WSU student actors and writers were recognized by adjudicators from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) this fall for outstanding theatrical performances and playwriting.
Theatre majors Patrick Harris, Kelly Miller, and Christie Stordeur were nominated for Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships for their performances in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. Actors Justin Hansen (B.A. '07, theatre), Sable Phillippi (senior, communication and theatre arts), and Dana Bensel (junior, theatre) were nominated for their roles in "STAGE One," a set of 4 one-act plays written, acted, and directed by WSU students.
Actors Sable Phillippi, Dana Bensel, and Justin Hansen engage in a little "improv" during downtime.
Laura Karavitis' (B.A. '06, English)
play Pouring Rain was one of 6 one-acts selected
to be performed at the KCACTF Region 7 festival, which
will be held February 18–22 in Laramie, Wyoming.
For "STAGE One," certificates of merit were awarded to Josh Money (senior, theatre), direction; Jessica Weaver (B.A. '07, theatre), scenic design; and the cast and crew, ensemble production. For Titus Andronicus, certificates of merit were awarded to Dana Bensel, property management; Caitlin Duncan (B.A. '07, theatre), stage management; and Stan Brown (instructor, theatre), direction.
KCACTF is a national theatre program and network of more than 600 academic institutions from across the country. The organization encourages colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays (especially those written by students), reconceived classics, and other experimental works.
Through state, regional, and national festivals, KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artist individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing, and design.
The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships provide recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education. The Irene Ryan Foundation awards 16 regional and 2 national scholarships annually. Nominees may travel to their regional festivals to compete, through auditions, for the scholarships, and the winners are invited to the national competition held in Washington, D.C., each April.
WSU Theatre is a member of KCACTF Region 7, which includes Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
For more information on WSU Theatre, visit libarts.wsu.edu/theatre.
The Chronicle, College of Liberal Arts, Washington State University