Musical receives major awards
December 7, 2011
During the month of November, the Theatre and Music Departments of Oklahoma Baptist University presented a world-renowned musical entitled “Brigadoon."
Alongside numerous praises and reviews from the OBU and Shawnee communities, “Brigadoon” also participated in the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival.
Joy Fait and Robert Mills, both theatre majors at OBU, were nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship Competition.
By providing recognition, honor and financial assistance to student performers who go above and beyond, the Irene Ryan Foundation awards sixteen regional and two national scholarships annually. This competition demands a variety of criteria, including the ability to urgently pursue strong, clear objectives, to partner, to make varied, specific and bold acting choice as well as the demonstration of facility with language and a clear understanding of the text. The winners of the Acting Scholarship proceed to the National Competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In addition to Fait and Mills, Sarah Stephens and Andrew Harper, both music majors, were nominated for the Musical Theatre Initiative portion of the Irene Ryan Foundation, which serves to celebrate and recognize musical theatre productions on a regional level. The set of criteria associated with this award are similar to that of the Acting scholarship but also includes the student demonstrating that he or she possesses a health and flexible vocal instrument, through which they make varied, informed musical choices that add texture and layers to their overall performance.
Both the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship and the Musical Theatre Initiative are competitions with award monies.
Accompanying the four students already mentioned, Stephanie Smith, a senior theatre major at OBU was recognized for her outstanding achievement in Stage Directing.
Her success within this competition has presented her with the opportunity to attend the Regional Festival to present her materials.
JemiJean Jones, a theatre major at OBU, has also been invited to attend the regional festival as part of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Student Directing Initiative, in which student directors present scene work and receive professional critique.
Overall, “Brigadoon” was well received, both in the local communities as well as beyond. With the hard work of students and directors alike, “Brigadoon” received the acknowledgement it deserved.
