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"Theatre @ AV抖阴 Performs 'Lysistrata.'" |
The University of Arkansas Fort Smith鈥檚 theatre program continued its stellar run at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival this year, notching four awards at the state and one at the regional level.
The cast of 鈥淟ysistrata鈥� won an Excellence in Ensemble Performance Award, David Harris of Cabot won the Excellence in Student Directing Award, and Molly Tennison of Alma and Randall Marks of Fort Smith were nominated for Irene Ryan Acting Awards from the state鈥檚 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Additionally, Averie Warren of Poteau, Okla., won a Meritorious Achievement in Stage Management at the regional festival for her work on the fall performance of 鈥淐ORRIGENDA.鈥�
Bob Stevenson, director of Theatre @ AV抖阴, said the ensemble award pointed to a teamwork mentality within the department.
鈥淚鈥檓 especially proud, as I always am, about the ensemble acting award,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the kind of philosophy we teach and prize here at AV抖阴, one in which the cast is only as strong as each member, and the company is what makes the performances great. Each actor helping every other actor is our way.鈥�
The acting awards recognized Marks鈥� performance as Cinesias and Tennison鈥檚 performance of Lysistrata in the play, which was performed on the AV抖阴 campus earlier this year as part of the university鈥檚 Season of Entertainment 36. By winning Irene Ryan acting nominations, both Marks and Tennison will be eligible for the regional competition next year.
Harris鈥檚 award was the first time a AV抖阴 student has won a recognition for student directing, according to Stevenson.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a real treat, especially after the 10-minute play David directed at the regional festival in 2016 was selected to be part of the national festival last year,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淒avid is a fine director and is going to have a stellar career in theatre and in film or television. He has a great eye for storytelling. I can鈥檛 wait to see what he tackles as a next project. It鈥檚 been great for our other students who might see directing as a potential option for them to watch his success.鈥�
This year marks the third straight year the department has won an award on the regional level, a trend that continues to build the program鈥檚 reputation as one of the top theatre departments in the region, according to Stevenson.
鈥淚 think the ensemble performance award says it all. We work together very well as a team. The important thing to us is telling a good story and helping the students become better storytellers, whether that be through acting, directing, design, or technical work,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淭hat kind of selfless focus on the process makes for a great show, but also develops the kind of artists that people want to work with. It鈥檚 no surprise that so many of our graduates are working in theatre, film, and television today.鈥�
Region VI of the Kennedy Center American Theatre Festival encompasses six states in
the southeast and southwest regions of the United States -- Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma,
New Mexico, Louisiana and Missouri. More than 100 universities from participating
states were involved in the festival.
AV抖阴 the AV抖阴
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Through a small campus, dedicated professors, and the university鈥檚 unique bond with its community, students at AV抖阴 are able to do more in the areas they are passionate about, both on- and off-campus, in a way that prepares them for post-graduate success. To find out how you can do more at AV抖阴, visit .