Wednesday, February 22, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Theater scholarship finalists compete tonight
by Kris M. Bergquist Kansan staff writer
R respect and money are all that seven KU theater students want. They have the chance to win that in the Irene Ryan schol-
aristach content this week during the Region V-South American College Theatre Festival at the University of Kansas.
Jill Towsley, Topeca senior, a scholarship competitor, was nominated from the last fall's KU production of "A Lie of the Mind."
"I was really excited because this is something that I've wanted to do forever. Also, this means the department is saying, 'Yes, you're doing a good job.'"
"This contest is really competitive." Towsley said. "I'm just looking at it as a great way to see other people and to have your work seen."
He played "Grammy" on the Beverly Hills hillbiles and "specified in her will that part of her money would be given to students in educational theater.
town theater.
"This dear, sweet lady believed sincerely that young, struggling actors should have a chance," said Jack Wright, artistic director of University Theatre. "This is a national, real competitive contest for young actors."
the annual Irene Ryan contest began 21 years ago. Last night 150 students from colleges and universities in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa went through the first round of auditions. Seven KU students auditioned.
AMERICAN COLLEGE THEATRE FESTIVAL
This afternoon, 35 students will compete in the semi-finals and in 12 of those will compete in the finals at 8 p.m. tonight in Crafton-Preyer Theatre.
THEATRE
F E S T I V A L
The winner of the finals will join 11 other finalists across the country and go on to the national contest in April. The winners will be named in Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The winner for this region will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The two national winners will receive $2,500 scholarships.
Students are nominated after participating in plays that pay a fee to participate in the theatre festival. Irene Ryan nominations were taken from its production list, "Whose Life is it Anyway?" and "A Lie of the Mind."
"It's the most crucial part," Lehfeldt said. "If you have good material to show off then you've got it made."
During today's auditions the students have five minutes to perform a monologue and a duet.
you don't have a vehicle to show off your talent, then it's nothing." Yungenbe said. "I chose a piece that I hadn't seen before and that had a lot of different levels so I could show all that I could do."
Lynnae Lehfeldt, Olathe senior, nominated in "Return of the Swallow," said that choosing the right material could make or break a person because of the limited audition time.
Yungeberg said that at first she felt very scared, but now is just excited about the contest.
Brenda Yungeberg, Waterville senior, agreed that the choice of material was a big factor. Yungeberg asked for her role in "A Kite of the Mind."
"I've already accomplished my goals. I'm doing my best and feeling confident about it," Yungeberg said. "This contest could easily be bled out of proportion. It could open a lot of doors for you if you do well, but it doesn't necessarily have to close doors either."
"You can have a lot of talent, but if
The semi-final round will be judged by Beverly Byers-Pevits, chairman of theatre arts at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, and Kip Niven, a kU theatre graduate and actor, critic, and teacher in New York.
The final round will be judged by Linda Lavin, best known for her role as Alice from the television series of the same name. Lavin, who is married to a man she has also received a Tony for Neal Simon's play, "Broadway Bound."
Kathy Pryor, the regional festival coordinator and assistant to director of University Theatre, said that the KU students were well-prepared.
Checking the length of different colored ribbons, Brandt Huseby, Overland Park freshman, and Billie Gross, Lawrence resident and costume technician, size up the material to decorate a registration table. Huseby and Gross were preparing the table yesterday in Murphy Hall for the preliminary auditions in the Irene Ryan Scholarship competition.
David Snell, Wichita senior who was nominated from "Return of the Swallow," said that having Lavin as a judge would be exciting.
Measuring up
a judge would be.
"She's made it. She makes her money acting. That's what we want."
Snell said. "Heck, she's got a production company. Maybe she'll like me and give me a job."
Snell said that the subjective judging was like baseball.
"It's like when Jose Canseco hits the ball. Some say it's a home run and some say that it's not. I'm just going out there to hit the ball and hope that they think it'a home run
and not a fly ball."
and not a fly-bat.
Laura Kirk, Lecompton senior,
was nominated from "Whose Life is it
anyway?"
"KU doesn't have a show entered, so hopefully the individual contestants can do well since we're hosting
the festival," Kirk said.
Also participating for KU are Will Carpenter, Tulsa, Oka, junior, nominated for his role in "Whose Hollow? Anyway?" and Jay Karnes, It is still senior, nominated for his role in "Return of the Swallow."
Crafton-Preyer sets the stage for competing plays
Catch My Brother's Eye
by Christine Winner Kansan staff writer
The original script was written by a 1888 Iowa graduate, Ken Prestinzi.
"Catch My Brother's Eye," is a contemporary mystery thriller about people in the seamy subculture of New York City.
Directed by Eric Forsyth from the University of Iowa, the play is about a man searching for his missing brother by chasing dangerous animals.
It will be performed by the cast from Iowa at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Crafton-Preyer Theatre.
Designers for the production are
Pip Gordon, scenery; Jeffrey A.
Childs, lights; Russell Hanes,
costumes; and Catherine Schieve,
sound.
Representatives from Iowa could not be reached for comment.
The play is competing against the University of Nebraska at Omaha's production of "Tartuffe" and Iowa State University's production of "Terra Nova." The winner of regional competition could go on to compete at the national level in April
Terry Torta The winner of regional competition could go to 16-2 at the national level in April at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Terra Nova
by Christine Winner Kansan staff writer
Ted Taly's "Terra Novi" tells of Capt. Robert Scott's expedition to Antarctica in 1911 and 1912 to reach the South Pole.
Scott's group of five Englishmen raced five Norwegians to the pole, but only the Norwegians returned.
Seen in the present, in the past and in Scott's imagination, the play explores what drove this particular character to human beings feel the need to explore.
As a graduate student at Yale, Tally worked with professional writers such as David Mamet, Terence
acally, and Arthur Kopit. According to the Iowa State University's study guide for the play, it was at that time that Tally realized that someone could actually make a living writing plays.
He said that the recurring theme in his work was that of competition and failure and that the best plays were the ones where the writer himself didn't know everything that's going to happen.
"Terra Nova" will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday at the Crafton-Preyer by a cast from Iowa State. The play is directed by Gregg Henry.
The play is competing with "Catch My Brother's Eye" performed by the university of Iowa and "Tartufe" performed at the Omaha University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Tartuffe
by Christine Winner Kansan staff writer
Although Moliere's "tartuffe" is more than 300 years old, the play's director says it is topical for today's audiences.
"We still have religious hypocrisy roaming around the United States and also international affairs," said Julia Curtis, director from Omaha, Neb.
The play, full of slapstick comedy and satire, illustrates the image the public has of seemingly religious people and how these people's desires are often at odds with their actions.
It will be performed by the cast from the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 8 p.m. Saturday in Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall.
Curtis found out that the play had been chosen in December for competition at the Region V-South American College Theatre Festival.
Since then, the cast has presented extra performances, including one on Valentine's Day that was performed in an Omaha auditorium, instead of the university auditorium which seats 100. Crafton-Preyer Theatre seats 1000.
- Tickets for all three productions are available at Murphy Hall Box Office. Tickets for each production are $7 and $6. Student tickets are half-price.
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