BLINN STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT STATE THEATRE FESTIVAL
Eleven Blinn College Theatre Arts students were recognized for their outstanding work producing “Alice in Bed” at the Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association (TCCSTA) Play Festival Feb. 26 – March 1 in Brenham.
In addition to individual honors, the Blinn – Brenham campus Theatre Arts Program was awarded the Greg Schneider Technical Excellence Award and a superior award for overall production.
“Those are two of the highest awards a play can receive,” Director Bradley Nies said. “We’re so proud of how the play fared at the play festival. It was challenging work, and our students really met the challenge.”
Eleven schools performed in the festival, including Lone Star College-Kingwood, Weatherford College, LSC-Tomball, Houston Community College-Southwest, Wharton County Junior College, Howard College, HCC-Northeast, Panola College, Eastfield College and Lamar State-Port Arthur.
Respondents for the festival were Kate Revnell-Smith, executive artist of Unity Theatre in Brenham, and Dr. Bill Gelber, associate professor and director of theatre in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas Tech University.
Superior Awards – Directors and Respondents’ Choice:
Corrine Booth (Austin): costume design
Christian Daigle (Hempstead): sound design
Jericka Gaskamp (Brenham): scenic artistry and scenic design
Nathan Maler (Houston): master carpentry and technical direction
Cole Matlock (The Woodlands): lighting design
Zachary Yoke (Leander): projection design and special effects: projections
Superior Awards: Directors’ Choice:
Kye Cokerham (Houston): property design
Te’Ara Tindle (Houston): property design
Jaqueline Kana (Sealy): stage management
Nora Hunt (Sugar Land): festival management
Superior Award: Respondents’ Choice:
Nora Hunt: acting
Excellent Award: Respondents’ Choice:
Liesl Hardin (Deer Park): acting
Greg Schneider Technical Excellence Award: Respondents’ Choice:
Blinn College overall technical production
Superior Award: Respondents’ Choice:
Blinn College overall production
Other company members for “Alice in Bed” include: Gabriel Arias (Hempstead), Colleen Dougan (Brenham), Christopher Frey (Hempstead), David Gentry (Groveton), Dallas Gonzales (Brenham), Nathaniel Guitron (Snook), Michelle Hallard (Houston), Kayla Kelly (Houston), Cristian Mejia (Burton), Will O’Dell (Austin), Karen Rush (Houston) and Larry Whigham (Washington). Nies directed, Kevin Patrick served as technical director and costume and makeup designer was Jennifer Patrick.
Written by Susan Sontag, “Alice in Bed” is based on the real life story of Alice James, the daughter of wealthy businessman Henry James Sr., and her diary, which details her descent into depression. Though a very smart and strong individual, James convinces herself she has become an invalid who must spend her days bedridden.
Blinn’s Theatre Arts Program hosts at least eight performances each year in Brenham and Bryan and offers a quality educational foundation through study, application and experience. For more information, visit: www.blinn.edu/finearts/theatre.html Story courtesy of Blinn College.
