By Mike Greife,
January 27, 2016
PHOTO: UCM theatre students Daniel Parman and Nellie Maple are headed for the Kennedy Center
College Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C., following their success at the regional
competition in Minneapolis.
WARRENSBURG, MO - The 欧美视频 Department of Theatre and Dance
received several honors at the Kennedy Center American College Region V Theatre Festival
in Jan. 17-23 Minneapolis.
Five UCM theatre faculty members and 28 theatre students were among the more than
1,500 faculty and students from 80 universities in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa,
North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota attending the festival. The festival presents
performances and scenes from invited productions from the top shows in the region
and hosts acting, directing, design, playwriting, stage management, dramatic criticism
and dramaturgy competitions.
Nellie Maple won the Best Musical Acting Award while simultaneously winning first
place overall in the final round of the Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions. She and
her partner, Daniel Parman, will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the Kennedy Center
in Washington, D.C., in April for the National Festival, where they will compete against
seven other regional winners for different scholarship awards and recognitions, as
well as partake of several different acting workshops throughout the week.
The preliminary rounds of the Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions included 335 students
from around the region. This was pared down to 64 students. including UCM students
Nellie Maple, Dane Schnake and Bryson Kenworthy, who advanced to the semi-final round.
Bryson, along with his partner, Stephanie Laaker, also advanced to the final round
of sixteen competitors.
Kacy Barta and Samantha Rudy had their Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers
directing scenes of "On The Verge" and "Clarkston" advance to the final round. Kacy鈥檚
cast featured Nellie Maple, Brooke Myers and Kelsey Reinsfelder. Samantha鈥檚 cast included
Jessica Baxter, Zachary Craft and Dane Schnake. Out of 16 competing directors from
across the region, Kacy Barta and her cast placed second overall.
During the week-long festival, more than 100 students auditioned for the Musical Theatre
Intensive, which showcased 20 of the region鈥檚 best voices. Among those selected to
perform at the Friday morning showcase were UCM musical theatre majors Kelsey Reinsfelder
and Brooke Myers.
Ty Young was the winner of the Regional Technical Projects award for his technical
direction of "Vanyaand Sonia and Masha and Spike." Carter Higgs was the first runner
up for his Regional Scenic Design of "Assassins."
Sarah Clifton was the second runner up for National Allied Crafts recognition for
puppets she created for a one-act production of "Punch And Judy."
Students and faculty receiving Meritorious Achievement awards included Ashley Miller
for choreography of "Chicago"; Victoria Depew for costume design of "Spring Awakening";
John Wilson had a scene invitation from the production of "Under Milk Wood"; Rachael
Conroy for sound design of "Under Milk Wood"; Libby Pecher for scenic design of "Vanya
and Sonia and Masha and Spike"; Olivia Bradshaw for scene design for "Under Milk Wood";
and Taylor Harwerth for sound design for " Chicago."