Hillsdale thespians finish strong at ACTF
Spirits high, students already plan to sweep next year's competition after strong showing
Cody Ewers
Issue date: 1/22/09 Section: Arts
For the second consecutive year, a Hillsdale acting pair reached the semi-final round of a scholarship competition, beating out hundreds of other competitors at this year's Kennedy Center for Performing Arts' Annual American College Theater Festival held at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Mich.
Out of the handful of students competing, juniors Kate Jones and Joel Pavelski outperformed 350 other acting pairs to reach the semi-final round of competition for a $500 scholarship given in memory of Irene Ryan, best remembered for her portrayal of Granny Clampett on "Beverly Hillbillies."
The pair entered the competition off a nomination for Jones' performance as Toffee in last spring's production of "Zombie Prom." They reenacted a scene from last fall's "Hedda Gabler," in which Hedda futilely appeals to Brack's affection for her after he confronts her about her gun found at the scene of Lovborg's murder.
"The feeling in the room was good," senior Natalie Scarlett said of Jones' and Pavelski's performance. "Everyone really liked it. They really captured the audience's emotion."
Jones said of the entire festival, she most valued judges' critiques of performances.
"They push you out there with people as good as you, or better, and you either have to sink or swim," she said. "It was good experience, especially when you get out into the real acting world."
Fellow actress senior Betsy Stone also agreed these sessions were particularly beneficial.
"They're perfect practice when you face casting directors, even though sometimes it's hard to hear what they have to say," Stone said.
Senior Maria Cantin also represented Hillsdale well, ending in the final round of a design and display competition for realized and non-realized design, said Michael Beyer, the theatre department's lighting designer/production manager.
Her project displayed photos depicting the different lighting "looks" that were used in "Hedda Gabler." She also displayed her research, technical documents and script analysis, which inspired her decisions about the production design.
Out of the handful of students competing, juniors Kate Jones and Joel Pavelski outperformed 350 other acting pairs to reach the semi-final round of competition for a $500 scholarship given in memory of Irene Ryan, best remembered for her portrayal of Granny Clampett on "Beverly Hillbillies."
The pair entered the competition off a nomination for Jones' performance as Toffee in last spring's production of "Zombie Prom." They reenacted a scene from last fall's "Hedda Gabler," in which Hedda futilely appeals to Brack's affection for her after he confronts her about her gun found at the scene of Lovborg's murder.
"The feeling in the room was good," senior Natalie Scarlett said of Jones' and Pavelski's performance. "Everyone really liked it. They really captured the audience's emotion."
Jones said of the entire festival, she most valued judges' critiques of performances.
"They push you out there with people as good as you, or better, and you either have to sink or swim," she said. "It was good experience, especially when you get out into the real acting world."
Fellow actress senior Betsy Stone also agreed these sessions were particularly beneficial.
"They're perfect practice when you face casting directors, even though sometimes it's hard to hear what they have to say," Stone said.
Senior Maria Cantin also represented Hillsdale well, ending in the final round of a design and display competition for realized and non-realized design, said Michael Beyer, the theatre department's lighting designer/production manager.
Her project displayed photos depicting the different lighting "looks" that were used in "Hedda Gabler." She also displayed her research, technical documents and script analysis, which inspired her decisions about the production design.
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