DATE: January 18, 2008

CONTACT: Jeff Gibson, (615)898-5916
jsgibson@clemson.edu
CONTACT: Mark Charney, 656-5415
cmark@clemson.edu

WRITER: Glenn Hare, (864) 656-1478
ghare@clemson.edu


Clemson to host regional college theater festival

CLEMSON — Hundreds of college actors, scenic designers, sound designers, theater critics, makeup artists, playwrights and directors are coming to Clemson University for the Region IV Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Feb. 4-9.

The festival, which invites college theater students and faculty from the Southeastern United States, takes place at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts and other on-campus locations from Monday to Saturday that week.

The regional festival is part of the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Founded in 1969, the festival is designed to encourage, recognize and develop work produced in university and college theater programs.

“The festival is a chance for college practitioners to showcase their talents, receive critical analysis of their craft and compete for the right to display their work at the national level,” said festival organizer and regional chairman Jeff Gibson of Middle Tennessee State University.

Colleges and universities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are sending participants.

The festival will showcase full productions of August Wilson’s critically acclaimed play “The Piano Lesson,” presented by the University of Central Florida; “Paper Cup Ocean,” an original student-written full-length drama by Rachel Nelson of Hollins University; and “Doubt” by John Patrick Shanley, performed by the University of Southern Mississippi.

Also, acting students will compete for regional scholarships and the chance to perform in Washington as part of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions.  The scholarships are named in honor of vaudeville, radio, film, television and Broadway actress Irene Ryan. Ryan is most widely known for her portrayal of “Granny” on the long-running TV series “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Staged readings of numerous short plays are planned. Short play readings include “Two Brains” by Mary Walsh from James Madison University, “This Side Up” by Kendall Sherwood of Clemson University, “Go Fish” by Maria Caruso of the College of Charleston and “Our Belongings” by Christian Honce of Berea College.

Technical theater students will be competing for a number of prizes during the festival, including the Marvin Sims Design Fellowships; the Barbizon Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence for Costumes, Sets, and Lights; and the Alcone Company Makeup Design Fellowship.

There also will be more than 50 workshops in all areas of theater: acting, directing, playwriting, design and technology, as well as dramaturgy and arts management. “We have a full schedule of national presenters,” said Gibson. Among the workshops planned are “The Physical Body and Voice of Shakespeare” by Rayme Cornell of the University of Nevada – Los Vegas; “Moving Lights: What is Intelligent Lighting” by Bob Robins, lighting designer from the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, Fla.; and “Creative Movement for the Actor” by Bill Bowers, a professional actor from New York City.

The public is invited to attend four fully staged productions in the Brooks Center, including:

  • Noon, Thursday, Feb. 7: "The Blood," University of Alabama at Birmingham;
  • 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7: "The Piano Lesson," University of Central Florida;
  • 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8: "Once on this Island," University of West Florida; and
  • 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9: "Doubt," University of Southern Mississippi.

Tickets are $5 and are available before each show. For tickets and information call (864) 656-7787 from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

“Hosting the festival is a wonderful opportunity to expose the local community to the diversity of academic theater," said Mark Charney, Clemson's director of theatre and playwriting. "The festival showcases some of the best college technical practices and stage talent in this part of the country. I invite theater practitioners, both professional and amateur, to take part.”

END

Editor's note: Parts of the Brooks Center parking lot and R-3 residential parking lot will be reserved for Kennedy Center participants during the festival.