Two JU students nominated for Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan Award in Acting

Jacksonville University students Nick Boucher and Elaine Tyson have been nominated for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan Award in Acting for their work in the recent Laundry & Bourbon and Lone Star one-act comedies put on by the College of Fine Arts’ Division of Theatre & Dance.

From left, Jacksonville University students Katarina Howell, Ashley Jones and Elaine Tyson in the JU College of Fine Arts’ Division of Theatre & Dance production of Laundry & Bourbon. Photo by Ninoska Alejandra Nunez/Jacksonville University.

“A nomination for the Irene Ryan Scholarship competition in Acting is one of the most prestigious honors a college theater student can receive,” said Deborah Jordan, an assistant professor of theater  who directed the recent plays.

The award recognizes excellence in acting on the college level and puts the student actor in competition with some of the most talented theater artists in the nation.

“I think our acting program at Jacksonville University produces student actors with a firmly rooted acting process and technique, and also provides them with the tools to pursue further training on the graduate level,” Jordan said.

The department brought in an outside respondent to critique the production, and she nominated Tyson, while Jordan nominated Boucher. The pair will attend regional and national competitions later this year.

From left, Jacksonville University students Roy Matos and Nick Boucher in the JU College of Fine Arts’ Division of Theatre & Dance production of Lone Star. Photo by Ninoska Alejandra Nunez/Jacksonville University.

According to the Kennedy Center website, “The Irene Ryan Scholarships provide recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education. The Irene Ryan Foundation awards 19 regional awards and two fellowships annually. Sixteen of the awards consist of a $500 scholarship for each regional representative of KCACTF. There are two scholarships of $2,500 each for the winners at the national festival in Washington, D.C. In addition, the student judged the Kingsley Colton Award winner for Best Partner in the national auditions is awarded a cash prize of $250.”

For more information, visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/actf/actfira.html.