February 12, 2010

Eurydice. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Students in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Theatre won first prize in several categories at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region IV competition Feb. 2-6 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The KCACTF national selection team also selected Theatre UAB's production of "Eurydice" for consideration for the national festival, just one of two selected from the region. In 2008, UAB's production of "In the Blood" was one of three shows chosen nationwide to perform at the national festival.

Eighteen Theatre UAB students were nominated for awards at the festival. Student Emily Parks of Huntsville, with Daniel Martin of Trinity, won the comedy acting award, and Parks also was named first alternate in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition. Student Jereme Lewis of Enterprise won the competition for the National Stage Management Fellowship Program, which means his work was reviewed by professional stage managers and then selected for competition at the national level.

Martin won the festival's 10-minute play competition with his script "Bag Boy." Also, Martin's script "Pink Lemonade" was one of two winners selected in the festival's short play award, while "Sick, Sad, Little World" by UAB's Alex LaFosta of Birmingham was named as an alternate. Those plays also qualify as finalists for the national John Cauble Short Play Award.

Theatre UAB students took top honors in the Southeastern Theatre Conference/David Weiss Award categories for design. Student Anissa Jones of Detroit, Mich., won for design excellence in costumes. Students Eddie Montcrief of Hoover won for design excellence in scene design while Kendra Peine of Birmingham placed second.

The KCACTF Region IV includes colleges and universities within the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Southern Virginia.

The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition with awards and scholarships. Through state, regional and national festivals, KCACTF participants celebrate the creative process, see one another's work and share experiences and insights within the community of theater artists. The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing and design.

About the UAB Department of Theatre

The UAB Department of Theatre has won the highest honors awarded to university theaters, including best in region from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). Faculty members in the department continue to work professionally in addition to teaching. UAB Theatre performances are presented at the Alys Stephens Center, UAB's own world-class performing arts center. This year the department celebrates its 40th anniversary.