2020-21 Exec Board
Olivia Sahid
Olivia Sahid is a third-year from New York City double majoring in English and History and hopes to attend law school. She has been involved with theater organizations at UVA since her first semester in First Year Players’s production of Into The Woods and most recently interned at Live Arts in Charlottesville during Summer 2020. Olivia is excited to serve as President of Broadway Talks Back.
“While still poring over the multiple brochures and trying to determine what college was right for me, I turned to Instagram and soon realized that multiple actors connected with Broadway somehow traveled to and engaged with students at UVA. Little did I know it was because of a unique, student-led program called Broadway Talks Back. The initiative was one of the most prominent signs that UVA was the right school for me, and I’m happy to call myself a Wahoo every day. I am honored to be the President of this wonderful organization. I am excited to continue bringing stories from behind the scenes to center stage, from theaters around the world to the students at UVA, and shape the future of Broadway Talks Back.”
President
Josh Eiger
Josh Eiger is a third-year double majoring in Public Policy at the Batten School and Music. Josh is the Music Director for Hoos in the Stairwell (UVA’s only Broadway A Cappella group) and has previously served as Vocal Director for Spectrum Theater’s production of Dogfight as well as Pit Director for its production of Heathers. Josh also served as Historian for First Year Players, and played the role of the Baker in their production of Into the Woods.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the BTB team because Broadway Talks Back’s mission is unique in the UVA community and on college campuses in general. We provide our fellow students with an experience that is unparalleled in other colleges and universities and have the opportunity to create special and lasting relationships with members of the artistic community.”
Financial Officer
Micah Rucci
Micah Rucci is a third-year student studying Media Studies and Spanish. Originally from North Wildwood, NJ, Micah fell in love with Broadway after seeing his first show, Mary Poppins, with his mother when he was seven. Micah has been performing for the last 10 years, including recently with the UVA Drama Department, Spectrum Theatre, and First Year Players.
Chief Media Officer
Vaheed Ali Talebian
Vaheed Ali Talebian is double majoring in Economics and Arts Administration with a focus in Musical Theatre Composition. Vaheed has been active in theatre since middle school. At UVA, Vaheed joined Broadway Talks Back at the beginning of his second-year, was set to play Eddie Birdlace in Spectrum’s “Dogfight” in the Spring of 2020. He hopes to have the musicals he composes performed within NewWorks and the Virginia Players Lab Series.
“BTB matters to me because I don’t attend a conservatory or musical theatre-specific institution. This organization gives me first-hand experience working with theatre professionals and technical practice. BTB shows me I made the right choice by choosing UVA.”
Publicity Chair
Michael Spalthoff
Publicity Chair
Michael Spalthoff is a third-year year from Williamsburg, Virginia studying English and Public Policy. He is actively involved in a variety of performing arts groups on grounds in addition to BTB including the drumline in the marching band, a cappella, barbershop quartet, and student theatre.