A group of students from the Theatre Arts department have been chosen to compete Jan. 16-20 at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival at SUNY-New Paltz.

Student performers Jessica Behar ’07, Robby Bieschke ’06, and Ryan Brown ’08 were selected for their work in this fall’s production of “Quake,” under the direction of Assistant Professor Elizabeth van den Berg. Junior Elizabeth Whitenton was selected as an alternate performer. Amber Grimes ’06 and Jeff Goeller ’06 were selected for their work in “Playback Theatre,” directed by Associate Professor Ron Miller.

The students will prepare two short scenes and a monologue for three rounds of competition against up to 300 nominees across the region, which includes Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.

In a typical year, two student performers from each region are selected to attend the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, held each April. The winner is awarded the prestigious Irene Ryan Scholarship, which aids student performers who wish to pursue further education.

A scene from “Quake” will also be featured in the festival’s showcase of scenes.

Additionally this year, four design students were selected to compete for Barbizon Design Awards: Betsy Beveridge ’07 for sound, Christene Hechmer ’08 for costumes, Gary Markle ’06 for lights, and Alexandra Neiman ’08 for makeup.

“Well-known designers come in to talk to students about their work,” said van den Berg. “It’s great for students because they get a chance to learn.”

Also this year, “Playback Theatre” was nominated to perform at the American College Theatre Festivals’ Fringe Festival. Playback is a form of improvisational theatre, created through a unique collaboration between performers and audience.

Someone tells a story or moment from their life, chooses actors to play the different roles, then watches as the story is immediately recreated and given artistic shape.  “Playback Theatre” aims to create a ritual space where every voice and any story, however ordinary, extraordinary, hidden or difficult, might be heard or told.