FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 30, 2007

MUW’s theatre production selected for regional festival

By Jill D. O’Bryant
  
COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Mississippi University for Women’s Theatre Department’s production of “The House of Bernarda Alba” has been selected to perform at the Regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Americus, Ga., Feb. 9.
   
“This is an exciting endeavor for the school, as this is the first show traveling to the regional level,” said William (Peppy) Biddy, chair of the Department of Music and Theatre. “Previous MUW shows have been named as first alternate. A few of the cast members are seniors and will now graduate having experienced this wonderful and rare opportunity.”
   
Out of over 100 schools of the 10 southeastern states, five shows are invited to perform at the regional level. Productions entered into the regional festival can be considered for invitation to the KCACTF national festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
   
MUW’s Theatre Department presented “The House of Bernarda Alba” on campus in the fall 2006 semester. Written by Federico Garcia Lorca, the Spanish tragedy “chronicles the power struggle between a domineering tyrant of a mother and her five daughters seething with jealousy and hidden passion.”
   
They also will present it in Cromwell Theatre on campus Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, which are $5, are available in Shattuck and Cromwell offices. Contributions also will be accepted to assist with travel expenses for the performance at the festival.
   
“I really hope that those who saw the show last semester will come out again to witness the amazing work that has gone into the show since it closed,” said Brook Hanemann, a visiting instructor of theatre who directed the play. “Each and every member of the team has poured an immense amount of heart into their work and each one is operating at a level higher than they had previously reached. This is a different show. We've found the passion like never before.”
   
In addition to MUW’s production being selected by the festival, the festival also includes individual competitions for students. Seniors Brittany Harper, Patricia Talavera and Tracy Powers each have received the Irene Ryan Acting Award nomination for their performances.
   
Also nominated in the individual events are Brittany Harper for scenic design, Whit Johns for lighting design, Patricia Talavera for costume design and Sarah Hickox for stage management.
   
The cast also includes Drue Hickox, Amy Harwell, Kate Chamblee, Aja Wilson, Twiggy Fiala, Faith Oyler, Kat Magana, Jennifer Hayward, Sara Cohen and Noel McCann.
   
“Theatre is such a collaborative art,” Hanemann said. “It requires the dedication, focus and drive of many people in order for it to be a success. In this case, everyone from the booth operators to the designers, the crews, actors and stage managers have given their all. There were no weak links. That's why we're going to regionals.”
   
For more information about tickets for the performances on campus, please contact the Department of Music and Theatre at 662-329-7341.