each spring semester.

The book for Vanities, A New Musical has been adapted by Mr. Heifner from his record-breaking 1976 play Vanities, which was one of the longest-running comedies in the history of the off-Broadway theatre and became one of the most-produced plays in the world. The music and lyrics are by David Kirshenbaum, and the production is directed by two-time Tony Award-winning actor Judith Ivey. The stars are Lauren Kennedy of Spamalot, Sarah Stiles of Avenue Q and television’s Anneliese van der Pol (That’s So Raven).

SFA School of Theatre Alumna,
Ali Spuck

We also congratulate SFA School of Theatre alumna Ali Spuck, who appeared in Vanities, A New Musical in its pre-Broadway run at the Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles. Ali was best known at SFA as a key member of our musical theatre-cabaret troupe, The Original Cast, and also appeared on SFA stages in productions including Gypsy, Pippin, Last of the Red Hot Lovers and All’s Well That Ends Well. She also studied dance at SFA under Broadway veteran Elizabeth Rhodes.

Since graduating from SFA, Ali’s many professional credits have included national tours of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and Jekyll and Hyde as well as appearances at major theatres such as Stages Repertory in Houston, Mill Mountain Theatre in Virginia and the Downstairs Cabaret Theatre in New York. She has also appeared on national television, in films and in numerous successful musical revues.

Vanities, A New Musical

Jack Heifner and Ali Spuck