Originally founded in 1967, the West Coast Drama Alumni Clan is made up of several hundred graduates, attendees, and former faculty and staff of Carnegie Mellon University. Most of them were students of the School of Drama although several of our prominent members attended other departments, like GSIA, professional writing, and engineering; so long as they attended Carnegie Mellon and work in the Entertainment industry, they are welcome in our Clan*.

Our members include, actors, directors, technicians, designers, casting directors, agents, writers, executives, producers - you name it. Although Los Angeles is home for the group, members live throughout the Western part of the United States. We even have a few alumni who work on both coasts and get involved when they are in town.

One of our main goals is to keep the drama alumnus in touch with each other. Our annual holiday party and summer picnic reunite old classmates and introducing new graduates to the alumni family. The Clan's newsletter, "The West Coast Update", contains information about future events, who is doing what (our "Brag Rag") and other articles about alumni activities both professional and personal. The WCDAC Online Forum keeps our members connected on the internet and provides a place for them to post personal announcements and invitations.

Over the past 37 years, the WCDAC has also evolved into a conduit for helping our alums through seminars and networking events. Our seminars feature prominent working professionals discussing such topics as directing, personal finance, networking, acting, producing, and casting.

The WCDAC just as importantly continues to offer its support to Carnegie Mellon through student scholarships (over $100,000 during the past three decades) and seminars by West Coast professionals back at the school. In June of 2004, we embarked on our ninth annual Showcase of New Talent, where we bring students out to Los Angeles for a week of auditions and interviews with local industry professionals.

The WCDAC is run by a 20 member board of directors with includes our five executive officers. 10 board members are elected each August; the executive officers server a two year term. Of course, the heart of our organization is its volunteers, which includes not only students who just recently graduated from Carnegie Mellon, but members who have been out of school for over 60 years. If you would like to join us, please drop us a line.

 *membership eligibility for people who did not attend the School (or Department) of Drama is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.