Lone Star College-CyFair’s performance of “The Quadroon Ball” at the recent Kennedy Center American College Theatre (KCACT) Festival garnered the theatre students and staff state honors, including the prestigious Respondent’s Award.
“I am extremely proud of the work of our students and guest artists in this production as they competed against other colleges and universities at the festival held at San Jacinto College South,” said Ron Jones, LSC-CyFair’s theatre director. “In addition to the prestigious Respondent’s Award, which includes a nomination to be considered for advancement to the Regional Festival in February, LSC-CyFair received several excellence awards.”
Student honors included: Alex Bejarano - Excellence Award in Acting as well as Elizabeth Hererra Mermis; Kenton Schwenke and Adam Al Hussan - nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Award which allows them to compete for scholarships at a number of four-year universities.
“I was completely taken back by the knowledge I had been nominated for the award. I did not have a large part in this play by any means, but I suppose for the limited time I was on the stage I made some kind of impression,” Schwenke said. “It was an amazing honor to receive the nomination, and hopefully I'll be able to attend and represent myself and LSC-CyFair at the regional contest.”
Staff honors included: Darhiel Bohuchot - Excellence Award in Musical Performance; Matt Albrecht - Excellence Award in Lighting and Sound Design and Reba Kochersperger - Excellence Award in Costume Design.
Also receiving Excellence Award in Acting were guest artists Aundrea Cudjoe, Cheray Josiah and Kedrick Brown.
Jones said he entered LSC-CyFair in the state competition for several reasons from state and possible national recognition to the benefits for students studying theatre.
“The KCACT is a very prestigious organization and likely the most prolific organization in the country for the advancement and appreciation of college theatre. Participating in the festival on any level assures that a school will receive a comprehensive critique of its play from a certified theatre adjudicator, Jones said. “Students can learn so much from an objective viewer who is eminently qualified to give astute, insightful, productive criticism of their work.”
He said the festival atmosphere also allows students to see and learn from the work of other colleges and universities as well as have the opportunity to meet with other theatre students across the state.
“Networking is key,” said Schwenke. “I took as much advantage of the situation as possible seeing several other theatres productions, and going out of my way to meet other cast members from those shows to share experiences, notes, and just to get to know them.”
An encore performance of “The Quadroon Ball” was held at LSC-CyFair to prepare a videotape entry to submit for consideration to compete in the Regional Festival in Amarillo. Only eight will be chosen from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas to compete for an invitation to the National Festival, which will be held Washington, D.C. in spring 2011. For information, go to www.kcactf.org.
For information on LSC-CyFair’s theatre program, contact Jones at 281.290.3929. For information on upcoming theatre and music department performances, go to LoneStar.edu/boxoffice.