KU News Release

Dec. 14, 2006
Contact: Charla Jenkins, University Theatre, (785) 864-2684; or Paul Stephen Lim, English Alternative Theatre, (785) 864-3642.

KU student actors, playwrights to compete at regional theater festival

LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas theater groups, University Theatre and English Alternative Theatre, have been selected to perform at the Region V Festival of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, which will be Jan. 21-26 in Ames, Iowa.

Winners in the regional competitions will be eligible to compete in the national festival in April at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

University Theatre’s production of Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever” will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, in the C.Y. Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University in Ames.

“Hay Fever” is directed by Jack B. Wright, professor of theatre and film. Scenic designer is Kelly Vogel, Lawrence graduate student in scenography. Del Unruh, professor of theatre and film, is lighting designer; Ione Unruh, Lawrence artist, is costume designer; Chloe M. Wong, Junction City senior, is sound designer; and Paul Meier, professor of theatre and film, is diction coach.

Two theatre and film faculty members who are professional actors perform in “Hay Fever.” Leslie Bennett, assistant professor of theatre and film, portrays Judith Bliss, and John Staniunas, associate professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Film, plays David Bliss.

“Hay Fever,” which was staged Dec. 1-9 at KU, was co-sponsored by TCK Trust and Financial Advisors.

The E.A.T. production of “Leaves of Words,” an original play by Tim Macy, graduate student in English, will be performed at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Ames City Auditorium. Macy’s play, based on the unsolved 1988 disappearance of a Linwood teen, is competing for the National Student Playwriting Award and the David Mark Cohen Playwriting Award.

“Leaves of Words” is directed by Paul Stephen Lim, a Chancellors Club Teaching Professor in English and E.A.T. founder. Set and lighting design is by Lee Saylor of Lawrence, the costumes are by KU alumna Kaye Miller of Mission and the sound design is by KU alum Nick Mosher of Lawrence.

In addition, four original plays written by KU students have been selected for the competition and six have been nominated to compete for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.

Two 10-minute plays competing in staged readings Jan. 26 were written by a KU student and a recent graduate, respectively. Emily Laut, a fall 2005 graduate in English, wrote “Painting the Town,” and Whitney Rowland, Olathe sophomore, wrote “Suicide by Punchbowl.” “Cellmates” by Colin Elliott, Lawrence senior, is the first alternate in the 10-minute play competition.

Rowland’s one-act play “Lights Fade, Curtain” was also selected for a Jan. 25 staged reading in competition for the John Cauble One-Act Play Award and the chance to return to the festival the following year as a full production. Lim is directing the reading.

The original plays selected for regional competition were written in playwriting classes taught by Lim.

KU student nominees for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition are Kate Giessel, Larned senior; Justin Knudsen, Lakeville, Minn., senior; Courtney Schweitzer, Leawood senior; Garrett Kelly, Leavenworth freshman; Colin Elliott, Lawrence senior; and Mackenzie Wiglesworth, Olathe sophomore.

Students competing in the regional contest are listed below by class, major, parents’ names (when available), high school and role or competition category.

CHEROKEE COUNTY
From Galena
Jeremy Wayne Auman, KU theatre and film alumnus, son of Debbie Auman; Riverton
High School; “Leaves of Words,” father.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Colin Frederick Elliott, senior in English, son of Robert and Dorice Elliott; Lawrence Free State High School; “Leaves of Words,” Class of 1988 member; “Lights Fade, Curtain,” reader; alternate playwright, “Cellmates,” 10-minute play competition; Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition.

Dylan Dustin Walker, senior in theatre and film; “Lights Fade, Curtain,” reader.

ELLIS COUNTY
From Hays
Robert T. Hirsch, senior in theatre and film, son of Amy E. Massaglia; Hays High School; “Lights Fade, Curtain,” reader; “Leaves of Words,” crew.

FINNEY COUNTY
From Garden City
Alicia Gian, graduate student in theatre, daughter of Michael and Janis Gian; Garden City High School; “Hay Fever,” Myra Arundel.

GEARY COUNTY
From Junction City
Chloe M. Wong, senior in theatre design, daughter of Victor and Sandra Wong; Junction City Senior High School; “Hay Fever,” sound designer.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood
Conner Jefferson Hinderks, freshman planning to major in business, son of Conner and Mary Ann Hinderks; Shawnee Mission East High School; “Leaves of Words,” crew.

Courtney Schweitzer, senior in theatre, daughter of Ken and Linda Schweitzer; Blue Valley High School; “Hay Fever,” Jackie Coryton; Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition.

From Lenexa
Megan Kathleen Smith, junior in theatre and film, daughter of Mary Buckmaster and Kevin Smith; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; “Leaves of Words,” stage manager; “Lights Fade, Curtain,” reader.

From Olathe
Whitney Reece Rowland, sophomore in theatre and film, daughter of Myra Rowland; Olathe North High School; “Leaves of Words,” Class of 1988 member; one-act playwright competition for “Lights Fade, Curtain”; 10-minute playwright competition for “Suicide by Punchbowl.”

Mackenzie Lynn Wiglesworth, sophomore in theatre and film, daughter of Russell and Carol Wiglesworth; Olathe East High School; “Leaves of Words,” Class of 1988 member; “Lights Fade, Curtain,” reader; Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition.

KEARNY COUNTY
From Lakin
Chelsie S. Shipley, sophomore in theatre, daughter of Price Shipley and Sue Shipley; Lakin High School; “Hay Fever,” Clara.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth
Garrett Michael Kelly, freshman in theatre and film, son of Michael E. and Keyta D. Kelly; Tonganoxie High School; “Leaves of Words,” Randy Leach; Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition.

PAWNEE COUNTY
From Larned
Kate Giessel, senior in theatre and linguistics, daughter of Tom and Sheryl Giessel; Larned High School; “Hay Fever,” Sorel Bliss; Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka
Tim Dylan Macy, graduate student in English; bachelor’s degree in English from KU; “Leaves of Words,” playwright.

Catherine “Katie” Sarah Provost, senior in theatre and film, daughter of Janice Provost; Hayden High School; “Leaves of Words,” crew.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City
Robert James Steele, senior in theatre and film, son of Larry and Colleen Steele; Washington High School; “Leaves of Words,” policeman, psychic and garage mechanic; “Lights Fade, Curtain,” reader.

ILLINOIS
From Crystal Lake
Mark Mackie, senior in theatre and film, son of John and Janet Mackie; Crystal Lake Central High School; “Hay Fever,” Richard Greatham.

MINNESOTA
From Lakeville
Justin Knudsen, senior in theatre and English, son of Ken and Barb Knudsen; Lakeville Senior High School; “Hay Fever,” Simon Bliss; Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition.

MISSOURI
From Kansas City
Erik LaPointe, sophomore in theatre, son of Michelle LaPointe and Dan White; Rockhurst High School; “Hay Fever,” Sandy Tyrell.

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