Writer: Lisa Parker

Five students and two faculty members from The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Theatre and Dance received awards last week at the 2009 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region IV in Greensboro, N.C.

Southern Miss junior Shelby Cade, along with scene partner and fellow student Chris Marroy, received an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, while students Ardice Cotter of Mobile, Ala., and partner Caleb Blackwell, Magee, Miss., were finalists for the same award.

Thomas Sowers, a technical theater and design major from Starkville, received honorable mention for his sound design in the Southern Miss 2008 production of "Waiting for the Parade."

Greenwood native Cade, who was nominated for her October performance in "Waiting for the Parade," performed a monologue as well as two scenes with Slidell, La., native Marroy at the festival.

"This could not have happened to two finer students," said Southern Miss theater professor Monica Hayes. "Chris and Shelby are also president and vice president of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Honorary Theatre Fraternity. They are always working to improve in every class they take."

"It was an intense experience," Cade said, "but the fact that Southern Miss could come out on top really shows how strong the program is."

Stephen Judd, associate professor of theater and the department's head of design, said that 495 students were nominated for the Irene Ryan award in Region IV alone, which spans nine states across the southeast. Out of the 16 finalists chosen, Southern Miss produced both a finalist and a winner.

"There are eight regions [for this competition] across the nation," Judd said. "Region IV is one of the top regions, so having our students win this competition is a thrill."

The Irene Ryan Scholarship is made possible by a program named after the late actress known for her role as Granny Clampett in "The Beverly Hillbillies." The award is intended to provide recognition, honor and financial assistance to outstanding student performers seeking to further their education, according to information on the Kennedy Center's Web site at www.kennedy-center.org.

Judd also noted that Sowers placed in the top three in Region IV among 61 sound designers for the Award for Sound Design Excellence, which required a demonstration of Sower's work to professionals in the field.

Cade and Marroy will next travel to Washington, D.C., in April to showcase their work at the annual national festival held at the Kennedy Center.

"I am thrilled beyond measure," Hayes said. "Southern Miss is the only school in Mississippi to break through to the finals [for this event]. The arts at Southern Miss are flagship for this state."

Professors Hayes and Judd were also recognized during the week-long event, receiving two of the four faculty awards presented at the festival. Judd won the KCACTF Region IV Faculty Teaching Award for his work in design, and Hayes received the same award for her expertise in directing.

"It's such an incredible honor," said Judd of the award. "Our peers in this field are a group of people that I greatly respect, so it's just an honor to be chosen for this."

Click to enlarge

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities.  In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.  Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.