Culture
Cast Of OUL’s “Mockingbird” Selected To Perform at Kennedy Center Fest
By: Cheri Russo
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Another honor has been bestowed upon the Ohio University Lancaster Theatre program.
The entire cast of To Kill a Mockingbird has been asked to perform one scene from the show at the Kennedy Center College Theater Festival in January.
“We just officially received word that they wanted us to perform the scene,” said Theatre Director Victor Jones. “I am beyond thrilled for our students.”
In November, three student actors from To Kill a Mockingbird were nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship and asked to perform at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Regional Festival in West Chester, Pa., this January.
Jones said he was notified this week that the entire cast has been selected to perform at the festival as well.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students,” he said. “We have been asked to perform the ‘Tom Robinson Courtroom Scene’ at the festival.”
The Kennedy Center American College Theater is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide.
The festival has served as a catalyst to improve the quality of college theater in the United States, and has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work to receive outside assessment.
The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship is named after the woman who played “Granny” on the television program The Beverly Hillbillies.
OUL students Mason Taylor, Shannon Webb, and Jordon LeuVoy will compete at the festival in an effort to be awarded scholarships. The scholarships provide recognition, honor and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education.
An OUL Theatre group that includes 14 men and 10 women will attend the festival. The Ohio University Lancaster Campus has dedicated some funds for the costs associated with the trip, including the festival registration, hotel and transportation costs.
Additional funds will be raised through an e-mail that will be sent to alumni, and the campus theatre website will provide information for family, friends and other theatre-goers to contribute to support these students.
Online gifts may be made to support the trip to the Ohio University Foundation at www.ohio.edu/give. You can designate your gift to the OU Lancaster Theatre Support Fund using the designation drop-down box.
Gifts to this fund may also be mailed to Ohio University Lancaster Campus, attn. Mandi Custer, 1570 Granville Pike, Lancaster, OH 43130, and questions may be directed to Mandi at 740-654-5711, ext. 234, or via email at custera@ohio.edu.
The Ohio University Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization and the contribution is tax deductible in accordance with Ohio state tax laws.
Raising Canes in Lancaster is holding a “Spirit Night” on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. to support the OUL Theatre Student Club. All participants have to do is present a flyer when purchasing their meal and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the club to support the trip.