BELLVILLE STUDENT LANDS STARRING ROLE IN BLINN THEATRE’S “HOUDINI”

  

Only a few years removed from seeing his first play ever, a former Bellville High School student has landed the starring role in Blinn College’s latest theatrical production.

Garrison Rutledge will be portraying the role of legendary magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini, in the play titled, “Houdini.”

Rutledge, who is a sophomore at Blinn, did not discover his love of theatre until his sophomore year of high school when a friend encouraged him to attend Bellville’s production of “Footloose.”

The following year, he landed a part in “The Sound of Music” and the rest was history.

Rutledge was personally recruited to Blinn and offered a scholarship by Theatre Arts Director Brad Nies.

Rutledge is a co-captain of this season’s Slaphappy Improvisation Troupe and a member of the Theatre Arts Fraternity, Delta Psi Omega.  He also volunteers with the Performing Arts Series at the O’Donnell Center, the Brenham Children’s Chorus, and Brenham Broadway Kids.

Not bad for someone once considered himself to not be a very good actor.

Nies said that Rutledge “serves as a role model for all of our theatre arts majors.”

Blinn College’s production of “Houdini” begins on Thursday night at 7pm at the Dr W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center.

The show also runs Friday night at 7pm, plus there will be matinee performances at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for Blinn students, children, and senior citizens.  They are available on-line at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice.