Arts & Entertainment
While producing a client event the Kentucky Derby Museum in 2019, Nancy Hays ’84 MS discovered a dimly lit gallery that highlighted the history of Black jockeys. She spent the next seven years uncovering the history of Isaac Burns Murphy, one of the most decorated athletes of the 19th century.
Julie Ritchey ’07 created Forts: Build Your Own Adventure, a unique theatrical experience that gives children the opportunity to exercise agency and tell their own stories through unstructured, unscripted playtime.
Nikash Khanna’s viral documentary series, Portraits, features informal interviews with people Khanna meets in his everyday life. His goal, he says, is to connect viewers with stories they might not otherwise encounter.
Comedian Jenny Hagel ’09 MFA loves to give advice, so much she made a show about it, touring the country with Jenny Hagel Gives Advice, an interactive comedy where she and a guest answer audience questions. After her performance at Chicago’s Lincoln Lodge in September, Northwestern Magazine asked her for tips for making people laugh.
The hilarious and easily recognizable Richard Kind ’78 is well known for playing brash and unorthodox characters on TV, such as Vince Fish on Only Murders in the Building and the insufferable Cousin Andy on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Conceptual artist Renee Royale combines art and science in her photography by submerging Polaroid photos in lake and river water. The resulting images resemble abstract watercolor paintings.
Lee Wright ’87 MBA turned a curiosity about his 1780 home into a passion project for public history, leading him to found The Pursuit of History. His 10-year project offers immersive visits to historic sites, helping people understand both the prominent and everyday lives of American citizens.
Shreena Amin is co-founder and CEO of Class Act + Nightcap, a fine-dining restaurant and speakeasy in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. Launched in July 2025, the 16-seat restaurant features a single communal table and a 13-course dinner menu that changes every few months.
In 2025 Northwestern is celebrating milestone anniversaries for three premier music and theater venues on the Evanston campus.
While attending a service at a synagogue, Broadway playwright Michele Lowe ’79 realized she might be able to use her stagecraft skills in an unexpected way — to help rabbis connect with their congregations.
