NATCHITOCHES – The Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University has added four members to its Hall of Fame for the 2024-25 year. The newest members are Ryan Glorioso and Robert Larrivière of New Orleans, Mark Minton of Bossier City and Gretchen Murchison of Natchitoches.
“Each inductee has proven themselves exceptional in their chosen fields and continue to do our school and the university proud,” said Scott Burrell, director of the School of Creative and Performing Arts. “Gretchen, Mark, Robert and Ryan certainly deserve this honor as they represent Northwestern’s commitment to preparing our students to excel in their life and careers.”
Glorioso is a Louisiana-based casting director with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry who has made a significant impact on the Southern film scene. After graduating from Northwestern with a bachelor’s degree in theatre, Glorioso spent time honing his craft as an actor in Los Angeles. Upon returning to New Orleans in 2004, he embraced the burgeoning film industry and quickly found his niche in casting.
With a proven track record of over 120 film and TV credits including “13 Reasons Why,” “The Lovebirds” and “Mayfair Witches,” Glorioso is recognized as a leading casting director in Louisiana. He is dedicated to nurturing the talents of aspiring Southern actors and has played a pivotal role in their career development. Glorioso is a member of the Casting Society of America and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
He has been nominated for two Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America.
Glorioso has had the opportunity to collaborate with multiple NSU alumni, including Wanetah Walmsley, Kent Jude Bernard, Jaime Newman, Luke Sexton, Mike Mayhall, Brooklyn Campagne, Garett Prejean, Liam Gardner and Cody Olsen.
Larrivière is an accomplished actor, writer and director with a lifelong career in theatre, television and film. He studied theatre at Northwestern and trained at The Groundlings, honing his craft in performance and storytelling. With a career spanning regional theatre, independent cinema and major studio productions, he has built a reputation for delivering nuanced, character-driven performances. His extensive credits include “Where the Crawdads Sing,” “The Girl from Plainville,” “Jeff, Who Lives at Home,” “Carry On,” “Sneaky Pete” and “NCIS: New Orleans” along with a wide range of roles that showcase his versatility. As a filmmaker, he wrote, directed and produced the award-winning short film “This is Jan” and remains committed to telling meaningful stories with honesty and heart.
Larrivière worked in various film production roles, including set decoration buyer, art department coordinator and transportation department.
Glorioso and Larrivière recently started their own production company, dedicated to producing films that tell untold or lost queer stories.
“Ryan and Robert are true representatives of the Department of Theatre & Dance,” said Brett Garfinkel, chair of NSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance. “Since leaving NSU, they have carved out a career path of their own, creating a casting agency in New Orleans, all while having performance careers of their own. Their latest work in the film, ‘This is Jan,’ is another major milestone in their artistic journey. They are both a force to be reckoned with. This honor is well deserved.”
Minton, a native of south Louisiana, holds his bachelors and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern. He has been the director of bands at Parkway High School in Bossier City since 1997, where he directs the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band. Under his direction, the Parkway Band consistently receives superior ratings at competitions on the district, state and national level for both concert band and marching band.
Minton’s bands receive many requests to perform at business openings, military events at Barksdale Air Force Base as well as special events in the Shreveport area. Minton has adjudicated at band, jazz and solo and ensemble festivals throughout Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas.
As a professional musician, Minton is a composer, arranger and performer. He is a former member of the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, North Texas Symphony Orchestra and currently performs with the Bill Causey Orchestra. Minton is co-founder and assistant conductor of the Red River Wind Orchestra, a professional concert band whose mission is to perform challenging music of “Artistic Merit.” Minton’s professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, National Association of Music Educators, Louisiana Music Education Association and Kappa Kappa Psi.
“Mark Minton certainly deserves membership in the CAPA Hall of Fame because of his lasting impact, not only on his students, but also because of his continued dedication to NSU as a mentor teacher for music education students in residency, guiding and inspiring the next generation of band directors,” said Dr. Terrie Sanders, head of the Department of Music at NSU. “From his years as a music education student in the Department of Music to his continued partnership, Mr. Minton is undoubtedly leaving a lasting legacy at NSU.”
Murchison is a ceramic artist and tableware designer. She grew up in rural west Natchitoches Parish with mud between her toes and honeysuckle between her teeth. Murchison spent many hours traversing wooded trails, wide open pastures, shaded creeks and boggy ponds, instilling in her a love of nature that can be seen in her porcelain and stoneware through shape and movement. Her admiration of ceramic artists Jennifer McCurdy and Elizabeth Borowsky, artists who are similarly inspired by nature, has had a significant impact on her work. Murchison has a Bachelors of Fine Arts that she obtained while raising her family and starting her ceramic business.
She has been growing her business and brand since 2017. Murchison has designed two multi piece collections of sculptural tableware for Beatriz Ball New Orleans, and her work is featured with Fig and Dove in Baton Rouge, The Plant Shoppe in Fairhope, Alabama, and several interior designers throughout the south.
She is inspired by Louisiana nature and the southern gulf coast. Through her work she has developed her own techniques that have become recognizable and sought after; creating her own signature style. The lines and colors of her work reflect her love of the area and reflect her playful nature with its unexpected movement. She is known for her voluminous floral inspired Bloom Collection and her stylistic ruched technique found in her Louisiana Collection.
Murchison has designed tableware and collectables for the Natchitoches Picnic Company, a signature Queen Sophia vase for the Natchitoches Spring Arts Festival queen, the Bayou Bloom, Coastal Bloom and Thistle vase collections. Her works are both elegant and functional while being the embodiment of her joy of life. In all her collections, she is inspired by home and community. She opened her own studio and gallery in Natchitoches last year and plans to continue creating sculptural ceramic artwork and tableware designs.
“As a non-traditional student, Gretchen brought focus and intention to her time in our BFA program. It was inspirational to see her navigate family, school and business,” said Leslie Gruesbeck, head of the Department of Fine and Graphic Arts at NSU. “And now the fruits of that labor we see in her growing business—her collaboration with Beatrix Ball brings international attention to Gretchen’s work.”
For more information on the School of Creative and Performing Arts, go to nsula.edu/capa.
Caption
2024-25 CAPA Hall of Fame inductees, from left, Ryan Glorioso and Robert Larrivière of New Orleans, Mark Minton of Bossier City and Gretchen Murchison of Natchitoches.
