The University of Arkansas department of theater honored patrons, donors, alumni and current students at their Season Preview, Awards and Scholarship Reception at Fayetteville's Chancellor Hotel on Saturday.
The event's format is new, says department chairman Michael Riha.
"At the end of the year, we typically hold two events: one is the season preview that showcases and features our upcoming mainstage season, and that's usually done with our final show of the spring season," says Riha. "This year, since the last show was so late, we decided to combine that preview with our year-end awards and scholarship ceremony into one big event. That way, our students could mingle with our patrons and alumni, to make it a more special evening."
Also new this year: The department honored a distinguished alumna, something Riha says he intends to make a tradition. The inaugural 2017 recipient was actor/comedian/author Sarah Colonna, class of 1996.
"A distinguished alum is someone who has taken their degree and created a successful path in the entertainment industry," said Riha in his introduction for Colonna. "There are a number of alums who have done just that, but I believe this year's recipient is more than deserving."
Colonna was a writer and performer on the E! Network show Chelsea Lately, has written two books and recently filmed the pilot Insatiable for the CW Network.
The evening included short, student-performed scenes from three of the department's 2017-18 shows: Life Is a Dream, The Glass Menagerie and Avenue Q.
Students Na'Tosha De'Von and Chris Tennison emceed the evening and presented scholarships to students as, De'Von said, a "way for the department to recognize and reward them for their commitment, effort and contributions." Scholarship recipients included Landon Stocker, Maggie Wood, Savannah Haynes, Duncan Wood, Montana McCoy, Emily Avona, Hailey Scott and Jake Lewis (The George Kernodle Endowed Scholarship); Emily Ogden, Aubrey Pohlman and Jacinda Fletcher (the Carrie Hamilton Endowed Scholarship); Jennifer Nesbitt (the Don and Susan Bobbitt Endowed Scholarship); Anna Estes (the Mary Ingalls Endowed Scholarship); Madison Bell (the Betty Blyholder Endowed Scholarship and the Mac Award); Elizabeth Gonzalez (the Barbara and Harry Shadden Endowed Scholarship); and Sam Murphey (the Kathy Mellinger and Sean Phillip Mabrey Scholarship).
De'Von and Tennison also announced the performance, design and technical awards for the 2016-17 year, which, for the first time, include a small financial award. Recipients included Jeremiah Albers (outstanding direction of a play, Angels in American II: Perestroika), Mallory Heins (outstanding stage manager, Angels in America II: Perestroika), Melissa Rooney (outstanding make-up design, Assassins), Emily Clarkson (outstanding lighting design, Assassins), Tanner McAlpin (outstanding costume design, Lysistrata), Kiah Kayser (outstanding scenic design, Assassins), Halley Mayo (outstanding MFA supporting female actor, Lysistrata and outstanding MFA lead female actor, The Diary of Anne Frank), Scott Russell (outstanding MFA supporting male actor, Assassins), Chris Tennison (outstanding MFA lead male actor, Angels in America II: Perestroika), Erin Dosher (outstanding undergraduate supporting female actor, Angels in America II: Perestroika), Trey Smith (outstanding undergraduate supporting male actor, Angels in America II: Perestroika), Maggie Harrington (outstanding undergraduate lead female actor, Lysistrata), Reid Evans (outstanding undergraduate lead actor, Assassins).
Riha spoke in tribute for the late Roger Gross, a former member of the UA theater faculty who had been with the program for 30 years, saying, "One story couldn't possibly do justice to what Roger has meant to so very many who have been blessed to have worked with him or even those who only met him. He always made an impression."
The evening concluded with department office manager Barbara Springer honoring those students who will be graduating this year.
"I think, for the first year, with as much as we packed into it, it turned out really, really nicely," says Riha of the event, which he plans to continue hosting.
Lara Jo Hightower can be reached by email at [email protected].
NAN Profiles on 05/14/2017