Feb. 28, 2006 :: No. 147

Cal State Fullerton B.F.A. in musical theatre junior Ryan Nearhoff was awarded the 38th annual Region VIII Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship (assisted by his scene partner, CSUF junior Lauren Stevens, and his accompanist, CSUF sophomore Ryan Wagner).  The auditions were held Feb. 14-18 on the campus of Southern Utah University. 

Each year, the Irene Ryan Foundation awards 16 regional acting scholarships of $500, and two national scholarships of $2,500. The national conference is April, 17-23, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Nearhoff and his partners will travel to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to audition for one of the national scholarships, as well as the National Stage Combat Workshop Fellowship, the Classical Acting Award of Excellence, the Williamstown Theatre Festival Apprenticeship, the Mark Twain Comedy Acting Awards, the Dell’Arte Fellowship, the Margolis Method Summer Intensive Acting Fellowship, the Sundance Theatre Lab Acting Fellowship and the TVI Actors Studio Career Enrichment National Awards. After the Kennedy Center, Nearhoff and his team, along with the other 15 national finalists, will present their auditions in a showcase of talent at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City for an invited audience of casting directors and agents (funded by the National Partners-American Theatre).

Cal State Fullerton graduate theatre arts major Patrick Pearson also was awarded the region’s "Outstanding Student Director Award." He will participate as an assistant director in the National 10-Minute Play Festival in Washington, D.C. from April 17-23.

Also at the regional festival, Cal State Fullerton graduate student Zach Kraus won the TVI Actors Studio Career Enhancement Award, a full tuition scholarship to the TVI Summer Professional Actor Training Program in Los Angeles or New York City.

Honorable mentions in regional design awards went to CSUF graduate student Kendra Curtis for makeup design, CSUF undergraduate Brandy Stiles for scenery design and CSUF graduate student Eric Wenzel for lighting design.

“This John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts national competition is always a proud moment for Cal State Fullerton, our students, staff, faculty and alumni,” noted Theatre and Dance Chair Susan Hallman.  “Our students work exceptionally hard and they deserve all the honors that come their way.”

In related news, CSUF emeritus professor of theatre Donn Finn was honored as a "2006 Fellow" at the conference, an award presented to those "individuals who have given diligently” to theater in America. Also, Eve Himmelheber, assistant professor of theatre and dance (who serves as the Irene Ryan Coordinator for Region VIII) was awarded a Kennedy Center Excellence in Education Award “for distinguished service” to the profession. James R. Taulli, CSUF associate professor of theatre and dance, is the Regional Vice Chair of Region VIII.

« back to News Front