Three Bossier Parish Community College theatre students received honors at the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) Region VI Conference, held Feb. 20–24 in Abilene, Texas. Winners were announced March 1.
Tamayia Jarvis, a Performing Arts Associate of Arts in Theatre major, was awarded one of five B.O.L.D. Scholarships presented in the region. The B.O.L.D. (Building Opportunity through Leadership and Development) program is a specialized initiative within ACTF that focuses on leadership, diversity, and professional development in theatre. The scholarship recognizes students who have made a meaningful impact in creating open and inclusive theatre spaces while uplifting the global theatre community. The award may be used to further college education at any institution.
Ben Moss, an acting student who also serves as Graphic Design Specialist in Marketing and Communication at BPCC, and his acting partner and fellow Performing Arts major MC Carpenter were selected as alternates for the Irene Ryan Scholarship semi-finals. The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships are named for the late actress best known for her role as “Granny” on the television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies and are funded through an estate endowment established in her honor. Moss’s recognition places the team among the top 25 percent of acting competitors in the five-state region.
Approximately 70 colleges and universities from Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico were represented at the 58th annual ACTF Region VI Conference. The event showcases outstanding collegiate theatre productions and provides students and faculty opportunities to participate in workshops and competitions in acting, directing, design and technical theatre, stage management, playwriting and musical theatre.
Students also have the opportunity to audition and interview for seasonal and year-round professional theatre positions across the country. The conference highlights several featured college productions selected from the region.
Five BPCC students competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition: Ben Moss, MC Carpenter, Ellen Douglas, Andy Thrasher and Logan Pudak. Additional students attending the conference included Tamayia Jarvis, Cameron Jones, Kelsea Lee, Je’Kayla Lane, Maria Hernandez, Jessiel Greggs and Mystery Almond.
BPCC faculty and staff attending the conference were Rona Leber, Ray Scott Crawford, David White and Lari Leber. Crawford also serves on the ACTF Region VI board as the coordinator for the Next Steps Professional Auditions.
Each year, BPCC Theatre participates in the American College Theatre Festival by submitting one or more productions for adjudication by representatives of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. BPCC productions and students have previously earned honors at the state, regional and national levels. Participation in ACTF provides BPCC theatre students with valuable training, professional networking opportunities and exposure to career pathways in the theatre and entertainment industry.
For more information about BPCC Theatre programs, productions and courses, contact Ray Scott Crawford at rcrawford@bpcc.edu or visit the theatre box office website at bpcc.edu/theatre.