CWU Theatre Students Shine At Regional Conference

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - More than 60 Central Washington University theatre arts majors were among 850 students that competed in the 2006 Northwest Drama Conference/ American College Theatre Festival, Region VII was held in Pasco, Wash., Feb. 21-25. Those students represented universities and community colleges from the seven-state region: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

Six CWU theatre arts majors and two theatre alumni received awards at the prestigious annual conference and one has been invited to compete at the national conference to be held next month at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

"We are competing against some large state schools that enroll up to four times as many majors as Central," says Scott Robinson, CWU theatre arts department chair. "So, it is a testimony to the strength of our program that we are seeing more and more of our students advance into the final round of both the performance and design competitions each year at this event."

Sarah Peterson, junior theatre arts major with a double emphasis in design/technology and theatre management, was the first-place winner of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) sound design competition for her sound design of the Central Theatre Ensemble (CTE) production of "The Foreigner."

"The fact that we are advancing a student to the national competition for the fifth year in a row, and that she is one of only eight students nationwide invited to the Kennedy Center in the area of sound design, really speaks to the quality and commitment that guide our program," Robinson adds.

Joe Wilbur, junior theatre arts design/technology major, placed second in the KCACTF sound design competition for his sound design of the CTE production of "Working." Wilbur is first alternate and would be invited to the national festival in Washington, D.C. in the event that the Peterson would be unable to attend.

Albie Clementi, senior theatre arts design/technology major, placed second and received a Meritorious Achievement certificate in the KCACTF set design competition for his design of the CTE production of "Frankenstein." Clementi is also a first alternate. Clementi has also designed sets for the CTE productions of "The Foreigner" and the upcoming "Fool of the World," and is working as master carpenter in the theatre arts department scene shop.

Holly O'Hara, junior theatre design/technology major, received a Meritorious Achievement certificate from the Northwest Drama Conference for her set design for "Macbeth." O'Hara was entered in a competition for "unrealized projects," those that have not been produced, but were designed as a classroom project.

David Mackie, sophomore theatre design/technology major, received a Meritorious Achievement certificate from the Northwest Drama Conference for his light design for "Macbeth." Mackie was also entered in a competition for "unrealized projects," those that have not been produced, but were designed as a classroom project.

While the bulk of awards went for CWU students went to designers, actors also made a good show at the conference, advancing to the semi-final and final rounds of a grueling two-day competition. Actors participate in the Irene Ryan scholarship competition and are also vying for an invitation to compete on the national level.

Irene Ryan was most widely known as Granny on "The Beverly Hillbillies," but was also an accomplished vaudeville, radio, theater and movie actress. Ryan left the bulk of her estate to the Irene Ryan Foundation in order to provide opportunities for advanced study to young actors. KCACTF manages the Irene Ryan Scholarship.

The Irene Ryan competition began with more than 180 competitors presenting a scene with a partner for a panel of national judges. Just 32 students and their partners were advanced to a semi-final round. The field was then cut to 16 finalists who presented two scenes with a partner and a monologue for the judge's consideration.

Andrew Kunellis, senior theatre arts performance major, was one of the 32 students to advance to the semi-final round. Kunellis was nominated to vie for the Irene Ryan Scholarship based on his outstanding performance in the Central Theatre Ensemble production of "Frankenstein," by guest respondents who attended a local performance of the production last spring.

Gaining top honors, Thomas Ohrstrom, a sophomore theatre arts performance major, was one of 16 students to advance to the final round of the Irene Ryan competition. Ohrstrom, who received a Meritorious Achievement award for placing in finals, was nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship based on his outstanding performance as The Creature in the CTE production of "Frankenstein," by guest respondents who attended a local performance of the production last spring.

Current students were not the only competitors from CWU to find success in competition. Joining the winners were two CWU alumni who won awards in both design and acting competitions.

CWU alumna Connie Marie Pyles received a Meritorious Achievement certificate at the KCACTF for her costume design for the CTE production of "Charlotte's Web." Pyles, who is currently working professionally in Portland, Ore., designed the "people" costumes for the sold-out 2005 Youth Theatre Tour production. Most recently she designed costumes for the CTE fall production of "The Foreigner."

A 2003 CWU alumna, Nellie Doelman was one of 16 students to advance to the final round of the Irene Ryan competition. Doelman is currently a Master of Fine Arts candidate at the University of Idaho. At the conference she also starred in the play "Boy Gets Girl," which has been recommended to be advanced to the national festival.

While at CWU she starred in several CTE productions, including "Hayfever," and "Pinocchio." Doelman studied in London for a year as a recipient of the Dr. Betty Evans Scholarship, and was also the recipient of a Farrell Scholarship, which she used to fund a production of "Daisy-Head Maisy," which toured Kittitas County grade schools.

The 2007 Northwest Drama Conference/American College Theatre Festival, Region VII conference will be held in Ellensburg.

Contact: Steve Rittereiser (509-963-2959/fax 509-963-2994/e-mail: chiefr@cwu.edu)

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