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Kelli Crump (left) with "Maude," Carolyn Blackinton, in "Harold and Maude"
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Samantha Dubina and Glen Wall in "Blood Brothers"
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CJ Langdon as Rick Steadman, "The Nerd"
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WIU Theatre Students Excel in ACTF Regional Competition

March 6, 2007

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MACOMB, IL - - Recognition for Western Illinois University's theatre department is exploding, based on the outstanding results from the Region III 39th Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) held Jan. 9-14 in Milwaukee, WI.

"It was exciting to be the school getting so much positive attention among 77 schools in the five-state region which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin," said Bill Kincaid, associate theatre professor and head of acting. "It really was an incredible showing for Western Illinois."

Western Illinois students took three of the top four categories, auditioned and cast four students in 10-minute plays, had faculty participation and more.

MFA student Kelli Crump (Springfield Twp., MI) won the coveted Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition. The scholarships are made possible by the generosity of the late Irene Ryan, who is best remembered for her portrayal of the lovable and feisty Granny Clampett in "The Beverly Hillbillies."

Crump – and her acting partner Melody Betts (Chicago), a second year MFA student – will be among the 32 national finalists to compete in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition in the April 17-23 KCACTF National Festival XXXVIII at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Crump is among the 16 finalists for the acting award, and Betts is among the 16 acting partners.

"I made finals three times previously as a partner, but this was the first time I was the actor. To make to finals again and to win was truly amazing," said Crump, who was nominated for her performance in Western's production of "Harold and Maude." "It was also a really positive experience; the entire student body at regionals was so supportive. I've been so blessed."

"Kelli is a very talented, strong actor who will definitely be noticed at the national festival," Kincaid said.

This is the second consecutive year that Western has sent an actor to the Ryan competition at the national festival. In 2006, MFS student Nick Viane (Galesburg, IL), who performs under his stage name Nick Vienna, competed for the Ryan award with his acting partner Christian Krauspe (Elburn, IL), who is now a senior and a 2007 third place regional award winner in the National Playwriting Program 10-minute Festival for his play "Friendly Fire," which was among six student-written 10-minute plays presented at the festival.

Senior Samantha Dubina (Homer Glen, IL) won the Musical Theatre category, and she was among four Western Illinois actors to advance to the finals of the Irene Ryan acting competition. Dubina was nominated for the Ryan competition for her work in "Blood Brothers."

Junior musical theatre major Charles "C. J." Langdon (O'Fallon, IL) won Outstanding Partner, teamed with senior musical major Patrick Tierney (Joliet, IL), who advanced to the acting finals. Tierney was nominated for his acting in "Blood Brothers." The fourth category was Outstanding Comedy.

Sophomore theatre major Jillian Weingart (Crystal Lake, IL), who was nominated for her acting in "Amadeus," was the fourth Western Illinois actor of 12 nominated to reach the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship finals.

Dubina, who was among the initial two students to enroll when Western became the first and only public university in Illinois to offer a BFA in musical theatre, beginning in Fall 2003, said this award "has been my greatest accomplishment of my career in the theatre."

"In the past four years at WIU, I worked very hard on my vocal abilities, and to be recognized for that was extremely fulfilling," added Dubina, who performed "Astonishing" from the musical version of "Little Women."

"'Astonishing' is an inspirational song for me, and it makes me feel uplifted with I sing it. It's motivational and empowering, and I knew that's what I wanted to portray in the final round," she said. "I also know for a fact that I couldn't have made it anywhere without my amazing partner, first year MFA student Glen Wall (Anchorage, AK). He worked so hard on our scenes, but more importantly, he kept me calm during the competition."

Dubina is auditioning with "tons and tons of companies, trying to find an acting job for next year." She said she eventually wants to earn her MFA in acting and, at some point, teach.

Langdon said he entered the competition "with the mindset to do well for Patrick Tierney."

"When Pat chose me to be his acting partner, I was honored and I really wanted to help him make it to finals," Langdon said. "When we accomplished that goal, I was very satisfied and that was all I really wanted out of the competition. When they announced my name as the winner, I was overwhelmed and shocked."

Langdon said the award added value to his education and skills.

"Above all this award means respect," he said. "It is so rewarding for people to be able to approve and respect your work as an artist. It does feel really nice to be noticed for something that I work very hard at."

Four Western Illinois students auditioned for the 10-Minute Plays, and all four were cast. They include first year MFA student Drew Hampton (Arlington, TX); seniors Adam Habben (Homewood, IL) and Shawn Wilson (Quincy, IL); and junior Steve Svec (Downers Grove, IL).

Svec also founded the Improv Jam – with Western students forming its core – which performed Friday night with Comedy Sportz of Milwaukee; and 11 students participated in Kincaid's unrehearsed production of "Julius Caesar" that same evening.

"Blood Brothers" was a participating production; second year MFA student David Badon received an award of merit for scenic design in "Communicating Doors;" and third year MFA student Fulton Burns (Greenville, SC) and second year MFA student Jamie McCoy (Manhattan, KS) received certificates of merit for their work on "Amadeus."

Other student nominees for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship include, by production:
• "Amadeus" - Peter Johnson (Beaverton, OR), third year MFA student
• "Blood Brothers" - Micah Spayer (Peoria, IL), junior, musical theatre major
• "Communicating Doors" - Erin Roe (Martinsville, IN), second year MFA student; and Julia Thurlow (Aurora, IL), junior, musical theatre
• "Harold and Maude" - Tristan Tapscott (Hampton, IL), senior, musical theatre major
• "1776" - Tapscott; and Nick Vienna, a third year MFA student (Galesburg, IL) who is currently serving a fellowship at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.
• "Side Man" - Drew Hampton (Arlington, TX); first year MFA student; and Sam Weller
(St. Louis, MO), second year MFA student.

On the faculty side, Carolyn Blackinton, assistant professor; and Marcus Olson, assistant professor and head of the BFA in musical theatre; served as preliminary round judges for the Irene Ryan Acting competition.

Session presenters included Kincaid, "Performing Shakespeare Unrehearsed – No Kidding;" and Benjamin (Jenison, MI) and Jennifer Drew (Knoxille, IL), both third-year MFA students, "Getting 'Serious' in Dramaturgy."

Associate respondents included Ray Gabica, professor and head of costume design; Egla Hassan, professor and head of the MFA directing program; Gene Kozlowski, professor and chair emeritus; D.C. Wright, associate professor and head of movement and stage combat; Marcus Olson; and Kincaid.

Instructor Michael Swanson was the ACTF Region III gold medallion recipient. He has been involved with KCACTF since is undergraduate theatre days (1976) at Hamline University (St. Paul, MN) and through his MFA in directing at Wayne State University (Detroit, MI). His first experience with regional festivals was at The Ohio State University as a doctoral student along with Chicago Tribune theatre critic Chris Jones.

Swanson began his current longstanding serving on the Region III executive committee in 1993, when he was teaching at Franklin (IN) College. He came to Western in 2003-04, during the first year of his three-year term as chair of Region III. He is now theatre arts director at Fresno (CA) City College), and he continues to teach a theatre history course online for Western.


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