March 5, 2008
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
Terry Petrie
(801) 863-7222
Representatives from UVSC’s Department of Theatrical Arts recently returned from the American College Theater Festival, where UVSC students and faculty made an impressive showing against larger institutions.
This was the third year UVSC participated in the festival, making it one of the newest participants. More than 200 colleges and universities from Region VIII, made up of California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam, were eligible to participate in this year’s festival, held at California State University Los Angeles.
“Many of the competing institutions have BFA or MFA programs in theatre,” said Terry Petrie, assistant professor of Theatrical Arts and department chair. “The competition was tough, and I feel our students and faculty did very well.”
Several students and faculty members received recognition at the festival and the Irene Ryan Competition associated with it. UVSC faculty member James Arrington, associate professor of theatrical arts, received an Excellence in Teaching award, which is one of the most prestigious awards in the festival. Terry Petrie won a Best in Festival award for his work directing a short play titled, “A Job Well Done” which was presented at the festival as part of the New Play Program, which features original plays submitted by students.
Chris Clark, assistant professor of theatrical arts, was chosen by his peers at the festival to work as a respondent, providing feedback to competitors at the festival. Respondents are chosen in recognition of acting expertise. John Graham, also an assistant professor of theatrical arts and Joseph Fox, supervisor of UVSC’s scene shop, certified as respondents and join UVSC Theatre Department faculty members Stephen Purdy, James Arrington and Terry Petrie in this honor. UVSC’s Department of Theatrical Arts has one of the highest percentages of certified respondents in Region VIII, with six out of nine faculty members certified.
A scene from Chris Clark’s production of “King Lear” was featured during the festival, showcasing UVSC students William “Cooper” Howell, from Cedar Hills, Utah, and Alex Ungerman, from Provo. Ungerman, along with UVSC students Trish Nuzumi, from Lehi, Utah, and Jyllian Petrie, from Orem, was also selected as one of 12 student actors to participate in the New Play Program.
UVSC students made an impressive showing at the Irene Ryan Competition as well. Students competed in pairs for the competition, with one member of the pair having been selected to compete by a Region VIII representative. Competing pairs Alex Ungerman and Alexis Wardle, from Mendenham, N.J.; Jana Grass, from Springville, Utah and Margaret Huntington, from Mission Viejo, Calif., and Jeremy Minagro, from Orem, and Tom Fernlund, also from Orem, all finished in the top 40 of approximately 370 participating pairs. Jyllian Petrie and Heather Housley, from Plesant Grove, Utah, finished in the top 25 pairs and were selected for the semi-final round of 32 pairs for competition. Joel Petrie and Tom Fernlund finished 17th, which was the highest finish by a UVSC student in the history of the competition. Jeremy Minagro was awarded acting scholarships by Second City, a comedy acting company, and Steppenwolf, a summer acting workshop.
In the design segment of the competition, Mike James, a student from Spanish Fork, Utah, was chosen as a finalist in the competition for Lighting Design and received honorable mention. Deidre Hiatt, from Spanish Fork, Utah, was chosen as a finalist for makeup and hair design. Costumes from three recent UVSC shows— “The Tempest,” “The Heiress,” and “Oh Pioneers”— participated in the Parade of Costumes at the festival award ceremony.
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Megan Laurie
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Written by:
Brenda Johnson
(801) 863-7011