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Theatre Alum Comes Full Circle with ‘We Foxes’ Performance in New York City

For Isa Rodriguez, stepping onto the stage at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City to perform in “We Foxes” was more than just another role. It was the realization of a dream sparked years earlier by watching a rehearsal of that same play at Michigan State University where it was presented as part of the imáGen collaboration, now known as the New Musical Laboratory, that unites Broadway professionals and Michigan State University students in the development of a new musical production. 

A young woman smiles warmly while posing in front of a step-and-repeat banner for 54 Below, She wears a black leather jacket over a black crop top and light blue jeans
Isa Rodriguez

A Lansing, Michigan, native and 2021 MSU graduate with a BFA in Acting, Rodriguez was among the musical cast of “We Foxes – in Concert,” which was part of Prospect Theatre Company’s 2025 IGNITE Concert Festival this past April. The musical thriller by Ryan Scott Oliver, presented in collaboration with Actor Therapy New Works and Very Intense Productions, marked a professional milestone for Rodriguez, one rooted deeply in her undergraduate experience.

“As I prepared to perform in ‘We Foxes,’ I was reminded of where I was in my first month of my freshman year at MSU,” Rodriguez said. “As the new incoming acting students, we had the honor of watching a rehearsal of ‘We Foxes’ by Ryan Scott Oliver. Through the imáGen (New Musical Laboratory) program, I was witnessing professionals in action. I remember thinking to myself, ‘I will do whatever it takes to get to a place like THAT.’”

Now, more than seven years later, Rodriguez found herself performing in the very show that once inspired her. Sharing the stage with Broadway names like Katie Thompson and Kerstin Anderson, she credits MSU’s Department of Theatre with giving her the technical training as well as a sense of belonging and purpose.

Three women stand side-by-side on stage, each holding a script at a music stand and singing into individual microphones. They wear black attire under stage lighting.
Isa Rodriguez (far right) performing in “We Foxes: in Concert” at the IGNITE Concert Festival in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Murphy, Murphy Made Photography)

“While the Department of Theatre may not have the same recognition as MSU’s sports teams, to me, it is as vital to the university as any of its most celebrated programs,” she said. “It is within this small, vibrant community that I found my true calling and a sense of home.”

Rodriguez’s journey to “We Foxes” was shaped by the program’s focus on craft, character, and community. Under the guidance of MSU’s Department of Theatre faculty, she learned to embrace the uncertainty of the artistic process and to pursue authenticity over perfection.

“MSU taught me to trust the process, and most importantly, to trust myself.”

Isa Rodriguez

“From Rob Roznowski (Professor of Acting), I learned that forgetting lines often means I haven’t fully analyzed my character’s thought process. From Brad Willcuts (Associate Professor and Head of Acting), I learned the power of persistence — that sometimes the magic comes with one more attempt, one more take. And from Karen Kangas-Preston (Senior Academic Specialist), I learned to question what makes theatre so powerful and how we, as artists, can tell stories that resonate with others,” Rodriguez said. “MSU taught me to trust the process, and most importantly, to trust myself.”

A young woman and man perform on stage. The woman, wearing a long dress with a white apron and a cameo brooch, smiles warmly while looking up at the man behind her. The man, dressed in a Western-style outfit with a suede vest and cowboy hat, holds her gently.
Two actors perform a tense moment on stage. One, wearing a bowler hat and vest, looks offstage. The other, dressed in a light shirt and apron, clutches the first actor’s arm with a worried expression.
Isa Rodriguez performing, during her time as an MSU Theatre student, in the Department of Theatre productions “Oklahoma” (left) and “Men on Boats” (right). (Photos by Charles Benoit)

Rodriguez also shared an invaluable lesson instilled by her professors: the worth of an artist isn’t defined by a resume or a job title.

“Your worth isn’t about the number of jobs you’ve booked; it’s about the dedication to your craft and the stories you work to tell,” she said. “If the opportunities you want aren’t there, create them.”

Now based in New York City and working alongside her mentors Ryan Scott Oliver and Lindsay Mendez, Rodriguez carries the MSU spirit with her as she continues to stay curious, determined, and grateful for the foundation she laid in East Lansing.

A large ensemble of performers stands in a row on stage, each at a music stand with scripts, singing into microphones. They are dressed in black and lit by stage lighting. Behind them, the words “inspired by true events” are projected onto a red-to-black gradient backdrop.
A wide shot of the We Foxes: in Concert stage before or after the performance. The backdrop features the show’s title, dates, and production details in bold red and white text. Music stands and chairs are arranged in front of the projection, with musicians seated in the orchestra pit preparing their instruments.
The musical cast of “We Foxes” (left), including Isa Rodriguez, and the “We Foxes” title card (right) at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City. (Photos by Matthew Murphy, Murphy Made Photography)

“The magic of the Department of Theatre came to life through its people,” she said. “Some of the most talented, hardworking artists I’ve had the privilege of working with were my classmates. The students of Michigan State University are driven, passionate, and determined to succeed. Once you’re a Spartan, you’re always a Spartan. And Spartans WILL.”

By Buu-Tran Duong, MSU Theatre Marketing Specialist

Categories: Alumni / News / Performance