February 29, 2008
University of Wyoming senior Nick Linn of Rapid City, S.D. and his acting partner,
senior Chelsey Byrd of Fraser, Colo., are shown in a scene from last year's production
of the 10-minute play "The Rumble Strip." Linn won both the Irene Ryan competition
and the Classical Acting Award during the Kennedy Center American College Theatre
Festival and Northwest Drama Conference at UW. Linn and Byrd will advance to the national
festival April 14-20, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington,
D.C. (UW Photo)
University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance students and faculty members
received top honors at last week's Region VII Kennedy Center American College Theatre
Festival (KCACTF) and Northwest Drama Conference (NWDC), held at UW.
A UW actor won the KCACTF Region VII Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition for
the fifth straight year, picking up UW's 12th regional award since 1990. Senior Nick
Linn, Rapid City, S.D., won both the Region VII Irene Ryan competition and the Classical
Acting Award. Senior Stephen Post, Spearfish, S.D., won the Irene Ryan Best Partner
Award.
Linn and his partner, senior Chelsey Byrd, Fraser, Colo., will advance to the national
festival April 14-20, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington,
D.C.
Senior Amy Hollon, Los Angeles, Calif., won the prestigious William Inge Festival
Student Directing Award. Her scene, featuring three UW students, will be performed
in Independence, Kan., at the William Inge Festival later this spring. Inge, one of
America's most famous playwrights, produced such works as "Bus Stop," "Picnic" and
"The Dark at the Top of the Stairs."
Senior Anna Brownsted, Dallas, Texas, was the Region VII One-Act Play winner for
her piece, "Niagara Fell." Of the eight KCACTF regions nationwide, four regional one-act
play and four 10-minute play winners will be selected to compete in April's national
competition.
Brownsted was also one of six students chosen to direct for the 10-minute play competition
at the regional festival and is first alternate for the Society of Stage Directors
and Choreographers 10-Minute Play Directing Fellowship.
UW doctoral student in psychology, Nicholas Gene Terpstra-Schwab of Colfax, Iowa,
won the National Playwriting Program 10-Minute Play competition with his piece, "Sharing
This Room With You."
Senior Nicole Watts, Laramie, won a KCACTF Meritorious Achievement Award in Makeup
Design for her work on "Uncle Vanya." Junior Laura Shockley, Green River, won a Meritorious
Achievement Award in Costume Design for her work on "The ‘M' Word."
UW Professor Larry Hazlett won the Region VII Faculty Excellence Recognition in Lighting
Design Fellowship, while department head and Professor of Theatre and Dance Leigh
Selting won the Region VII Classical Acting Coach award.
