Alfred University students fare well in theater competition
1/29/03
Alfred University was "well represented and presented" at the American College Theatre Festival earlier this month in College Park, MD, said Dr. Becky Prophet, professor of theater, who accompanied the AU contingent to the regional competition.
Emily Tucker advanced to semi-finals, surviving a cut from 275 to 32, in the Irene Ryan Acting Auditions, and Joshua First placed first in regional make-up design.
They were among the 12 AU students who earned, through their work at Alfred, an opportunity to compete at the regional festival. "They did wonderful work," said Prophet.
The students were invited by festival organizers to present two scenes from the fall 2002 production of Silver Cords, which examines parent-child relationships through scenes from Shakespeare. The group presented by Capulet scene from Romeo and Juliet and the Launcelot/Old Gobbo scene from The Merchant of Venice. The presentation, which included an introduction by Kristin Grillo and the of the silver cord imagery, "was well-received," said Prophet, who directed the production.
Tucker played Juliet; Shaminda Amarakoon, Lord Capulet; Tara Rosada, Lady Capulet; and Grillo, the nurse. In The Merchant of Venice, First portrayed Launcelot and Chris Quinn played Old Gobbo.
Four AU students, aided by their scene partners, entered the Irene Ryan Acting Auditions. First did a monologue from The Merchant of Venice and a scene with Grillo from Just Thinking. Amarakoon competed with a monologue from The Line that Picked Up a Thousand Babes, and a scene with Kara Dunne from Romeo and Juliet. Julia Shapira did a monologue from As Is and a scene with Omar Perez from Pteradactyls. Tucker's monologue was from The Sanders Family Christmas and her scene with Jason Shattuck was a duet from Guys and Dolls.
"It was a thrill to see and hear Emily and Jason present their work on a stage with 15 other semi-finalists from all over the mid-Atlantic," said Prophet.
In the design and technical theater competition, Jeremy Carey presented his stage manager's book from Silver Cords. Shattuck exhibited his designs and two costumes from his work on A Midsummer Night's Dream, and First entered his make-up design for the same production.
Prophet directed a one-act play as a staged reading, to assist the playwright in further development of her work and to share the excitement of her selection as one of only three playwrights in the region selected to give readings at the festival.
While at the festival, Prophet noted, students saw as many scenes, auditions and design presentations as the time allowed. They also attended at least five festival productions, ranging from the new Shakespeare's R&J to The Laramie Project and Moliere's Scapin. In addition, students were able to attend numerous workshops ranging from acting for television to mask-making.
AU Press Release
