EXCERPT from an announcement by Todd McNerney, Chair of the Theatre Department

In January, nearly 30 College of Charleston theatre students participated in either the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF)Region IV festival or in the unified graduate school auditions (U/RTA).  These fine examples of the quality education provided by the College continue to represent us in the most outstanding of fashions. The College has had a fifteen year history of success in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival and this year is no exception.  For the third year in a row student actors made the semi-final round of the Irene Ryan Acting competitions at the regional KC/ACTF.   However, we have also now elevated our standard.  For the first time in our 20 year history we had two pairs of actors make the semi-finals and for the second time in three years and for only the third time in our history we have placed a pair of actors in the finals.  To put this in perspective, out of a first round consisting of over 250 pairs of student actors (both Graduate and Undergraduate) from around our 10 state region, two of thirty-two semi-final pairs and one of the sixteen final pairs are our students. [How’s that for testing your thinking skills!]

Congratulations to the following students and all of the theatre faculty for the countless hours rehearsals, searching for materials and then the efforts in coaching/mentoring them through the preparations of those scenes and monologues.

KC/ACTF Region IV Irene Ryan Semi-finalists

Gabe Wright and his scene partner Laine Hester

KC/ACTF  Region IV Irene Ryan Semi-finalist and Finalist

George Carruth and his scene partner Matt Geidraitis

KC/ACTF  Region IV Short Play Category Finalist

Matt Giedraitis was also a Regional finalist for Playwriting in the Short Play category.  His play The Limo was one of six selected for the regional final.  Matt’s selection continued our playwriting “streak,” marking the 15th straight year of having a student make the finals of a regional or national playwriting competition.