Pace BFA Acting

Meet the BFA Acting class of 2026! 💙💛 Over four years, these students have worked and developed together not only as artists, but as humans. From Meisner and Checkov to Shakespeare and film, these actors are ready to show the world their talents! Join us this Monday, April 27th, for their showcase at Alvin Ailey. RSVP through the link in our bio. Alumni!! DM us for a reservation!! 🗓️Monday, April 27th, 2026 📍Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 🎥- @erinreneecox

Congratulations to Alum Raél Ba for being cast in the TV Pilot for "Mammy Is A Star." Inspired by the life of Hattie McDaniel, the first black actress to win an Oscar!! World premiere coming this June!! Stay tuned for more details!! Congratulations, Raél!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Rae'l Ba is an award winning actress and online personality. Born in Baltimore, Maryland; Rae'l was accepted into acting school at just 10 years old and received classical theatrical training all throughout her childhood in specialized performing arts schools before getting her acting degree from Pace University in NYC in 2020 and an additional degree from Yale School of Drama's international BADA program at Oxford University in the UK. Rae'l is known for her breakout roles in TV, Film, Video Games and International Commercials. Her most notable roles to date are Amazon Prime's "Wild Rose", Hulu's "The Gentle Giant: The George Floyd Story", ABFF's feature film selection "Voices: The Musical" and HBO's "King Richard". Rae'l has appeared in national and international commercials for T-mobile, Burger King, Uber Eats, Trade Desk and Bingo Blitz Mobile Game just to name a few. Rae'l has also been making waves online with her viral social media content inspiring millions across Youtube, Instagram and Tik Tok with her acting journey. When not on a scripted set, Rae'l can be found as a brand on camera host on livestream for companies such as TPH by Taraji P Henson, Disney, Sheglam Beauty, BR Mud Cosmetics, Live Play Mobile Games and more.

Congratulations to Alum Skye Friedman for her lead role in the feature film Lemonade Blessing, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in June 2025!! The full movie is now streaming on Letterboxd Video Store for a month as 1 of 4 films in their curated "Unreleased Gems” collection!! Here’s some more info on the collection: /journal/unreleased-gems-letterboxd-video-store-april-2026/ Here’s a direct link to rent the film: /video-store/unreleased-gems/lemonade-blessing Congratulations, Skye!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Skye Alyssa Friedman is currently traveling the country as Teresa in the first National Tour of Kimberly Akimbo (she was also a member of the production at Atlantic Theatre Company and on Broadway)! When not onstage, you can find her exploring new cities, locating delicious food, watching movies, or initiating hotel game nights (lots of Monopoly and Scattegories). Recently, Skye was a lead in the feature film Lemonade Blessing, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in June 2025 and was recognized by Vogue Magazine as one of the “5 Standouts” of the festival. The full movie is now streaming on Letterboxd Video Store for one month only in their curated "Unreleased Gems” collection. Stream HERE. Skye was also specifically recognized for her work in the film at International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg where she was one of three people nominated for their prestigious Young Actors Award. Skye is originally from Jupiter, FL, where she was raised as an only child. She had her first theatrical experience in preschool (“Mary Poppins” in Mary Poppins) and immediately fell in love with acting. She never looked back. She began working professionally from the age of 9, and at age 11, she made her Broadway debut in the revival of Annie at the Palace Theatre. Since then, Skye has continued to worked on stage and on camera. Skye is based in New York City and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the BFA Acting Program at Pace University’s Sands College of Performing Arts. She is a huge night owl and drinks matcha every morning!

Michael Kosmas is a New York City based actor, playwright, producer, and voice over artist hailing from Baltimore, MD. He attends the Sands College of Performing arts at Pace University, where he will receive his BFA in Acting this coming spring. In their time at Pace, they have had the opportunity to work on numerous productions, including The Seagull (2025), Picnic (2025), and made their producing debut at the Producer’s Club on w44th street with Sarah Ruhl’s “Eurydice” this past March. A misfit with a big heart, he holds a passion for both emergent truthful storytelling and reawakening the unseen narratives within classic texts. He would like to thank his family, friends, and loved ones for always supporting his spark.

From the land of Hot Cheeto weddings, and the source of Bruno Mars’s gambling debt brings you John Eddy Jr. Esq.(I’m not a lawyer) Viva Las Vegas Baby!!! John is so happy that you decided to click the “see more” part of this instagram post. Shout out to my cats and my girlfriend and the guy at my job who drank simple syrup and thought it was a lemonade, you’ve made me who I am! Love you guys!

