Student Actors Recognized for Work in Eurydice

Students in the Mercyhurst Theatre Program received esteemed recognition for their work in the program’s inaugural production, Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, in April 2013.

The production was submitted as an associate entry in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). Freshman Sarah Creighton and junior Mat Anderson have been nominated for Irene Ryan awards for their portrayals of Eurydice and Her Father.

The Irene Ryan awards are made possible by the generosity of the late Irene Ryan, best known for her portrayal of the loveable and feisty Granny Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies.

The two students will join their scene partners at the regional festival at West Chester University in January 2014, when they will have an opportunity to compete for acting scholarships, participate in workshops and symposia, and watch performances from other theater programs in the region.

Guest scenic designer Aaron White received a Certificate of Merit for his work on the Eurydice set, inspired in part by the fractured boardwalks reclaimed by nature in the wrath of Hurricane Sandy.

Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, KCACTF aims to identify and promote quality in college-level theater productions. The festival has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions and serves as a catalyst to enrich theater departments and student artists through regional, state and national festivals.

For more information about the Mercyhurst Theatre Program, contact its director, Brett D. Johnson, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, at 814-824-2663 or bjohnson@mercyhurst.edu.