[New post] Mendocino College Theatre students travel to Spokane festival
gqlshare posted: "Mendocino College Theatre Arts students returned recently from an exciting week at the KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival) regional conference in Spokane, Washington.Mendocino College Theatre Director Reid Edelman and Career Center S" The Willits News
Mendocino College Theatre Arts students returned recently from an exciting week at the KCACTF (Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival) regional conference in Spokane, Washington.
Mendocino College Theatre Director Reid Edelman and Career Center Specialist Joel Shura accompanied 12 students to the weeklong festival. The students who attended included four students who were nominated for prestigious Irene Ryan Scholarships and who each prepared two monologues and a scene with a partner for the festival. The Irene Ryan nominees were: Alexander Marsh, Gwendolen van Wyk, Dakota Laiwa-McKay and Jasmine Norris.
Their scene partners were Gabriel Mendoza, Kelly Alvarez, Lalo Torres and Jordan Wegner. In addition to these students, the remaining festival attendees from Mendocino College were Matt McClelland, Rory Silveira, Brisa Yepez and Julayne Ringstrom. All 12 student-attendees participated each day in workshops and performances with faculty and other students from colleges throughout the northwest region.
In addition to the Irene Ryan competition, students had the opportunity to attend performances from other colleges, meet theatre students from other areas, view design and technology exhibits, compete in "Next Step" and "Musical Theatre Initiative" auditions, and learn about all aspects of theatre arts.
Student Alexander Marsh advanced to the final round of the Irene Ryan competition, which was a huge honor for him, his partner Kelly Alvarez, and for Mendocino College. Marsh's slate included monologues from Stupid F%!#ing Bird and A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as a scene (with Alvarez) from Angels in America.
Shura directed a play in a 10-Minute Play reading event, which featured several Mendocino College students (Lalo Torres, Alex Marsh and Jorden Wegner) in addition to students from other colleges. Shura received a certificate of excellence for his direction of the reading.
Mendocino College alumna Jude (Kayla) Owens was also present at the festival (attending with her current college). Owens performed in "Chinese Spaghetti" (another of the 10-minute plays in the reading event). Student Rory Silveira was invited to apply for a summer theater program because of her "Next Step" audition and Jordan Wegner won a "Golden Chicken" award for his participation in the late-night "Improv Olympix."
Both Edelman and Shura presented workshops at the festival. Edelman presented workshops on "Activation of Objectives for Actors" and "Demystifying Shakespeare's Language," and Shura presented workshops on "Improvisation Fundamentals" and "Birthing Your Inner Clown."
In short, it was a fantastic experience for all who attended. The college Theatre Arts Department is grateful to all the donors who made this trip possible and whose generous support allowed Mendocino College to cover the cost of attendance for all 12 students and both faculty/staff. According to Edelman, "the support of each and every donor means so much, and in particular we extend our thanks to our major donors John Magee, John Pegan, and Jonathan Middlebrook."
Rose Bell is the director of Community Relations and Communications at Mendocino College.
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