Texas State theatre students big winners at regional festival
Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
April 1, 2011
The theatre program at Texas State University-San Marcos had a record showing at the Region 6 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, bringing home an unprecedented 18 awards and recognitions out of a total of 50 given.
Approximately 50 schools participated in the event, held at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo. The University of Oklahoma had the next-best showing with six, followed by the University of New Orleans with four, and Southern Methodist University and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi tied with three.
Additionally, Texas State students won an impressive six of the 12 awards that advance students to the National Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., April 19-23.
Texas State students advancing to Kennedy Center as national finalists are:
- Georgia Young, graduate student, won for both Dramaturgy and Critics Award
- Laura Garza, graduate student, won for Directing
- Lupe Flores, graduate student, had a 10-min. play named one of the top 5 out of more than 500
- Oscar Cabrera, undergraduate, won for Acting
- Katherine Beamer, undergraduate, won for Stage Management
“Three other undergrads came in second, losing out to either a grad student or one of our own students,” said Department of Theatre and Dance Chair John Fleming. “No school in our region has ever had anywhere near this level of success.”
Other Texas State students earning recognition were:
- Ben Mayne, first alternate, acting
- Brandon Mabry, second alternate, acting
- Keylee Koop, finals, best partner
- Keylee Koop, semi-finals, best partner
- Scott Matthew Harris, The Fattist, finalist, one-act play
- Brynn White, Electra, first alternate, costume design
- Garrett Parker, Electra, first alternate, scenic design
- Blake Whitaker, All Shook Up, Meritorious Achievement in scene design
- Ray Wyman, All Shook Up, first alternate, stage management
- Mary Kathryn Roothame, Servant of Two Masters, Meritorious Achievement in costume crafts & technology
- Miriah Borden, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Excellence in lighting design
- Mary Kathryn-Roothame, The Wild Party, Meritorious Achievement in scenic art
The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival has eight regional festivals across the country. Region 6 includes universities from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas and Missouri.
For more information, contact the Department of Theatre and Dance at (512) 245-2147.