Theatre Arts students receive national nominations

Theatre Arts majors Amanda Halcott and Kevin Tyson received national nominations for their acting work during McDaniel College’s Student-Directed Play Festival. The one-act performances took place from March 4 through March 7.

Halcott portrayed Janice in “Fire Exit,” directed by McDaniel College student Zacharias Callis, and Caroline in “The Grass is Greenest at the Houston Astrodome,” directed by McDaniel College student Patsy Zetkulic.

Tyson played Devin in “Fire Exit,” directed by Callis, and Farrell in “After Happily,” directed by McDaniel College student Kendall Harnsberger.

Halcott and Tyson were nominated by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) for the national Irene Ryan Scholarship Award for their acting work. The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships recognize and assist outstanding student performers financially to pursue further education. The Irene Ryan Foundation provides eight regional scholarships, two national scholarships and several other awards for opportunities to further their craft.

The students have the opportunity to prepare two scenes and a monologue and present in January 2021 at the KCACTF for Region II, according to Elizabeth van den Berg, professor and chair of the Theatre Arts department at McDaniel College. After these presentations, the students could be selected to represent Region II at the national festival in April 2021 at KCACTF.

The KCACTF, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program and funded by David M. Rubenstein, holds state, regional and national festivals with a network of more than 700 academic institutions throughout the country.

Other McDaniel College Theatre Arts students also received regional recognition for their roles in the Student-Directed Play Festival:

• Noelle Skoda (Nottingham, Md.), who is majoring in Theatre Arts, has been recognized with the regional Stage Management Fellowship. She served as the stage manager for all three shows.
• Patsy Zetkulic (Arlington, Va.), a Psychology and Theatre Arts double major, has been recognized with a certificate of merit for outstanding student direction of “The Grass is Greenest at the Houston Astrodome.”
• Kendall Harnsberger (Baltimore), a Philosophy and Theatre Arts double major, has received a certificate of merit for outstanding student direction of “After Happily.”
• Zacharias Callis (Damascus, Md.), a Theatre Arts major, has received a certificate of merit for outstanding student direction for “Fire Exit.”