WT Students Advance in National Theatre Festival

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University Theatre’s two fall productions each scored several nominees to advance in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival .

Savannah Bohl, a senior theatre major from Muenster, and Kyndal Knapp, a junior theater major from Pampa, both earned Irene Ryan acting nominations for “She Kills Monsters,” which was staged Oct. 26 to Nov. 5. Victoria Reyes, a junior musical theatre major from Inez, and Edgar Camarena, a senior theatre major from Amarillo, also earned Irene Ryan nominations for “Once Upon a Mattress,” which was staged Sept. 28 to Oct. 8.

They’ll take part in Irene Ryan Scholarship auditions Feb. 26 to 29 in Abilene at the Region 6 festival . Designers also are eligible to present their designs in Abilene.

Students earning meritorious achievement awards for “She Kills Monsters” were Leighson Selman, a senior musical theatre major from Amarillo, for acting; Signe Elder, a senior musical theatre major from Lubbock, for acting; Raimar Ortiz, a senior theatre major from Lubbock, for lighting design; Christian Howard, a recent theatre graduate from Lubbock, for sound design; Caleb King, a sophomore history major from Canyon, for properties and weapons design; and Riley Harbour, a junior theatre major from Amarillo, for stage management

Faculty members earning meritorious achievement awards for “She Kills Monsters” were Leigh Anne Crandall, instructor of theatre, for costume design; and Stephen Crandall, professor of theatre, for directing and fight choreography.

Students earning meritorious achievement awards for “Mattress” include Kelli Zapalac, a junior theatre major from Schulenburg, for costume design; Noah Seth Santos, a senior theatre major from Lubbock, for lighting design; and Marissa Lemus, a senior theatre major from Baytown, for stage management.

Additionally, the full cast of “Mattress” earned a meritorious achievement award for excellence in outstanding ensemble.

Photo: Sir Harry (Edgar Camareno) and Lady Larken (Victoria Reyes) sing a love duet in West Texas A&M University’s “Once Upon a Mattress.” The two actors were nominated to take part in the Irene Ryan Scholarship audition process in Region 6 of the Kennedy Center American Theater Festival.

Cast members also included Jewel Schonhoff, a senior musical theatre major from Little Elm, as Princess Winnifred; Ray Barber, a junior musical theatre major from Conroe, as Prince Dauntless; Peyton Hastings, a senior musical theatre major from Sundown; Logan Lawhon, a freshman musical theatre major from Midland, as the minstrel; Matt Thurman, a senior musical theatre major from Frisco, as the wizard; Caleb Martinez, a senior musical theatre major from Seagraves, as the jester; Hunter Russell, a freshman theatre major from Sundown, as King Sextimus the Silent; Oscar Hample, a senior musical theatre major from Wasilla, Alaska, as Sir Studley; Sanai Lowe, a senior musical theatre major from Dallas, as Lady Lucille; William Lindley, a sophomore musical theatre major from Pampa, as Sir Luce; Abigail Martin, a senior musical theatre major from Amarillo, as Lady Rowena; Clara Moos, a junior musical theatre major from Plano, as Lady Merrill; Peyton Jewett, a junior musical theatre major from Monahans, as first knight; and Alexander Hernandez, a junior theatre major from Amarillo, as second knight.

Ensemble members included Isabella Bailey, a sophomore musical theatre major from Little Elm; Morgan Baily, a sophomore musical theatre major from El Paso; Sterling Knight, a junior theatre from Amarillo; Zarek Womak, a sophomore musical theatre major from Christoval; Sarah Estes, a junior music education major from Turpin, Oklahoma; Mario Banos, a senior theatre major from Perryton; Tori Ybarra, a freshman musical theatre major from Austin; and Jacquline Arellano, a junior musical theatre major from El Paso.

The 2023-24 WT Theatre season continues with “She Loves Me” from Feb. 8 to 18 and “Rumors” from April 4 to 14.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is a national theater program involving 18,000 students annually from colleges and universities across the country. According to its website, it “has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, improve their dramatic skills, and receive national recognition for excellence.”

Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World .

That plan is fueled by the historic  One West  comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $150 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Top photo: Farrah the Faerie (Kyndal Knapp, back) battles it out with Kaliope (Savannah Bohl) in a scene from West Texas A&M University’s “She Kills Monsters.” The two actresses were nominated to take part in the Irene Ryan Scholarship audition process in Region 6 of the Kennedy Center American Theater Festival.

—WT—