Safara Rowland is a New York City, born and raised, performer. Her Japanese and African American background makes her passionate about telling diverse and authentic stories that reflect the richness of her identity. Her love for theater and film began in the sixth grade, when she attended Mark Twain for the Gifted & Talented Middle School, where she studied drama. She continued her training at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, further developing her skills and dedication to storytelling. Throughout her journey, Safara has remained committed to uplifting marginalized narratives that are both beautiful and flawed. Her work reflects not only her technical training, but also her belief in theater as a space for truth, culture, and expression. Safara is extremely grateful for her time and opportunity to be apart of the Pace BFA Acting class of 2026. She is excited for what the future holds and can’t imagine doing anything else! Headshots: @sub_urban_photography

Liam Oettinger is a multi-hyphenate creative based in New York City. When he was little and was asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, he would quote the great Kermit the Frog; saying “I want to be singing, dancing and making people happy”. Growing up in Chagrin Falls, OH, Liam started performing in the 4th grade and hasn’t stopped since, being in over 50 productions across the stage and screen. When he’s not performing, Liam is out sightseeing in the city, taking pictures on his camera, drawing on his iPad or going to the many museums New York has to offer. Headshots: @lesliehassler

Grace Lorraine is a New York based actor, who has an affinity for both film and stage exploration. She sees herself as a vessel for storytellers and enjoys transformative roles that highlight her dialect and character skills. Growing up in Texas instilled her with a passion for Sam Shepherd, and Tennessee Williams, particularly the ways in which they find the universal truths about humanity through the absurdity that surrounds us. Grace has a reputation for playing spunky ladies (and sometimes gentleman) who maybe have a secret or are a bit rough around the edges. Playing Ashlee in Dance Nation allowed her to experience catharsis on stage for the first time, propelling her to find a more gentle confidence and raunch in roles like Madge in Picnic. Grace is brimming with gratitude for the priceless experiences she has had in classes with Julie, Phillip, Robin, Lester and most recently the incomparable Miss. Turner, which have helped her blossom and hopefully, down the line, grow into her dream roles of Blanche Dubois (A Streetcar Named Desire) and Roberta (Danny and the Deep Blue Sea). She gleefully awaits her summer yoga training in Italy and, in the meantime, can be found vivaciously serving as a waitress in midtown. Grace aspires to own a cat before 2027 and perennially feasts on a wide variety of books and poetry- from Murakami and Weir to Tolkien and Jim Morrison. Headshots: @jeffreymosierphotography

Erin Cox is a New York City based actor who loves stories that challenge dominant narratives and allow us to step into a new perspective. Originally from Austin, TX, her upbringing gave her an affinity for weird that has predestined her for a life of improv. She loves comedy, writing, and diving into new works. She’s so grateful for the innumerable gifts this program has given her, and is excited to start this next chapter of her life! Headshots: @sub_urban_photography

Hi! My name is Elena Tarpley, I’m 5’5” and based in New York City! I am so grateful to be graduating from Pace BFA Acting class of ‘26. The relationships I’ve gained, the trials I overcame, and all creative energy in this class makes me thrilled to take on after-grad life! At Pace I’ve been fortunate to be in two Main Stages including Dance Nation (Sofia) and Judgement At Nuremberg (Halbestadt/Lindow). I am excited to be returning to Carousel Music Theater this summer for my third year! The power of community in theater is what drives me to need to create! Headshots: @themichaelkushner

Hey kids, I'm Alec Lai! I'm an actor, singer-songwriter, violinist, guitarist, and probably an anything-else-ist if you ask. I've found a perfect home for my specific brand of craziness these past four years at Pace and I am so sad to be saying goodbye. It really is a BFAmily. Headshots: @sub_urban_photography

Hi I'm Katelynn! As a theater kid turned theater adult, I love all aspects of performance creation and believe in the power of storytelling for positive change. Ihave been performing most of my life in NYC and was lucky enough to go to Professional Performing Arts School from 6th-12th grade where devising work became a passion. I grew up around artists and story tellers and they became my biggest inspirations. Being part of the Pace BFA Acting program has given me confidence in myself as a performer and creator. I am so grateful to the faculty for giving us so many wonderful experiences and training. Having the chance to minor in theater for social justice was a great opportunity to bring together my passion for performance and hope for leaving the world better than I found it. I can't believe I have travelled this far - from my obsession with puppets to a future on stage, on screen and in the community - I can't wait to begin this next chapter continuing doing what I love most! Headshots: @lesliehassler