January 31, 2008

Purdue students win awards at Kennedy Center Theater Festival

Chris Holland, a master of fine arts candidate from Aliquippa, Pa., was the Region III winner of the Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design Excellence in Lighting for "The Women of Troy." He also received an honorable mention for Regional Lighting Design Project for "Titus Andronicus."

Shelby Newport, a master of fine arts candidate from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was the winner of the Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design Excellence in Costumes for "The Women of Troy."

Both Holland and Newport will attend the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in April in Washington, D.C.

Jake Mahler, a master of fine arts candidate from Minnetonka, Minn., won the Irene Ryan Acting Judges Award for Best Musical Performer.

Rebecca Bezaire, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts from Dublin, Ohio, won second place in the Kennedy Center Stage Management Award for "Six Degrees of Separation."

Russ Jones, the Purdue Theatre Department chair, said the university did well at the festival, with Purdue students making up five of the 19 finalists in the national-eligible design category, with 45 participating universities. Out of 250 actors participating, three of the 16 finalists in the Irene Ryan Acting category also were from Purdue, Jones said.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, which started in 1969, is a national theater education program that identifies and promotes quality in college-level theater production. In January and February of each year, eight regional festivals showcase the finest of each region's entered productions and offer a variety of activities, including workshops, symposia and regional-level award programs.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu 

Source: Russ Jones, Purdue Theatre chair, (765) 494-3081, russjones@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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