Theater Students Earn Irene Ryan Award Nominations

MSU theater students Trinton Williams and Arnold Parker were recently honored with nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Awards as part of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Region VI Festival (KCACTF) in Amarillo, Texas. Nominations were based on Williams's and Arnold's portrayals of Joe and Chris Keller from the university's production of All My Sons.

Of the more than 280 students, Williams, a senior, was one of eight male nominees to advance to the final round. Williams and his partner, Abigail Clements, were required to perform two scenes and a classical monologue in four minutes. This is the first time an MSU student has advanced to the finals since early the 1990s, and marked the second nomination in as many years for Williams, who was nominated last year for his portrayal of Nathan Williams in "àthe Rain Came to Mayfield."

Arnold, a sophomore, and his partner, Marcus Jones, performed in the semi-final round of the competition.

In addition to the award nominations, students Justen Locke and Rebekah Howard entered their scene and costume designs in the Barbizon Design Competition.

 "By entering this production, our theater department is sharing in the KCACTF goals to recognize, reward, and celebrate the exemplary work produced in college and university theaters across the nation," said Laura Jefferson, Chair and Associate Professor of Theatre.

KCACTF is a national theater education program that identifies and promotes quality in college-level theater production. MSU is a member of the KCACTF Region VI comprised of Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.