UW Theatre and Dance Department Claims Awards at Regional Festival

Numerous University of Wyoming faculty members and students from the Department of Theatre and Dance won awards at the Region VII Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) last week in Eugene, Ore.

Bailey Patterson, a senior from Casper, was UW’s top honoree. She and her partner, freshman Katarina Tyler, from Riverton, were runners-up in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Award competition and received scholarships from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Patterson also was selected for the Mark Twain Comedy Acting Award, which earned her a scholarship from the regional KCACTF board.

Aili McLellan, a senior from Houston, Texas, was selected as a finalist in the Musical Theatre Scholarship Competition, while Corinne Landy, a senior from Denver, was a finalist in the category. Kyriessa Lane, a junior from Riverton, was selected as a semifinalist in the Stage Directors and Choreographers Competition.

Senior Wayne Sides, of Laramie, was the recipient of a meritorious achievement award in the George R. Caldwell Undergraduate Scholarly Paper Competition for his paper, “Women on the Romantic Stage.” Brianna Leonard, a junior from Ankeny, Iowa, earned the same award for writing “Take Me to Church: Exploring Liturgical and Historical Evidence of the Christian Martyr, Saint Genesius.”

A total of 13 UW theater and dance students were nominated by external reviewers for excellence in performance, design and technical areas in Region VII, which enabled them to compete at the regional level. Listed by hometown, they are:

Casper -- Bailey Patterson, senior.

Castle Rock, Colo. -- Marlene Hall, junior.

Denver -- Corinne Landy, senior.

Houston -- Aili McLellan, senior.

Kansas City, Mo. -- William Read, senior.

Laramie -- Jaden Sorenson, freshman.

Lone Tree, Colo. -- Jordan Clark, junior.

Parker, Colo. -- Dillon Inglee, senior.

Riverton -- Kyriessa Lane, junior.

Rock Springs -- Eli West, senior.

San Antonio, Texas -- Jenna Blazek, senior.

West Salem, Ore. -- Paris Rumbolz.

Westminster, Colo. -- Justin Glover, senior.

Region VII of the KCACTF consists of all colleges and universities in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, northern California and northern Nevada.