Recent Awards and Achievements
Theatre Arts Undergrads Present at Research Conference
Two TA students were selected to present their theatre design work at the recent VT Undergraduate Research Conference sponsored by the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence. Seniors Derek Miller and Adam Ressa, a double major with Engineering, shared their set work for Eurydice and Abingdon Square in Squires on April 1, 2008.
More Student Accomplishments
• TA undergraduate Jarreau Williams has been cast in the feature film "State of Play," a crime drama produced by Andell Entertainment and scheduled for release in spring 2009.
• Sophomore Sarah Hoffman has been named as the 2008-09 recipient of the Henry Dekker Award.
• Matthew Johnson and Cat Capece have been accepted into the William Esper Studio's Summer Intensive in NYC for advanced theatre training this summer.
M.F.A. Student Megan Carney Wins Award and Presents at Two Conferences
Megan Carney, a 3rd-year M.F.A. candidate in Directing & Public Dialogue, received the Advancing Women Award in the fall through the Women's Center at Virginia Tech. In March, 2008, she was an invited panelist and presenter with her paper, "Presenting Self and Other with Space for Public Dialogue," at Columbia University (NY) for the Oral History of the Mid-Atlantic Region Conference. That same month, another paper, "[classified]: Stories That Catalyze Dialogue About Diversity," co-written with Laura Agnich, Kimberly Baker, and Shannon Turner (TA '07) was accepted for presentation and publication at the Community Arts Convening & Research Project at the Maryland Institute College of Arts in Baltimore.
Raun Presents Paper at NAST Conference
Department Head Patricia Raun presented a paper for the National Association of Schools of Theatre Conference in Pittsburgh this spring.
Current Faculty and Theatre Arts Alumnus Collaborate on Staging of a New Work Co-Produced by The Gravity Project of Juniata College and People's Light Theatre Company
Theatre Arts faculty Randy Ward and John Ambrosone, along with undergraduate student Derek Miller, traveled to Pennsylvania to design scenery and lighting for a production directed by Theatre Arts alumnus Andy Besler, head of theatre at Juinata College and artistic director of The Gravity Project. Crispin: The Cross of Lead, based on the novel by Avi and adapted for stage by Russell Davis, was developed at Juniata and had a workshop production there in October. In January, the show was produced at People's Light Theatre Company of Malvern, PA, for a four-week run with a full professional company of actors. Miller, a senior in Theatre Arts, served as Assistant Lighting Designer for the project.
· Theatre Arts Associate Professor Susanna Rinehart has received a Students' Choice "Faculty Member of the Year" award in the 12th annual balloting. This marks the second time she has received this honor.
· Randy Ward, Theatre Arts professor and scenographer, designed the set and lights for Cathay: Three Tales of China, an original puppet-theatre work created by Ping Chong & Company in collaboration with the Shaanxi Folk Art Theatre of Xian, China. The work was commissioned for the Washington, D.C., Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of their month-long China Festival in October, after debuting at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. The show now has been selected for the prestigious Vienna Festival, and will be performed there in June 2006. Learn more about the show at the Kennedy Center and Seattle Rep links. Read a D.C. review.
· M.F.A. Grad Students Ashley Sparks and Sarah Chandler were "Featured Students" on the VT Graduate School home page during November, 2005.
· Megan Carney, an M.F.A. candidate in the Theatre Arts Directing & Public Dialogue program, was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for her work with high-school age youth. The award was announced by Mayor Richard M. Daly and the chairs of the Commission on Human Relations and the Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. Megan traveled to Chicago Nov. 1, 2005, to receive the award. Read the release.
· Patty Raun, department head in Theatre Arts, received positive reviews for her Edinburgh Festival Fringe performance of Eurydice, a one-woman show written by internationally-acclaimed VT English professor Thomas Gardner, which took place Aug. 8-10. Music for the show was composed by and performed by Alan Weinstein, a faculty member in the Department of Music. While in Scotland, Raun also presented a paper at the Voice and Speech Trainer's Association conference. Read more...
· The Theatre Arts department was featured in Virginia Tech Research Magazine for last fall's production of God Favors The Predator. The research carried out through theatre production work was the topic of an article in the summer issue of VT's premiere research publication. Read the article...
· Michelle Krusiec, a graduate of the VT Theatre Arts program, plays a starring role in the current film Saving Face, a SONY Productions release. Michelle is one of four nominees in the Best Actress category for her performance in Saving Face in the Golden Horse Film Awards Festival (the Taiwanese equivalent of the Oscars). There, the film won the "Audience Choice" Award. Read a review...
· Maura Sinnenberg, Theatre Arts major, has been selected as a College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences Ambassador for the 2005-06 year.
· David Johnson awarded a 2004-05 Certificate of Teaching Excellence, Randy Ward named for Excellence in Graduate Student Advising Award, and M.F.A. student Chris Adams given a special commendation for community service by the College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences. - read the details
· Theatre Arts named a 2004 Exemplary Department - read the details
· Jane Harrison, School of the Arts administrative assistant, received the 2004 President's Award for Excellence from the University.
· Don Drapeau, Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts, was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre, in April, 2004. He joins Virginia Tech colleagues Bernie Dukore, Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts & Humanities, and Tony Distler, Emeritus Director of the School of the Arts. Other College members include Edward Albee, Ming Cho Lee, Oscar Brockett, Kristen Linklater, Jon Jory, Zelda Fichandler, and Lloyd Richards.
· Scenographer Randy Ward nominated for prestigious American Theatre Wing Hewes Design Award for his lighting design for The Edda Project with international theatre artist Ping Chong at New York's Lincoln Center Festival last fall.
· The Laramie Project selected for 2003 ACTF Region IV Festival - read the details
· Robert Leonard, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the New York-based Theatre Communications Group, the service organization for not-for-profit theatres. TCG has over 450 theatre members, and its Executive Director is former Virginia Tech theatre arts faculty member, Ben Cameron.
· Don Drapeau has been selected to head the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), serving as president of this national accrediting body for a three-year term beginning in the 2002-03 year.
· Takiyah Amin named VT "Outstanding Graduate Student Leader" for 2002-03
Past ACTF awards