For the first time in 22 years, a production from the University of the Ozarks Theatre has been selected for the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
The University Theatre’s production of "In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play," was chosen as one of the six plays from Region VI that will be performed at the regional festival in Shreveport, La., in late February or early March. Region VI is made up of university and college theatre programs in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico, Louisiana and Texas.
"It’s a tremendous honor and truly exciting to be selected as one of the six productions from our region," said Walton Professor of Theatre Bruce B. Brown. "Now we get to take our production to the historic Strand Theatre in Shreveport."
The other five productions that were chosen for the regional festival includes, "Miss Evers’ Boys" by University of Oklahoma; "Good Women of Szechwan" by Tarrant County College Northwest; "The 39 Steps" by Northwestern State University of Louisiana; "It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" by Angelo State University; and "Murphy’s Law" by Southeastern Missouri State University. The plays will be performed between Feb. 25 and March 2 in Shreveport.
The production of "In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play" was awarded the top two honors at the Arkansas State Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, held on the U of O campus Oct. 24-26. The play was selected for the Respondent’s Choice Award and the Director’s Choice Award, the festival’s top honors. The last time Ozarks’ theatre program won both awards in the state festival was in 1992.
Several individuals also received additional honors in the state competition. Students Annie Williams, Utah Robertson, and Lauren Charters were awarded Irene Ryan Acting Awards for their work in the production. Sandra Davis was also awarded an excellence in performance award for her role.
U of O theatre major Annie Williams will get to play Catherine Givings once again as the University Theatre’s production of "In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play," was recently selected for the Region IV Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Shreveport, La.
Topics: Theatre