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January 2, 2003
Contact:
Tom Davis
Troy Office of University Relations
334/670-3196
tomdavis@troy.edu
Office of University Relations
253 Adams Administration
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3196
(334) 670-3274 (fax)
| TROY
STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS PRESS RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 1-334-670-3196 |
| Troy
State University play advances to regional competition Troy State University’s production, “Two Rooms,” has been chosen as one of six plays to be performed at regional competition of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. The play, Lee Blessing’s drama based on the Mideast hostage crisis of the 1980s, will be performed during the Region IV festival, Feb. 4-9, at the Savannah (Ga.) College of Art & Design. The 10-state region is one of eight that make up the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. After reviewing performances from the eight regional competitions, judges from the Kennedy Center will select six to be performed in Washington, D.C. in April at the annual non-competitive national festival. The Kennedy Center festival is an opportunity to showcase the best of collegiate theatre, says Adena Moree, TSU Theatre director and assistant professor of Speech and Theatre. “The invitation to come to the regional festival indicates that your work has been recognized as top quality,” she said. “We are extremely proud and honored to have this opportunity.” The production garnered high praise at state competition in Auburn last October, evoking visible responses from some judges. The play’s “two rooms” are a windowless cubicle where an American hostage is being held by Arab terrorists and a room at the hostage’s home in the United States that his wife has stripped of furniture in an effort to symbolically share his ordeal. The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, founded in 1969, also offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing and design. Six TSU students have been nominated for the Irene Ryan scholarships. The $500 scholarships are funded through a foundation established by the late actress best known for her portrayal of “Granny Clampett” on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” and awarded to the outstanding student performers at each regional festival. The Foundation and the Kennedy Center Festival also bring two regional winners and their acting partners from each of the eight regions to Washington, D.C., to take part in an “Evening of Scenes” during the national festival. At the national level, two performers will be awarded additional $2,500 scholarships. TSU students nominated for Irene Ryan scholarships are: David Sewell of Ozark; Sarah Looney of Marion; Dean Muhammad of Anniston; Georgia Mallory of Prattville; Jennifer Couch of Brewton; and, Bill Herring of Donalsonville, Ga. Sewell, Looney, Muhammad and Mallory were each nominated for their performances in “Two Rooms. Couch was nominated for her performance in “Conecuh People,” and Herring for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in “Godspell.” Three students also were nominated in design categories. Michaela Hutcheson of Troy, has been nominated for both the Barbizon Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence and the David Weiss Award for Design Excellence for set and costume design. Dan Gibbs of Troy, also will contend for a Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design Excellence in lighting. Marc Alewine of Montgomery, has been nominated for the David Weiss Award for Design Excellence for costume design. |