SRU theatre recognized at Kennedy Center regional festival
Feb. 9, 2024
The Slippery Rock University Theatre Department’s production of “Grecian Burns” was one of five invited productions selected to be performed at the Region 2 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Jan. 27, at the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh. The play, performed at SRU in October, was directed by Aaron Galligan-Stierle, assistant professor of theater.
Several SRU students were recognized at the KCACTF Region 2 Festival, including:
- Maison Kairush, a senior theatre major from Canonsburg, received the KCACTF Commendation for Dramaturgical Excellence.
- Abigail Malczon, a senior acting major from Cromwell, Connecticut, received the Musical Theatre Intensive Scholarship Award and is the alternate to attend the national festival.
- Riley Gross, a senior theatre major from Atlantic, received the Outstanding Stage Manager Award and is the alternate to attend the national festival.
- Jack Lloyd, a junior acting major from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, received the Open Jar Institute Dance Scholarship, which included a five-day summer dance intensive in New York City.
- Jeyneliz Ortiz-Valentin, a senior acting major from Cranberry Township, received the Honorable Mention in Allied Design.
- Four students (out of 198 who auditioned) advanced in the Irene Ryan Scholarship competition: Care Caldwell, a freshman acting major from Lexington, Kentucky, and Aidan Duez, a freshman acting major from Kingwood, Texas, made it to the semifinals, and Courtney O'Reilly, a freshman acting major from Plano, Texas, and Aidan Nahas, a sophomore acting major from Huntingtown, Maryland, were among the 16 entrants to advance to the finals.
- SRU students competed in design, technical and management awards, highlighted by Livi Mosca, a senior theatre major from Kent, Ohio, presenting her assistant costume design work and Isaac Smith, a sophomore theatre major from Edinboro, presenting for lighting design.
Through the regional and national festivals, KCACTF celebrates the achievements of theater programs, individual students and faculty of colleges and universities throughout the United States