Theatre Students Selected for 'National' Stage Opportunities
JONESBORO – Students in the Department of Theatre just wrapped up their 2018-19 season at Arkansas State University with a successful run of the musical "Godspell," but their passion for acting and related stage crafts has not eased up.
Numerous theatre majors are finalizing their plans for a myriad of experiences and further training with top programs from the west coast to the east, according to Theatre Department Co-Chair Marc Williams.
Williams emphasized the value of the opportunities toward each student's professional development, adding all of the recent accomplishments are national in scope.
Those who will be headed out soon in pursuit of summer opportunities are:
- Hannah Martin of Blytheville, a senior, will be a member of the summer intern company at Insight Theatre in St. Louis.
- Eli Webb of Jonesboro, a senior, will be working with MainStage Theatrical Supply in Memphis.
- Hayley Scott of North Little Rock, a junior, earned an internship in the education department of the Orlando Shakespeare Festival.
- Elizabeth Escobedo of Russellville, a sophomore, was selected for an internship with Maine State Music Theatre.
- Joshua Pryor of Clinton, a sophomore, was accepted into the summer acting intensive at Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre in Los Angeles.
- Reilly Heffer of Little Rock, a sophomore, was accepted into the summer acting intensive at Larry Singer Studios in New York.
- Caelon Colbert, also a sophomore from Little Rock, was accepted into Actor Therapy’s summer intensive for musical theatre in New York.
A graduating student, Davis Campbell of Batesville, has been accepted for the graduate program in hair and makeup design at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. This is one of the best programs of its kind in the world, Williams added.
These students join two other theatre students whose accomplishments were announced previously:
- Courtney Light of Alicia was accepted to the Professional Actor Training Program at Neighborhood Playhouse in New York.
- David Norris of Southside is one of six emerging playwrights selected for the Echo Theatre’s National Residency for playwrights, in Los Angeles.
Heffer, who is going to New York City, credited Williams, the other faculty and her A-State experience for her advancement in theatre, and is now extremely excited about her acceptance into the acting intensive at Singer Studios.
"Living and learning in the city for six weeks is going to be the longest and farthest I've been away, and yet, I am already inspired and ready to get to work," Heffer said.
Colbert thanked the Theatre Department and voice teacher Matthew Carey, who ". . . have helped me so much because they continuously push me outside of my comfort zone."
Additional details about A-State's theatre program are available on the department website.
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