Purdue News

December 15, 2000 'Candida' selected for regional competition WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the second straight January, Purdue Theatre will begin the new year with a performance in Milwaukee's historic Pabst Theatre as part of the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival Region III Showcase. Purdue's production of "Candida" by George Bernard Shaw was selected for inclusion in the festival showcase. "Candida" will be performed on Thurs., Jan. 11, at 1:00 p.m. Directed by Professor of Theatre Dale Miller, "Candida" was performed in November at the Experimental. Last year, Purdue Theatre's "The Gut Girls" by Sarah Daniels was performed in the showcase. "This is a significant and noteworthy validation that our production program is among the best of American college theater programs," said Russ Jones, Department of Theatre chair. "To be included in the regional showcase is a great honor. To be included for two consecutive years says that our program is meeting its goal of providing a first-class educational experience for our students." Along with overall production honors, several students were singled out for individual achievements. Nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition were Deborah Ouradnik as Candida and Trey Garner as the Rev. Morell. Both are MFA candidates in the Professional Actor Training Program. They will join fellow Purdue Theatre nominees from the season opening production in that competition. Nominated for their performances in William Inge's "Bus Stop" were Martin Swoverland (Virgil), Josh LeVasseur (Bo), and Elizabeth Byanski (Cherie). Three student production design team members were nominated for the Barbizon Award for Design Excellence. They are Eileen Garcia (scenic designer), Jodi Jana Hart (costume designer) and Susan Nicholson (lighting designer). Garcia and Hart are second-year students in the MFA production design and technology program. Nicholson is a senior theater major. "Bus Stop" scenic designer Chris Dunham was nominated for the Barbizon Award for his work on that show. CONTACT: Lori Sparger, marketing director, Purdue Division of Theatre, 765-494-3084; theatre@purdue.edu Note to Journalists: Production photos from "Candida" and "Bus Stop" are available from Lori Sparger, marketing director, Division of Theatre, 765-494-3084. To the Purdue News and Photos Page