The awards recognize faculty and students for acting, directing, playwriting, set and prop design, technology and stage management. Region VII comprises Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
“We see how hard the students in our department work on projects whether acting, directing, designing, or working behind the stage. Their success in such a large regional competition truly validates both their hours of dedication and their craft as creative artists,” says Theatre Instructor Susan Abbey. “The fact that they did so with team enthusiasm and support demonstrated their collaborative skills.”
HSU senior Heidi Voelker, who won top award for her set design of “Los Pajaros,” will represent Region VII with an all-expense-paid trip to the National Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. this April.
Theatre instructor Derek Lane won the Horace Robinson/Jack Watson Award, which is given to a faculty member who shows dedication and support for their students above and beyond the normal duties expected of university faculty. In addition, several HSU students received job offers for the summer in acting/musical theatre, as well as in design and technical theatre fields.
A complete list of winners is below.
Design Competition:
- Scenic Design Winner and National Nominee: Heidi Voelker for “Los Pajaros.”
- Costume Design Honorable Mention: Isabella “Izzy” Ceja for the dance piece “Reverence,” choreographed by Allie Phinney (‘15)
- Allied Arts New Designer Award: Sydnee Stanton for properties design for “Los Pajaros”
Team Honors:
- Performance Award: HSU’s “Bianca” from “Kiss Me, Kate,” directed by Susan Abbey (Theatre, Film, & Dance), choreographed by Sharon Butcher (Theatre, Film, & Dance) with musical direction by Elisabeth Harrington (Dept. of Music)
- Nationally Nominated Scene for “Slipping,” directed by Shea King
- Improv Olympics: HSU Theatre Arts “Jack Axes” (3rd Place)
Technology Competition:
- Tech Olympics: HSU Theatre Arts “Jack Axes” (1st Place)
- Costume Quick Change: Justine Bivans (1st Place)
- Ground Plan: Isabella “Izzy” Ceja (1st Place)
- Team Knot Tying Relay: HSU Theatre Arts “Jack Axes” (1st Place)