Drama Students Win Top Awards During College Theater Festival

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In February, 872 aspiring playwrights, scene designers, directors, actors and actresses from five states visited the University of Arkansas, staging original works, writing short plays and designing sets and costumes.

Several UA students emerged as among the best at the Region VI Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, hosted for the second consecutive year by the drama department in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Walton Arts Center and the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission.

Jason Smith won top honors for his graphic design of a poster and program, Ashley Edwards was the regional winner in the National Ten-Minute Play category, Bryan Stevenson won a Barbizon National Lighting Design Award, Sarah Carraher was a runner-up in the Barbizon Scene Design competition, and Ruby Billig was a Barbizon Costume Design runner-up.

In April, Stevenson and Edwards will go to the national festival in Washington, D.C., where students from eight regions across the country will compete. Professional agents and publishers attend the national festival to scout for emerging new talents.

Cara Gerlock received the KCACTF Award of Excellence in Theater, given in recognition of a substantial contribution to college theatre. Gerlock, who served as student coordinator for the regional festival both this year and last, will go to the KCACTF Director/Designer Intensive, a workshop to be held in Washington this summer. The Kennedy Center will pay all of her expenses for the intensive 10-day workshop, which will be led by Tony award-winning designer Ming Cho Lee.

“Our students’ success is a tribute to the success of our program in several areas, such as playwriting, design and performance,” said D. Andrew Gibbs, chair of the drama department. “The experience is quite valuable to our students, who gain a wider exposure to the world of the performing arts.”

During the festival, students showcase their work and measure how their efforts compare to those of their peers.

Gibbs said that playwrights and actors worked together as teams to produce short scripts within 24 hours. In the design showcase, 102 students submitted entries, while the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship auditions drew 188 students, from which 16 were chosen as finalists. Five finalists were UA students.

Participants also staged readings of two short plays still in development as well as produced a full-length play written by a student, a short play and several 10-minute plays.

“I’m very proud of our students, both of their work and the support they provided for the festival. They helped set up productions, drove people to and from the airport, staffed receptions and in general, just took very good care of our guests,” Gibbs said.