Theatre students show off in Florida

Jason Hostetter

Shannon Terranova and Pamela Mandigo perform a scene at the Variety Show.

Seven EMU theatre students are in Florida this week to show off their skills in acting and sound production at the American College Theatre Regional Festival.

Senior Shannon Terranova and sophomore Pete Nelson were nominated to audition for the Irene Ryan Scholarship and other awards for their performance in last fall's Bury the Dead. Junior Tim Koehn was nominated for his performance in last spring's Comedy of Errors. Senior Davi Soesilo was nominated for his sound design in Bury the Dead. He was one of eight nominees in the region nominated for sound design. Each nominee chose a partner, who is also eligible for awards, to perform with him or her. Sophomore Kevin Ressler is performing with Koehn, first-year Pamela Mandigo is Terranova's partner, and Junior Michael Stauffer is performing with Nelson.

Each pair of actors will perform one three-minute scene in the first round. If they make it to the second round, they will perform a five minute scene. In the third round, the nominee will perform a monologue. Two finalists and a runner-up go to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. to compete in a national competition. Cash awards, internships, and scholarships are among the prizes for several categories. "I am excited to go down to Florida and show off," said Koehn.

Each nominee chose a piece that demonstrated their range of abilities as an actor in both classical and contemporary styles. The judges are primarily looking for the ability to relate to the character and to live truthfully in the imagined. The competition is purely based on skill. The judges do not know what school the nominees are from and do not know who the nominees are. "This is one of the few places in the theatre that is truly based on skill and not on connections," said Patrick Reynolds, Theatre professor. "Networking is not a factor. Last year a girl from a community college won first place, against students from Harvard and Yale."

Auditioning is one of many events at the festival. There will also be workshops and seminars on acting, and other parts of theatre. "We can get spotted, and network with people," said Koehn. Finding summer jobs and graduate schools is also on the list of opportunities this festival provides. Some schools will be performing their nominated productions as well. "I am looking forward to seeing other productions," said Rissler. "I want to see where EMU can go, and what it can grow too."

This trip is funded by EMU, personal funds, and donations from a Variety Show held Saturday evening. A number of acts were performed at the show, including nominees; Jerry Holsopple, Professor of Communication, who wore a gown in the fashion show; Brian Martin Burkholder and students who clogged to folk music; and Arters Anonymous, a student improv comedy group.

Whether or not the students only perform in the first round or progress to Nationals is not a concern for the students or Reynolds. "I am anxious and don't know what to expect," said Terranova. "I am just looking forward to bonding and spending time with the other nominees. The experience is good for me."