"The Bewitched" Draws Accolades at Kennedy Center
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| Scene from The Bewitched,photo Stan Barouh |
The Middlebury College theatre program packed its bags for a trip to Washington, DC this April. Their monumental production of The Bewitched was presented as a national finalist in the American College Theater Festival (ACTF) at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theatre on April 18 and 19, 2006. Moving the production entailed bringing in a cast of 30 actors playing more than 50 roles, a full backstage crew, and the design and production staff; two trucks filled with lavish period costumes, flying and moving scenery, a detailed light plot, and an extensive sound plot; and just a day and a half to get the entire production up and running. The Bewitched played successfully to over 500 people, including many Middlebury College alumni, family and friends over the two-night run.
At the conclusion of the opening night performance, ACTF Artistic Director Gregg Henry called the company on stage for recognition, and presented director and program chair Richard Romagnoli with a commemorative plaque:
"When I think of Middlebury College, I always think of difficult, challenging plays, produced magnificently-- and I think tonight proves it. And beyond this extraordinary cast and the entire production team, my lord, the backstage is filled with bodies besides this entire crew. I think it's important to call your attention to the fact that the [Middlebury College contingent also includes] a national finalist for our national dramaturgy award, who is also a national finalist for the national critics institute; national finalists for our scenic design award; national finalists and national finalists and national finalists in the Irene Ryan acting scholarships. After that, the faculty of this institution--Mark [Evancho], the scenic designer, Hallie [Zieselman], the lighting designer, and even Jule [Emerson], the costume designer--all three have devoted countless hours as members of our national design committee and helped make design grow in Region I, the New England region. And to see their work on stage, after all they've given our organization, is an absolutely extraordinary experience. I think this evening proves that Middlebury College is certainly one of the top undergraduate theatre programs in this nation."
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Scene from The Bewitched, photo Stan Barouh |
Middlebury College students, faculty, and staff receiving ACTF recognition include:
- The Bewitched, production selected as one of four national finalists to be presented at the Kennedy Center.
- Paul Doyle '07 was selected as both the Dramaturgy and Critics' Institute semifinalist from the New England Region.
- Laura Harris '07,Irene Ryan National Acting Finalist, was awarded an acting internship for summer 2006 at the O'Neill Theatre Center, although she may decline this honor in favor of participating in the Potomac Theatre Project, a summertime collaboration between the Olney Theatre Center and Middlebury College outside Washington, DC. Her scene partner was Lauren Kiel '07.
- Laura Eckelman '05: Barbizon Lighting Design National finalist for The Last Night of Ballyhoo, second place national winner. She was also awarded a lighting design assistantship at the O'Neill Center for summer 2006.
- Christina Galvez '06: Barbizon National finalist in set design for The House of Yes. Awarded a summer intensive workshop in NYC with Ming Cho Lee.
- Haylee Freeman '06.5:national alternate for lighting design.
- ACTF Regional awards were given to Courtney Swanda '06 (costume design, The House of Yes), Toral Patel '09 (costume design, Everyman), and Aaron Gensler '08 (set design, The Dining Room).
- Katie Polebaum '07 received the technical craftsmanship award for her design and construction of the plants in Little Shop of Horrors.
- Rebecca Kanengiser '06 (semifinalist, partnered by Rishabh Kashyap '08), Bill Army '07 (with Sally Swallow '07), Alec Strum '08 (with Julia Proctor '06) and Retta Leaphart '06 (with Jake Jeppson '06) all participated in the Irene Ryan competition.
- Theatre program designer and associate technical director Hallie Zieselman was awarded the faculty fellowship in design.
